Bills Rumors

Bills Extend CB Taron Johnson

Buffalo has seen a few notable departures this offseason, but Taron Johnson will remain in place for years to come. The veteran corner has agreed to a three-year Bills extension, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports. The move is now official, per a team announcement.

Schefter adds this agreement is worth $31MM, making Johnson the league’s highest-paid slot corner. That spot has seen a number of key developments recently, with the Colts and Packers respectively re-upping Kenny Moore and Keisean Nixon last week. Johnson will join that pair in securing a raise ahead of the 2024 campaign.

One year remained on the latter’s contract, and he was owed $7.7MM in 2024; $500K of that amount was due today. Johnson’s cap hit was slated to sit at $12.41MM this season, a figure which could be reduced with this through-2027 deal. In any case, the Bills’ secondary will retain a crucial component for the short- and long-term future.

Johnson took on an increasingly large role over his first three seasons in Buffalo. Having established himself as a starter by 2021, the 27-year-old inked a three-year, $24MM extension. He has been durable and productive over the life of that pact, setting himself up for another agreement. Johnson earned second-team All-Pro honors in 2023, and he will be counted on to maintain that level of play moving forward. In his career, the former fourth-rounder has amassed four interceptions, seven forced fumbles, 450 tackles and seven sacks.

The $10.3MM AAV of this deal will leave Johnson well short of the overall lead in terms of cornerback compensation. Still, it slightly outpaces Moore’s newest Colts agreement in terms of value and ensures he will remain a staple of Buffalo’s secondary. That unit has seen Tre’Davious White and safety Jordan Poyer released in cost-cutting moves. Corner Dane Jackson has also departed in free agency, so replacing that trio will be a priority for the remainder of free agency and the draft for Buffalo.

The Bills have lost a number of high-profile players recently due in large part to the team’s cap situation entering the new league year. However, others have been retained or signed to new deals to avoid a trip to free agency in 2025. That includes left tackle Dion Dawkins securing a big-money extension last week. Johnson will now join Dawkins as an integral part of Buffalo’s transitioning roster for years to come.

NFL Restructures: Mahomes, Chiefs, Allen, Bills, Broncos, Browns, Martin, Cowboys

Completing a Marquise Brown signing after franchise-tagging L’Jarius Sneed, the Chiefs were able to find room due to once again taking advantage of Patrick Mahomes‘ unique contract. Kansas City created $21.6MM in cap space by restructuring the three-time Super Bowl MVP’s contract, ESPN’s Adam Schefter tweets. The Chiefs have gone to this well twice before, making the move in 2021 and 2023 to create cap room. The team reworked Mahomes’ deal in September 2023, following the QB market moving well beyond the Missouri-based superstar’s $45MM AAV, by moving guaranteed money around. But the extension still runs through 2031, giving the team room to maneuver here. Even with the Sneed tag on the books — ahead of a potential trade — the Chiefs hold more than $15MM in cap space as of Friday afternoon.

Here is the latest on the restructure front:

  • After the Bills made a few high-profile cuts last week, they restructured their centerpiece player’s deal this week. Buffalo created $16.7MM in cap space by restructuring Josh Allen‘s deal, Field Yates of ESPN.com tweets. This merely moved Allen’s 2024 cap charge down to $30.4MM. No void years are on Allen’s $43MM-per-year extension, but monster cap numbers in 2026 and ’27 ($63.9MM, $56.9MM) will need to be addressed. Allen’s deal runs through 2028. The Bills also adjusted Dawson Knox‘s contract to create cap space, per ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler.
  • The Broncos may be preparing to take the bigger Russell Wilson dead money hit this year as opposed to in 2025. Though, the final number has not yet emerged. The team has created considerable cap space as of late, releasing Justin Simmons and trading Jerry Jeudy. The Broncos also restructured the contracts of 2023 UFA pickups Zach Allen and Ben Powers, per Yates, creating nearly $20MM in cap room.
  • The Cowboys reorganized Zack Martin‘s deal recently, according to ESPN’s Todd Archer, who indicates the move created roughly $13MM in cap space. To end Martin’s holdout last year, Dallas provided considerable guarantees over the final two years of the All-Pro guard’s six-year deal. That contract now features four void years. If the Cowboys do not extend Martin before the 2025 league year, they would be staring at a $24.5MM dead money blow.
  • Jedrick Wills will check in here, even though he is not on a veteran contract. The Browns restructured their left tackle’s fifth-year option, per NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero. The move created more than $10MM in cap space. Cleveland tacked four void years onto Wills’ deal. If the team does not re-sign him before the 2025 league year, it incurs an $11.8MM dead money bill. The Browns also turned to Jerry Jeudy‘s fifth-year option, which the team recently acquired from the Broncos, to create more than $10MM in space, Yates adds. The team likely used the same void years-based structure with the wide receiver’s option.

