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Buffalo Bills can save cap space before looming roster bonus for Quinton Jefferson

Matt Warren is Associate Director of NFL coverage for SB Nation and previously covered the Bills for Buffalo Rumblings for more than a decade.

The Buffalo Bills signed Quinton Jefferson last offseason in an effort to revamp their defensive line. Despite that move and many more, it didn’t improve. If the Bills want to get better up front in 2021, they need to consider releasing Jefferson in the next two weeks.

Jefferson is due a $1 million roster bonus on March 21. That’s the fulcrum that will drive the conversation around Jefferson. He also can earn a $250,000 workout bonus this offseason for a total of $1.25 million before the games even start.

Due $4.5 million in salary in 2021 plus up to $750,000 in per-game active bonuses during the season, the Bills could shave $6.5 million in total cap space and actual cash off their roster by releasing Jefferson in the next 12 days.

There is no guaranteed money remaining on Jefferson’s deal. He has $1.5 million in salary cap money that needs to be accounted. It’s the remaining dollar figure from his $3 million signing bonus pro-rated over the course of his two-year deal.

Moving from an $8 million cap hit to a $1.5 million cap hit for releasing Jefferson seems enticing.

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