2024 NFL offseason: How will the Bills manage cap space, free agency?

BUFFALO, N.Y. — The 2023 season ended in a familiar way for the Buffalo Bills: a third straight exit in the divisional round of the playoffs and the team falling short of its Super Bowl goal.

The similarities extend to an offseason that will once again struggle due to a tight cap situation with tough decisions to make, particularly on the defensive side of the ball, while remaining competitive in an AFC led by the Chiefs of Kansas City and quarterback Patrick. Mahomes.

With free agency fast approaching, the Bills have several key contributors ready to hit the open market. General manager Brandon Beane reiterated in January that spending on big-money free agents shouldn't be expected.

“I don’t think you’d see any splashes even if I found something that excited me,” Beane said. “I don't think that would fit within our cap parameters. And so, I think everyone needs to understand that we're going to be shopping at some of the same stores that we were shopping at last year. We're not going to not be on the main street of New York or… where all these high-end malls are. It's not feasible where we are, but we're going to use whatever resources we can.

Although an official cap for 2024 has not yet been announced, bills are currently projected to exceed the cap by more than $50 million. Restructuring of some contracts is likely, like that of quarterback Josh Allen, as he is expected to account for $47.1 million in cap space.

Things are about to start moving forward quickly and the NFL Combine begins next week. How can bills best use the resources they have? What are the most sought-after positions and which of the potential outgoing players could be the most valuable to try to re-sign?

Defensive tackle

Free agents: DaQuan Jones, Tim Settle, Jordan Phillips, Linval Joseph, Poona Ford

There is only one defensive tackle among the 53 players under contract for 2024 and it's Ed Oliver, so there's no doubt that this is a position the Bills need to address in a big way. Eli Ankou, who spent most of 2023 on the practice squad, also signed a reserve/futures contract.

The key here, and arguably the most important re-signing the Bills can make this offseason, is trying to bring Jones back. Despite missing most of his second year with Buffalo due to a pectoral injury suffered in a Week 5 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars in London, Jones has been a significant asset up front when he was healthy.

Joseph was brought in after the trade deadline to try to help Jones, but when Jones, 32, returned from injury at the end of the year and during the playoffs, it was a reminder of his value that the Bills n 'were not able to reproduce.

“We missed DaQuan when he was injured in London and I told him that. [after the season concluded]”, Beane said. “DaQuan is a good player, first and foremost, a long-time starter in this league. Beyond that, he is a leader and is well respected. He makes others around him better. … He's earned the right to test his market and see what it's like. But we'd be fools not to consider bringing him back.”

The question is whether the Bills can afford to bring Jones back. His age and the fact that he's only played seven regular season games in 2023 could help, and it's clear the veteran will benefit from serious playing time in Buffalo, but more money elsewhere is certainly a possibility. He's also not a long-term solution at a position where the Bills could very well look to add young talent via the draft.

Security

Free agents: Micah Hyde, Taylor Rapp

The first question here is whether Hyde decides to retire, which he said in January and was in no rush to decide. Hyde has been paired with safety Jordan Poyer, who has one year left on his contract with the Bills, for the past seven seasons, all under coach Sean McDermott.

If he decides to continue playing, the question arises whether the Bills can afford to bring him back. Hyde missed most of the 2022 season due to neck surgery, then played in 14 regular season games in 2023 as the Stingers became a problem.

“Individually, it was a battle every week to get back on that field on Sunday,” Hyde said. “There were several times this year where I didn't know if I was going to come back there. And so, I was able to go back there and it was hard. It was hard mentally, physically. But yes, I 'I'm glad I was able to go down this road with the boys and at least try to finish it properly.'

If all of the above questions work out, bringing Hyde back on a short-term deal makes sense for the Bills as they continue to advance the Super Bowl, but even if he returns, it's high time to the team to invest in younger responses. safe. Beane projects the Bills will have 10 draft picks once the compensatory picks are allocated, and he would be wise to get some new and younger safety help on this roster for the present and future.

Wide receiver

Free agents: Gabe Davis, Trent Sherfield

There's a chance the Bills find a deal that works for them and either re-sign Davis or bring in a veteran for that No. 2 role, but this overall seems like a position in which – financially and otherwise – the team is better approached through the project.

Davis made it clear in January that he intended to explore free agency.

“I feel like I definitely need to go to March and look at the other options as well,” Davis said. “I feel like it’s the business side and I have to take advantage of it.”

In six drafts led by Beane, the Bills have never drafted a receiver in the first two days. This change this year will once again be a popular topic ahead of the NFL Draft in April. With the limited resources available and the need for a talented receiver to work with Allen long-term, adding room in free agency would be a good thing for 2024, but longer-term solutions might be better found through to the project.

Defensive end

Free agents: Leonard Floyd, AJ Epenesa, Shaq Lawson

In an ideal world, the Bills bring back Floyd and Epenesa. Floyd signed with the Bills on a one-year deal at the end of his free agent career and had an impressive season with 10.5 sacks, while Epenesa's rookie contract ended after the best career season: 6.5 sacks, five batted passes and two interceptions.

It's unclear exactly what's next for Von Miller, which leaves the Bills with even more question marks at the position. On the field, the passer continues to try to come back from right ACL surgery, and off-field allegations that he assaulted his pregnant girlfriend remain under investigation.

Trying to find creative ways to invest in passers through the draft and free agency will be key, even if bringing back Floyd and/or Epenesa is impractical.