Bills, WR Curtis Samuel Agree To Deal

Buffalo lost Gabe Davis early in free agency, but the team has a new starting receiver in place. Curtis Samuel has agreed to a three-year, $30MM deal with the Bills, per his agency. ESPN’s Adam Schefter adds the pact has a base value of $24MM and includes $15MM guaranteed.

Samuel spent his first four seasons in Carolina, developing into a starter and two-way threat along the way. His best season came in 2020, when he posted 851 receiving yards while also rushing for 200. The former second-rounder notched five scrimmage touchdowns that year, after posting a combined 14 between the previous two campaigns.

Facing high expectations based on that production, Samuel signed a three-year, $34.5MM deal with the Commanders during his first trip to free agency. The 27-year-old was limited to five games in his debut Washington season, but in the two years after that he drew 92 and 91 targets. Samuel posted 1,269 yards and eight touchdowns over that span while also providing secondary contributions as a runner. He will likely be used all-but exclusively as a receiver in Buffalo, a team with a clear-cut lead back in James Cook.

Davis proved himself to be a succesful deep threat during his four years in Buffalo, but he was unable to develop into a consistent No. 2 option. After no substantive talks on a re-up took place, it came as little surprise when he departed on a deal with the Jaguars. Samuel will aim to step in as an effective secondary WR option behind Stefon Diggs on an offense also featuring an intriguing tight end in 2023 first-rounder Dalton Kincaid.

Mack Hollins has also worked out a deal with Buffalo, but Samuel’s pact is far more lucrative. The latter will be expected to continue his effectiveness as a pass-catcher with the potential to contribute on the ground as well. The Bills will have a number of new faces in place at the WR spot come the 2024 season, and a degree of their offensive success will depend on Samuel’s ability to fit in with a new scheme.

Bills, Texans Interested In Arik Armstead; Houston Submitted Offer To Sheldon Rankins

With the 49ers officially designating Arik Armstead as a post-June 1 release, interest in the nine-year veteran defensive lineman is forming.

The Titans became the first known Armstead suitor, but KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson notes the Texans join them. Like recent Texans pickup Azeez Al-Shaair, Armstead played under DeMeco Ryans in San Francisco. The 30-year-old defender does not have a clear connection to the Bills, but The Athletic’s Matt Barrows mentioned Buffalo as a team to monitor here. Wilson adds the Bills are indeed interested.

Ryans coached Armstead for two seasons as 49ers defensive coordinator but was in San Francisco during six of the D-lineman’s nine years in the Bay Area. The Texans have added Danielle HunterDenico Autry and Folorunso Fatukasi up front but have endured multiple subtractions on their defensive interior. Sheldon Rankins signed with the Bengals hours after the Texans traded Maliek Collins to the 49ers.

Houston looks to have driven up Cincinnati’s price on Rankins, with Wilson adding the AFC South club made a $12MM-per-year offer to the former first-round pick. Rankins joined the Bengals on a two-year, $26MM deal; he will be set to team with B.J. Hill up front in Cincinnati. Rankins posted his best pass-rushing season since 2018, totaling six sacks and ranking seventh in ESPN’s pass rush win rate metric.

As for Collins, Wilson indicates the team made the decision to move on from the three-year contributor over the weekend. That still proved to be an interesting trade, seeing as Collins totaled five sacks after signing a through-2025 extension last year. The Texans attempted to trade Collins for Armstead, per Wilson. Considering the 49ers cut Armstead, it is unclear what led to the talks breaking down. The 49ers offered Armstead a pay cut, but he balked with an intent on testing free agency.

The Bills are keeping DaQuan Jones, but the veteran run stuffer and Armstead have differing skillsets. The former first-round pick has worked as a plus interior pass rusher, teaming with Nick Bosa as the 49ers’ D-line pillars under Ryans and Robert Saleh. Ed Oliver signed an extension last year, but the Bills have some work to do on their defensive interior. Jordan Phillips, Tim Settle, Poona Ford and Linval Joseph are free agents.

Armstead is coming off knee surgery, after a season in which knee and foot trouble kept him out of five late-season games. The 6-foot-7 defensive tackle returned in the playoffs at less than 100% and sacked Patrick Mahomes in Super Bowl LVIII. Armstead has eight career postseason sacks, notching at least two during the 2019, 2021 and 2022 playoffs. Despite injuries shortening his 2022 and ’23 seasons, Armstead fared well last year. Pass rush win rate slotted the Oregon alum 10th, while Pro Football Focus ranked him 15th among interior D-linemen while assigning a career-best run-stoppage grade. Armstead totaled five sacks and 13 QB hits in 2023.

