The move will save Buffalo more than $8 million in cap space with the league year set to begin on Wednesday.
On Sunday morning, reports surfaced that the Buffalo Bills are going to be releasing veteran pass rusher Von Miller. The first of those reports came from Ian Rapoport who said that both sides were open for a future return. The Bills confirmed then ews a little later.
Miller, who will be 36-years old during the 2025 NFL season, joined the Bills prior to the 2022 season as he was looking to become the first player in history to win a Super Bowl with three different teams. Unfortunately, Miller’s first season in Buffalo was cut short due to a torn ACL that happened on Thanksgiving Day.
Miller’s return to play may have come at a cost, as he returned after just 10 months rather than the typical 12, and has not been able to produce the same numbers since. In 2023 and 2024 combined, Miller has just recorded 17 combined tackes and six sacks - the latter all coming in 2024.
Miller was set to earn $17.5 million in 2025, however none of that money was guaranteed, prompting the Bills to make the move before the start of the new NFL year coming up on Wednesday. The move frees up $8.4 million in cap space for Buffalo as they will take on $15.4 million in dead cap according to Sportrac. Had the Bills chosen use the post-June 1 designation, they would have gained $17.4 million in cap space, indicating that they would prefer to have the money available now, as the legal tampering period is set to open.
Earlier in the offseason, Bills’ general manager Brandon Beane had said that he appreciated Miller’s team-first mentality when he took a massive pay cut before the 2024 season. Miller is reported to have said that he wanted to remain in Buffalo.
Does this mean that the Bills and Miller could come up with a completely new deal and bring him back before the start of the season? It’s certainly possible, but I would guess that the Bills will see what other, more productive options they can add to the roster first.