The Buffalo Bills did some major roster maneuvering on Wednesday, making a number of cap-saving releases of key players.
The team announced the releases of safety Jordan Poyer, center Mitch Morse, defensive back Siran Neal, wide receiver Deonte Harty and running back Nyheim Hines.
The team also plans to release cornerback Tre’Davious White, according to multiple reports. White’s salary cap number, however, will not come off the Bills’ books until after June 1. ESPN was the first to report White’s impending release.
Additionally, the Bills restructured the contract of linebacker Von Miller in a move that saves more than $8 million in salary cap space, per ESPN.
Despite an ‘unprecedented’ $30 million league-wide increase in the salary cap for the 2024 season, the Bills needed to clear cap space and make some tough decisions. The release of those six players will save the team around $36 million in salary-cap space. Teams have until the start of the new league year on March 13 to be compliant with the 2024 salary cap.
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Poyer and White were key members of the Bills defense, with each player having earned first-team All-Pro distinction during their careers. Poyer, originally selected by the Philadelphia Eagles in the seventh round of the 2013 NFL draft, emerged as one of the NFL’s top safeties after a move to Buffalo in 2017. White, a first-round pick by the Bills in the 2017 NFL draft, has had his previous three seasons cut short by injuries.
Morse spent the previous five seasons with the Bills, starting 77 games and earning a Pro Bowl nod during the 2022 season. Harty was used primarily as a punt return specialist, returning a punt 96 yards for a touchdown in the Bills’ season-ending AFC East-clinching win over the Miami Dolphins. Neal, a reserve defensive back, played in all 17 games this season. Hines missed the entire 2023 season after suffering a knee injury during a water skiing accident.
Mitch Trubisky returning to Bills
Mitch Trubisky spent the 2021 season as a backup to Josh Allen, and it appears the quarterback will return to that role for the 2024 season.
The Bills and Trubisky — who was released by the Pittsburgh Steelers this offseason — have agreed to a deal, NFL Media is reporting. Trubisky appeared in six games for the Bills in 2021, completing six of eight passes for 43 yards. His two-season stint with the Steelers did not go well. Trubisky lost the starting job to rookie Kenny Pickett during Week 5 of the 2022 season. In all, Trubisky completed 62.6% of his passes, throwing eight touchdowns to 10 interceptions.
Trubisky was the No. 2 overall selection in the 2017 NFL draft by the Chicago Bears, with whom Trubisky played four seasons.
Bills keeping Taylor Rapp
While Poyer and White will not be with the Bills for the 2024 season, the team’s defensive secondary won’t be totally decimated.
Safety Taylor Rapp has reached an agreement to stay with the Bills on a two-year deal, according to ESPN.
Rapp was signed by the Bills as a free agent last year after spending his first four NFL seasons with the Los Angeles Rams.