Additionally, the Texans are meeting with Settle, according to Wilson. Profiling as a cheaper option compared to Armstead, Settle spent the past two seasons in Buffalo on a two-year, $14MM deal. Once part of the first-rounder-laden Washington D-line, Settle has not disproved his five-sack 2018 season was a fluke. He has never registered more than two in any other slate. The Virginia Tech alum started only four games with the Bills, though he is still just 26.

Bills To Re-Sign RB Ty Johnson

The Bills are keeping one of James Cook‘s backups in the fold. Ty Johnson is expected to stay in Buffalo on a deal that will put him on track play a second season with the perennial AFC East champions, ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler tweets.

A former Lions and Jets running back, the five-year veteran will have another opportunity with the Bills. Initially signing with Buffalo in 2023, Johnson worked in a reserve role in 10 games last season. He is re-signing on a one-year deal, per the Buffalo News’ Jay Skurski.

Damien Harris‘ midseason injury prompted the Bills to promote Johnson, who landed on the practice squad after not making Buffalo’s roster out of training camp. The Maryland alum then joined Latavius Murray as a Cook backup last season. Johnson logged 37 touches for 194 yards last season, catching a touchdown pass during his run of spot duty. He fared well in this role during the Bills’ narrow divisional-round loss to the Chiefs, totaling 40 yards on seven carries.

Harris and Murray, the latter managing to play an age-33 season in 2023, are not under contract. While the Bills should be expected to add an RB2 candidate in the draft or later in free agency, they have Johnson in place as a capable reserve. Darrynton Evans also resides on Buffalo’s offseason roster, rounding out the team’s backfield at present.

Johnson, 26, averaged 5.3 yards per carry as a Jet in 2022. The Jets had re-signed Johnson in March 2023 only to circle back and release him a month later. Over his career, the former sixth-round pick has totaled just 238 carries while contributing on special teams.

Bills To Sign WR Mack Hollins

The Bills lost Gabe Davis early during the legal tampering period, and they should be considered a mortal lock to add a high-profile replacement either in free agency or the draft. But the AFC East champions will add an auxiliary piece in the meantime.

After a season in Atlanta, Mack Hollins is committing to Buffalo, per ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler. Hollins put together a career-best season alongside Davante Adams in Las Vegas two years ago, but he did not fare as well with the Falcons. The Bills will give Hollins a one-year deal worth up to $3MM, Fowler tweets.

Despite Hunter Renfrow’s presence, Josh McDaniels turned to Hollins as the Raiders’ WR2 in 2022. He totaled 690 receiving yards that year, a number well outside the ex-Eagles fourth-rounder’s usual range. Hollins pieced together back-to-back seasons with four touchdowns — 2021 (with Miami) and 2022 — but did not score as a Falcon. Hollins caught just 18 passes for 251 yards with Atlanta, which has since agreed to bring in Darnell Mooney at a much higher price.

Buffalo is at a crossroads, having released a few veteran starters and seeing Davis join the Jaguars. The team has Stefon Diggs still in place as its ace wideout, but the Pro Bowler struggled to close out the 2023 season. Khalil Shakir stepped up for Josh Allen late, but Davis’ exit leaves a long-range void. As the team considers its options, Hollins does provide experience as a tertiary target and brings extensive run as a special-teamer as well.

Bills To Sign LB Nicholas Morrow

Nicholas Morrow‘s Eagles stock bounced up and down last year, but the veteran linebacker ended up playing a bigger-than-expected role. The Bills took interest and will bring in the longtime starter.

Buffalo will sign the former Raiders, Bears and Eagles ILB, per NFL.com’s Mike Garafolo, who notes the sides agreed on a one-year pact Tuesday. Morrow started 12 games for the Eagles last season. He did so while operating as Philadelphia’s defensive signal-caller, so his absence will be missed in 2024.

Taking on a major role with the Eagles’ defense, Morrow made 95 tackles; that represents the second-highest total of his career. The former UDFA had topped 100 stops in 2022 with the Bears, but that production only landed him a one-year accord last offseason. After having a hand in a defense which struggled mightily down the stretch in the Eagles’ NFC title defense, Morrow will again find himself on the move via a short-term agreement.

Buffalo lost Tremaine Edmunds in free agency last year, creating a major vacancy at the linebacker spot. 2022 third-rounder Terrel Bernard took on a starting role as a result, racking up 143 tackles and 6.5 sacks. Tyrel Dodson also logged a notable defensive workload, although he was also used heavily on special teams (as has been the case in previous years for him). The latter is a pending free agent, and his departure could be foreshadowed by Morrow’s addition.

