The Buffalo Bills have released veteran cornerback Leodis McKelvin, according to various media reports. Ian Rapoport of NFL Network was the first to break the news.
The #Bills are releasing CB Leodis McKelvin, source said. No restructure. Will be an interesting free agent.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 4, 2016
Releasing McKelvin will save the Bills $3.9 million in 2016 salary cap space. They now have just shy of $13 million in cap room, even before details of the re-structured Corey Graham contract are known.
McKelvin, who will turn 31 on September 1, had previously said that he'd be willing to take a pay cut to remain with the Bills. For one reason or another, however, the Bills have elected to release their 2008 first-round pick in the NFL Draft outright, pocketing the full amount of cap savings. McKelvin spent the 2015 season switching between cornerback and safety as a reserve at both positions, and was never going to stick on the roster heading into 2016 at his current salary.
In his eight seasons in Buffalo, McKelvin accumulated 317 tackles, 13 interceptions, and five total touchdowns - one interception return, one kick return, and three punt returns. His release means that cornerback depth becomes a concern again for the Bills, who are set in their top three roles (Stephon Gilmore, Ronald Darby, and slot corner Nickell Robey), but who only have Mario Butler and some project-types under contract behind them.