Buffalo Bills salary cap space not an issue

[YardRat]

http://www.buffalorumblings.com/buffalo-bills-nfl-free-agency-2017/2017/3/12/14898478/buffalo-bills-salary-cap-space-first-wave-nfl-free-agency

The Buffalo Bills (http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/teams/buffalo-bills) available amount of salary cap space has fluctuated massively over the last week, but keeps returning to about the same level when all is said and done. Between players they signed, players they released, and Tyrod Taylor (http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/players/131481/tyrod-taylor)’s contract restructure, the needle has moved all over the place but keeps settling around the $20 million mark.




P Colton Schmidt (projected $690,000 cap hit (https://www.spotrac.com/blog/nfl-minimum-salaries-for-2017/))

FB Patrick DiMarco (http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/players/133336/patrick-dimarco) ($1.8 million cap hit (https://twitter.com/AaronWilson_NFL/status/840328267429224448))
FB Mike Tolbert (http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/players/246007/mike-tolbert) ($1 million cap hit (http://www.buffalorumblings.com/2017/3/8/14860436/buffalo-bills-to-sign-running-back-mike-tolbert-carolina-panthers?_ga=1.104675140.57934352.1471000591))
OL Vlad Dicasse (projected $900,000 cap hit (http://www.buffalorumblings.com/2017/3/9/14864618/buffalo-bills-offensive-guard-vladimir-ducasse-baltimore-ravens-free-agency-2017?_ga=1.62674664.57934352.1471000591))
K Steve Hasuchka (projected $2.5 million cap hit (http://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/18860879/steve-hauschka-sign-buffalo-bills))
S Micah Hyde (http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/players/193773/micah-hyde) ($4 million cap hit (https://twitter.com/AaronWilson_NFL/status/840195175435624448))
DB Jordan Poyer (http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/players/193973/jordan-poyer) (projected $1 million cap hit)
LB Lorenzo Alexander (http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/players/1515/lorenzo-alexander) (projected $2.5 million cap hit (http://www.buffalorumblings.com/2017/3/11/14893684/buffalo-bills-retain-linebacker-lorenzo-alexander-on-a-two-year-deal))
OT Jordan Mills (http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/players/193793/jordan-mills) (projected $1.75 million cap hit (http://www.buffalorumblings.com/2017/3/11/14895362/buffalo-bills-bring-back-offensive-tackle-jordan-mills))

Buffalo has plenty of cap space now and even with a big signing or two in the near future will be able to fit the rookies’ estimated $6.5 salary underneath the cap. It’s also important to note than once Buffalo surpasses 51 players under contract, only the top 51 will count in the salary cap calculation, so signings on the back end of the roster will either not count in the top 51 calculation or only increase the cap by a couple hundred thousand dollars as a really low cap number is bumped by a low cap number.

Buffalo could also easily add up to $14.7 million more in salary cap space by restructuring contracts (http://www.buffalorumblings.com/2017/2/18/14657012/buffalo-bills-salary-cap-contract-restructure-marcell-dareus-cordy-glenn) for Marcell Dareus and/or Cordy Glenn.

[Dr. Lecter]

It is an issue because all they can sign are scrubs and fringe guys now

[Night Train]

It is an issue because all they can sign are scrubs and fringe guys now

Which is what backups are..

[YardRat]

It is an issue because all they can sign are scrubs and fringe guys now

We are certainly restricted to the bargain and close-out aisles, but I'm OK with that right now. Guys like Zach Brown and Lorenzo Alexander weren't exactly high-end purchases. Besides, they do have wiggle room with the mentioned re-structure possibilities if they find somebody they really want to throw money at.

[swiper]

Those cap numbers for a so-so kicker and a 34 year old career back-up LB should not go unnoticed.

[Goobylal]

It is an issue because all they can sign are scrubs and fringe guys now

There are still some good players out there.

[YardRat]

G TJ Lang, C Nick Mangold, NT Johnathon Hankins, NT Dontari Poe, CB Morris Claiborne, LB Donte Hightower, G Evan Mathis, WR Josh Gordon, RB Adrian Peterson, S TJ MacDonald, DT Bennie Logan, ILB Gerald Hodges, ILB Zach Brown, ILB Perry Riley, C Joe Berger, CB Brandon Flowers, QB Jay Cutler, DE/OLB Elvis Dumerville, S Isa Abdul-Quddus, CB Darius Butler, S Bradley MgDoudlad, C Joe Hawley, DE/OLB Conner Barwin, OLB DeAndre Levy, DT Sen'Derrick Marks, DL Jared Odrick, RB Eddie Lacy, DE Datone Jones, C John Sullivan, S Ladarius Webb, RB Latavius Murray, RB Jamaal Charles, ILB Kevin Minter, CB Sam Shields, WR Cordorelle Patterson, DE/OLB DeMarcus Ware, OT Ryan Clady, ILB Rolando McClain, G Jahri Evans, DB Leon Hall, S Corey Graham, CB Darrelle Revis and S Jarius Byrd are the bigger names still out there according to Walter Football.

