How much salary cap space can the Buffalo Bills save by cutting Player X? It’s a question I am getting a lot this year because of the constricted salary cap. Here’s a rundown from highest to lowest of the players on the roster who could be cut to save salary cap space. (Some figures were rounded to the nearest $100,000.)
- WR John Brown ($7.9 million)
- DE Jerry Hughes ($7.3 million)
- DT Vernon Butler ($6.8 million)
- DT Quinton Jefferson ($6.5 million)
- DE Mario Addison ($6.1 million)
- C Mitch Morse ($4.8 million)
- WR Cole Beasley ($4.4 million)
- LB Tyler Matakevich ($3.3 million)
- LB A.J. Klein ($2.4 million)
- TE Lee Smith ($2.25 million)
- CB Taron Johnson ($2.1 million)
- DT Harrison Phillips ($1 million)
I didn’t include Stefon Diggs ($7 million) or Jordan Poyer ($5.9 million) because they signed contracts within the last year and they aren’t going anywhere. Duh.
If you’re wondering where DT Star Lotulelei is, his entire salary for this year is guaranteed. It would add $4.2 million to the salary cap in 2021 if they released him. He’s not going anywhere either.
One more reminder: If the Bills do cut Harrison Phillips, his spot in the top 51 contracts is replaced by the next-highest contract, so the net savings would only be a couple hundred thousand dollars if they released him.