Bills Bring Back QB Mitchell Trubisky, P Matt Haack; S Taylor Rapp Lands Extension
MARCH 7: Garafolo’s colleague Tom Pelissero reports the Trubisky deal is two years in length and has a base value of $5.25MM. $2.75MM in guaranteed money is in place for 2024, and he can raise the value of the pact to $8.45MM via playing time and win incentives. Trubisky’s deal is thus far more valuable than Kyle Allen’s from last season, and the latter will likely be headed elsewhere.
MARCH 6: After being released from the Steelers over three weeks ago, quarterback Mitchell Trubisky is headed back to Buffalo, according to Mike Garafolo of NFL Network. Trubisky left the Bills two years ago in order to compete for the starting job in Pittsburgh, but after falling dramatically on the depth chart since then, Trubisky found himself a free agent. Tim Graham of The Athletic was the first to report progressing talks of a reunion earlier this afternoon. 
After leaving for the Steelers, Trubisky successfully won the starting job over then-rookie Kenny Pickett. In a Week 4 loss to the Jets, Trubisky was benched for the rookie out of Pitt and remained on the bench for most of the remainder of the year, except for two games during which Pickett was injured. This season, Trubisky was the first name called upon to start when Pickett got hurt again. He played in three consecutive games before eventually getting benched once again, this time in favor of Mason Rudolph.
During his previous stint in Buffalo, Trubisky signed knowing that he would serve as a backup to Josh Allen, resigning himself to a role learning under the same staff that molded Allen into an MVP candidate. He’ll return to the same role in 2024. Trubisky’s addition likely means the end of Kyle Allen‘s time in Buffalo. Allen made seven garbage-time appearances last year as the primary backup before heading to free agency this offseason. Practice squad reserve Shane Buechele was signed to a futures deal and should play a similar role next season.
The Bills also kept an important name in the secondary, signing safety Taylor Rapp to a three-year extension worth up to $14.5MM, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter. Rapp, formerly a full-time starter as a second-round pick for the Rams, functioned as a third safety for the Bills in 2023, sitting behind the veteran pair of Micah Hyde and Jordan Poyer. Rapp’s main playing time in Buffalo came as a starter in the four weeks that Hyde and Poyer missed due to injury.
With Hyde headed towards free agency and Poyer being released today, Rapp’s signing may deliver a glimpse of the Bills’ plans at safety moving forward. Some have even linked Buffalo to some of the best safety prospects in the draft like Minnesota’s Tyler Nubin or Miami’s Kamren Kinchens. Since both Hyde and Poyer will be 33 years old heading into the 2024 season, it makes sense that Buffalo is making plans to move on. Rapp represents one possible solution moving forward at 26 years old.
Finally, another reunion is happening in Buffalo, this one on special teams. Veteran punter Matt Haack signed a deal to return to Buffalo this year. Haack’s last full season came in 2022, when he served punting duties for the Colts, but he did play a game for the Browns this past year. The Bills re-signed current punter Sam Martin to a three-year, $6MM deal almost a year ago, so he’s still under contract for two more years.
Martin’s contract does have a potential out this offseason that would allow the team to save $1.25MM of cap space, so given the rest of their actions today, I wouldn’t rule out Haack coming in to replace Martin. For now, though, we’ll assume Haack is coming in to provide some camp competition for Martin this summer.
Broncos Release S Justin Simmons
The list of veteran safeties who will be available in free agency continues to grow. The Broncos are moving on from Justin Simmons, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports. The move is now official, per a team announcement.
One year remained on Simmons’ pact – one which had an AAV of $15.25MM, sixth-highest in the league at the position – and he was set to carry a cap hit of $18.25MM. By cutting bait with the 30-year-old, Denver will save $14.5MM while generating a dead money charge of $3.75MM. The move will bring an end to Simmons’ eight-year tenure in the Mile High City, one in which he has consistently been one of the team’s top producers. 
Given the nature of his cap hit, the former third-rounder’s future was called into question earlier this offseason. A report from last month noted the likelihood of a deal lowering Simmons’ cap charge, something which could have been accomplished via a restructure or extension. Instead of taking either route, though, the Broncos – met with a number of financial challenges given the enormous dead money charge the Russell Wilson release will trigger – will cut bait altogether.
