How Josh Allen can save the day for Bills one more time
Stop me if you've heard this before but the Buffalo Bills are significantly over the cap entering the 2023 offseason. In fact, they're $17.87 million over it. They rank 26th in the NFL when it comes to available cap space, according to Over the Cap. That makes things particularly intriguing for a team that's staring at […]
Stop me if you've heard this before but the Buffalo Bills are significantly over the cap entering the 2023 offseason. In fact, they're $17.87 million over it.
They rank 26th in the NFL when it comes to available cap space, according to Over the Cap.
That makes things particularly intriguing for a team that's staring at a long, long list of players about to become free agents in March. But if there's one thing we've learned over the last few years, it's that the numbers can be easily manipulated to not only avoid a fine but to improve the team.
After all, the infamous salary cap is nothing but an accounting system. A bit of accounting magic and CBA loopholes can open up all kinds of possibilities in one swift move.
Expect the Bills to pull off some of this magic starting by restructuring Josh Allen.
How the Bills QB can save the day again
The Bills didn't shy away from asking Josh Allen to shoulder the load on offense by asking him to extend plays and live on the run in an offense that didn't necessarily make life very easy on him.
Now, Allen can single-handedly get the Bills under the cap with a contract restructure. Per OTC, such a move would lower Allen's cap number by $21.5 million.
Quick reminder: A contract restructure isn't a pay cut. In fact, it benefits the player by turning future salary into a signing bonus (which the player receives immediately in cash). The signing bonus' impact on the cap is then spread over the length of his contract in equal parts. Essentially, it's sacrificing tomorrow's cap space for today's. The secret is that you can keep doing it and doing it with players you're not planning to get rid of!
That move alone will relieve the Bills' stress when it comes to the salary cap. Here are others on the roster who could open up over $5M with restructures:
- OLB/EDGE Von Miller, $10.9M
- LB Matt Milano, $6.6M
- OL Dion Dawkins, $6.4M
- CB Tre'Davious White, $5.9M
- WR Stefon Diggs, $5.6M
Say the Bills went into super-aggressive mode and restructure everybody on their list plus Josh Allen. The team would suddenly have opened up almost $57 million in cap space.
They aren't likely to adjust every contract but at least expect Allen's restructure to come very, very soon.
Featured image via Tina MacIntyre-Yee /Rochester Democrat and Chronicle / USA TODAY NETWORK