Most of the oline are older, but I would consider Mangold or Hawley if we lose Groy.
CB Claiborne scares me with just one good season, and Flowers' injury history are red flags. I might give Shields a look though.
I still like the idea of bringing in Bennie Logan at DT, but we need ends. Datone Jones?
WR Gordon is toast, but DB's boy Cordorelle is still available.

[SpikedLemonade]

Those cap numbers for a so-so kicker and a 34 year old career back-up LB should not go unnoticed.

Whaley has no clue what he is doing outside of Kim's bedroom.

[EDS]

We are certainly restricted to the bargain and close-out aisles, but I'm OK with that right now. Guys like Zach Brown and Lorenzo Alexander weren't exactly high-end purchases. Besides, they do have wiggle room with the mentioned re-structure possibilities if they find somebody they really want to throw money at.

This team still needs to get starting caliber players at CB, WLB and WR, plus depth at a number of positions.

[streetkings01]

It is an issue because all they can sign are scrubs and fringe guys now Yea because there are pro bowlers galore out in free agency at the moment.

[Buddo]

Tbh, that's a particularly uninspiring list, especially when looking to match 'needs'. While I'd like to see a vet WR brought in, someone who you know can contribute, there's still the draft for that, similarly for DBs.

Supposedly you are going to be able to find starting DBs in the 2nd and 3rd rounds this year, and as we already found one in the 2nd a couple of years ago, in Darby, then we should be capable of doing so again.

[Goobylal]

Yea because there are pro bowlers galore out in free agency at the moment.

The Bills found some last year.

[jamze132]

It is an issue because all they can sign are scrubs and fringe guys now

Who else is out there that isn't available due to our salary cap?

[JoeMama]

GAR! WHY ARE WE NOT TAKING A LOOK AT S LARDARIUS WEBB???

Hyde is legit but Poyer? Come on, man. That's a fantasy.

[The King]

Which is what backups are..
Right but we have holes for guys that actually need to play. Safety is still an issue, yea Hyde will start but who is playing opposite him? What about opposite Darby or Nickelback? What about WR2 or WR3? Cant fill all of those holes in the draft or with depth guys and compete.

[Kenny]

Right but we have holes for guys that actually need to play. Safety is still an issue, yea Hyde will start but who is playing opposite him? What about opposite Darby or Nickelback? What about WR2 or WR3? Cant fill all of those holes in the draft or with depth guys and compete.
Agreed. Seems like wishful thinking we can fill the WR2, starting Safety, and starting CB via the draft. We need to fill at least one of these with FA. Im still hoping WR 2 (Patterson or Aiken are picked up) is filled via FA, and we go CB, then WR/S, then S/WR in the draft. Dream scenario is Marshon Lattimore then JuJu Smith Schuster.

[Ed]

GAR! WHY ARE WE NOT TAKING A LOOK AT S LARDARIUS WEBB???

Hyde is legit but Poyer? Come on, man. That's a fantasy.
Well they gave Poyer a 4 year $13 mil deal. That looks like starter money to me. I don't see them signing any other significant FAs at safety. They probably draft a safety at some point, but I think Hyde and Poyer are the starters.

[JoeMama]

Well they gave Poyer a 4 year $13 mil deal. That looks like starter money to me. I don't see them signing any other significant FAs at safety. They probably draft a safety at some point, but I think Hyde and Poyer are the starters.

I do too, I'm just unhappy that Poyer is the starter. He inspires no faith for me.

[Ed]

I do too, I'm just unhappy that Poyer is the starter. He inspires no faith for me.
I don't really know anything about Poyer, but the team must at least think he's an upgrade over Corey Graham since they could have just kept him for similar money.

[YardRat]

Somebody wrote about a rumor regarding Buffalo possibly being interested in trading for Panther safety Tre Boston. Purely speculation on the author's part (he mentions the only info is an 'unnamed team' has contacted Carolina regarding a trade) and he probably is just connecting the dot to McDermott. I liked Boston coming out of college, but in all honesty don't know how well he has performed or think the Bills have the assets (draft picks) to pull a trade.