The Buffalo Bills are counting on an impact from Austin Johnson
Austin Johnson is going to be a member of the Buffalo Bills in 2024. His deal is fully guaranteed, and while they could release or trade him, there really isn’t going to be much upside to doing so.
Buffalo paid more than half the contract up front as a signing bonus in order to spread out the cap hit over the next three seasons with void years. His base salary in 2024 is the league minimum as a result, but it’s also fully guaranteed.
The signing bonus ($1.835 million) will only count $611,666 in 2024 with equal numbers in 2025 and 2026. If he’s not re-signed, the 2026 cap hit will accelerate to 2025 to make his total dead-cap hit $1,223,334 in 2025 even though he’s not on the team.
Like most of general manager Brandon Beane’s contracts, there is a workout bonus ($200,000) and a per-game roster bonus ($15,000 per game up to $255,000). Johnson played 17 games in 2023, so his roster bonus will fully count on the cap all season.
Johnson is the 47th-highest paid defensive tackle in the NFL, which puts him squarely in the starter/heavy-rotation category. For reference, DaQuan Jones averages $8 million per year while Ed Oliver is $17 million per year. Harrison Phillips makes $6.5 million per year with the Minnesota Vikings.
With the level of his contract, Johnson does enter the compensatory pick conversation. He and Curtis Samuel are the two qualifying free-agent signings by the Bills, per Over the Cap. they are currently canceled out by Dane Jackson and Tyrel Dodson signing elsewhere.
Here is the yearly breakdown.
2024
Signing bonus: $611,667
Workout bonus: $200,000
Per-game roster bonus: $15,000 per game up to $255,000 ($255,000 LTBE)
Base salary: $1.21 million (fully guaranteed)
Yearly cash: $3.5 million
Cap hit: $2,276,667
2025
Signing bonus: $611,667
Dead cap if not re-signed: $1,223,334
2026
Signing bonus: $611,667
Dead cap if not re-signed: $611,667 (accelerated to 2025 if he’s not on the roster at beginning of 2025 league year)