Simmons has played each of his 118 career games with the Broncos, generating a well-earned reputation as one of the league’s top safeties along the way. He has recorded at least two interceptions every year, including a league-leading six in 2022. This past campaign saw continued production on the backend (three interceptions, eight pass breakups, two forced fumbles), and Simmons received a second career Pro Bowl invitation as a result.
Dating back to 2019, the Boston College product has been earned second-team All-Pro honors four times while remaining healthy and productive. His 30 interceptions since his rookie campaign (2016) are the most in the NFL during that span. As a result, his absence will be sorely felt in Denver’s secondary moving forward, while a number of suitors will no doubt show interest in Simmons now that he is available.
The Broncos had a long-standing tandem at the safety spot with Simmons and Kareem Jackson serving as starters. After a campaign featuring multiple ejections, fines and suspensions, however, the latter was waived in December and claimed by the Texans. Jackson is a pending free agent, but a Broncos reunion would come as a major surprise. P.J. Locke – who took over as a starter due to Jackson’s absence – is also set to reach the open market next week, so plenty of additions could be required for the Broncos to re-build their safety depth chart.
Denver entered Thursday as one of the team’s sitting over the cap ceiling, meaning cost-cutting moves would be required. Releasing Simmons will bring the team to within roughly $1.85MM of compliance, so any subsequent maneuvering will likely not be as notable as today’s move. Still, the loss of Simmons will create a challenge for Denver as the team aims to build off the defensive rebound seen last season after a woeful start to the campaign on that side of the ball.
Simmons’ durability (seven missed games since 2018) and production should help him find a new home relatively soon. A number of teams have moved on from pricey safeties in the lead-in to free agency, however, and the likes of Jordan Poyer, Rayshawn Jenkins, Kevin Byard and Quandre Diggs are among those who have recently been released. Interested suitors will have a number of options to choose from at the safety spot, but Simmons could command the most lucrative deal among them.
Bills To Release CB Tre’Davious White
As their cost-shedding moves continue, the Bills are parting ways with Tre’Davious White. The former All-Pro corner will be released, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports. 
Schefter notes White will be designated a post-June 1 cut, meaning the move will not take place until the new league year begins next week. That path will lead to $10.2MM in savings in 2024, but they will not be realized until June 2. White will, however, be free to find a new team as soon as the market opens.
[RELATED: Bills To Release Mitch Morse, Deonte Harty]
White’s future was in question given his injury history over the past two seasons in particular. The former first-rounder was limited to six contests in 2022 as he recovered from an ACL tear the previous fall. In 2023, an Achilles tear cut his season short after just four contests. Having missed considerable time and with no more base salary guaranteed on his deal, White represented a logical release candidate.
The 29-year-old’s extension (a four-year, $69MM pact inked in 2020) had already been restructured multiple times, and taking that route again would have pushed further cap charges down the road. Instead, the team will elect to spread out his dead money charge ($6.23MM in 2024) over two years while cutting ties with a full-time starter. White logged 89 total appearances between regular and postseason play in Buffalo.
Over that span, he racked up 18 interceptions – including a league-leading six in 2019. White reached double figures in terms of pass deflections in three of his first four seasons, but his production in that regard has dropped off in the past three years due in part to the missed time. The LSU alum has remained strong in coverage, though, something which could help him land a notable pact with a new team in free agency.
Buffalo has 2022 sixth-rounder Christian Benford as well as 2023 trade acquisition Rasul Douglas in place as starting outside corners for the time being. Kaiir Elam – taken 23rd overall in 2022 – has not developed as hoped so far in his career, but moving on from White could open the door to playing time. In any case, the Bills will be in the market for a CB addition either in free agency or the draft.
In need of plenty of maneuvering to get under the cap limit, the Bills have made a slew of moves pointing them in that direction. That has included Jordan Poyer and Siran Neal being released today. The same is also true of Morse and Harty. Taking into account the efforts made so far, Buffalo sits $19.7MM over the cap as things stand. That figure will be helped in June by White’s release, but in the immediate future the team still has more work to do from a financial standpoint.