In any case, the 28-year-old will offer considerable experience alongside Bernard and veteran Matt Milano. Morrow has 94 games (58 starts) to his name, and he recorded three sacks, five pass deflections and a forced fumble with the Eagles last season. He will look to replicate (or better) those figures in Buffalo while aiming to avoid the late-season letdown experienced in Philadelphia.

Sam Robinson contributed to this post. 

Broncos To Add DT Malcolm Roach

The Saints-Broncos pipeline remains active, as Sean Payton prepares for his second season in Denver. The longtime New Orleans HC will bring in one of his former defensive linemen.

Malcolm Roach is heading to Denver on a two-year deal worth up to $8MM, NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero tweets. The Broncos have two eight-figure-per-year contracts on their defensive line, but the team has some depth questions behind the Zach AllenD.J. Jones duo. Chris Tomasson of the Denver Gazette notes Roach drew interest from the Rams, Cardinals, Bills and Bengals. Instead, he will continue playing under Payton.

Roach’s Saints role did not change much during his four-season Louisiana run. Starting five games in that time, Roach worked primarily as a rotational defensive lineman. Payton was in place when the Saints signed Roach as a UDFA; the Texas alum has only played for the Saints. Roach will join ex-college teammates Caden Sterns, P.J. Locke and Brandon Jones on Denver’s defense, with Payton also obviously being a familiar face.

Pro Football Focus viewed Roach as a lower-end D-tackle from 2020-22 but viewed him as an improved product last year, slotting the four-year veteran just outside the top 25 among interior D-linemen. Roach, 25, totaled a career-high 38 tackles (three for loss) last season while batting down three passes. Roach stands to help the Broncos in run defense, having logged those numbers last season despite missing five games. While skewed by a brutal start, the Broncos’ defense ranked 30th against the run last year.

Roach will join a Broncos team that saw 2022 starter Jonathan Harris hit free agency. Denver has Matt Henningsen still under contract, though 2022 fourth-rounder Eyioma Uwazurike‘s NFL future is in doubt after the gambling suspension he received last summer.

DaQuan Jones To Re-Sign With Bills

Up late determining his 2024 employment plan, DaQuan Jones does not intend to leave Buffalo. The veteran defensive tackle will recommit to the Bills on a two-year deal, according to his agency (Instagram link).

The Bills will give the 11th-year D-lineman a $10.5MM guaranteed on a contract that includes $16MM in total. Jones returned from a torn pectoral muscle late in the season and was off to a strong start before the October injury threw his second Buffalo slate off track.

A quality run-stuffing DT, Jones will receive almost the same amount of guarantees the Bills provided back in 2022. They gave the former Titans starter $10.6MM guaranteed two years ago. Despite Jones now set for his age-32 season, Buffalo saw enough over his two-year stay to reinvest.

Prior to going down in Week 5 — a rather disastrous outing for the Bills, who lost Matt Milano for the season in London as well — Jones rated third among DTs, per Pro Football Focus. He landed 20th among DTs in 2022. Despite suffering a torn pec, the 320-pound defender made it back in time for the team’s Week 17 game and then the playoffs. That may have gone a ways within the organization, though the Bills came into free agency with next to nothing in place at D-tackle.

Jones, who started 16 games for the Bills in 2022, has lined up as a first-stringer — in Tennessee, Carolina and Buffalo — 133 times. The Bills have at least one non-Ed Oliver answer at DT now; they need more. Tim Settle, Jordan Phillips and Poona Ford are unsigned for the 2024 season. Despite the Bills saying goodbye to longtime starters Jordan Poyer, Tre’Davious White and Mitch Morse, they will be keeping a 30-something regular in the fold.

Minor NFL Transactions: 3/11/24

On the busiest transaction day of the NFL year, here are a few moves that maybe didn’t make the headlines:

Atlanta Falcons

Baltimore Ravens

Buffalo Bills

Jacksonville Jaguars

Kansas City Chiefs

Minnesota Vikings

New York Giants

Philadelphia Eagles

Woerner is probably one of the bigger names on this list. After serving as a reliable run-blocking tight end with the 49ers for the duration of his rookie contract, Woerner earns a new three-year deal worth up to $12MM to head to Atlanta, according to ESPN’s Michael Rothstein.

Brandel may be the next biggest deal on this list. After making five starts in 39 game appearances with the Vikings during his rookie deal, Brandel earned a new three-year, $9.5MM contract to remain in Minnesota. Quessenberry joins him as a depth lineman sticking around.

Lewis also gets to stick around on a multi-year deal, signing a two-year, $4MM deal to remain in Buffalo. A valuable special teamer, Lewis has done a good job of getting himself worked into the rotation on defense a good amount over the course of his rookie deal.

Olszewski earns another year in New York after solving a big issue on punt returns for the Giants last year. Baun heads to Philadelphia as a strong backup after starting 14 games for the Saints during his first four years in the league.