Bills Restructure Von Miller, Rasul Douglas
The Bills remained the busiest team in the NFL this Wednesday as they made a litany of moves to adjust their salary cap heading into the new league year.
While much of that came in the releases of Jordan Poyer, Mitch Morse, Nyheim Hines, Deonte Harty, and Siran Neal, as well as the planned post June-1 release of Tre’Davious White, they were able to open up even more cap space today by restructuring the contracts of veteran pass rusher Von Miller and cornerback Rasul Douglas. 
Miller, 34, was a shadow of his former self in 2023. Rotating in behind Gregory Rousseau, Leonard Floyd, A.J. Epenesa, and Shaq Lawson, Miller was mostly a nonfactor on the Bills defense. While eight sacks in 2022 seemed worth the massive six-year, $120MM contract he signed to come to Buffalo, Miller’s ineffectiveness in the wake of his ACL recovery made a restructure all but necessary. According to Field Yates of ESPN, the Bills converted $7MM of his base salary (originally worth $17.15MM) into a signing bonus and $8.65MM more into incentives. Miller’s new base salary is $1.5MM for 2024, but he will reportedly be able to make up to $20MM. The move clears $8.65MM of cap space.
Douglas, a midseason trade acquisition this past season, was a welcome addition to the secondary, but Buffalo felt a need to offset some of his 2024 cap hit, which was scheduled to be nearly $10MM. ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports that the team converted $1.5MM of Douglas’ 2024 base salary, as well as a $2MM roster bonus, into a signing bonus. Buffalo also added three void years in order to spread out cap into later years. In doing so, the Bills were able to clear up another $2.5MM of cap space.
Jay Skurski of The Buffalo News had the honor or keeping track of all the team’s financial moves today, noting the changes to a cap number that started the day around $41MM over the league’s $255.4MM salary cap. Between the restructures of Miller and Douglas and the releases of Poyer, Morse, Hines, Harty, and Neal, the Bills were able to clear approximately $37.1MM of their $41MM deficit. They should get an additional boost of over $10MM from the post June-1 release of White and more from the trade of offensive lineman Ryan Bates, but that will be needed to counteract the recent moves to extend safety Taylor Rapp and guard David Edwards and sign quarterback Mitchell Trubisky and punter Matt Haack.
The Bills were much busier than any other team in the NFL today. They’ll likely continue to adjust here and there with free agency and the draft on the horizon. For now, though, no one can say they aren’t making efforts to get under the league’s new salary cap.
RFA/ERFA Tender Decisions: 3/6/24
Today’s tender decisions from around the NFL:
RFAs
Non-tendered:
- Broncos: DE Jonathan Harris
Since the Broncos claimed him off waivers during his rookie season, Harris has played in Denver for the last three and a half years. During his first two seasons, he only played as a practice squad elevation three times a year. In the last two years, though, Harris has seen his impact increase with nine starts in 25 regular season appearances for the Broncos, playing in every game this year. Despite being in line to start in 2024, Harris will head to the open market after not being tendered in Denver.
Minor NFL Transactions: 3/6/24
Some minor moves during a busy day of major transactions:
Atlanta Falcons
- Re-signed: LB Nathan Landman
Dallas Cowboys
- Re-signed: DT Carl Davis
Kansas City Chiefs
- Re-signed: TE Gerrit Prince
The Falcons were able to avoid tendering Landman by simply signing him to a new one-year contract. The exclusive rights free agent signed with the team as an undrafted free agent in 2022, and after the season-ending injury to starting linebacker Troy Andersen, Landman took full advantage of the opportunity to start, finishing third on the team with 110 total tackles in 14 starts. He returns to Atlanta to fit in amongst Andersen and Kaden Elliss.
Eagles To Release CB Avonte Maddox
The Eagles’ secondary is set to lose a longtime contributor. Cornerback Avonte Maddox is being released, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter. 
Schefter notes that a reunion at a lower cost could be in play, as the sides will continue to discuss a new arrangement. For the time being, though, Maddox is free to pursue an outside deal after spending the past six seasons in Philadelphia.
One year remained on the 27-year-old’s deal. He was due to carry a cap hit of $9.68MM, but moving on right away will not produce much in the way of added flexibility. Cutting Maddox before June 1 will create just under $2MM in cap space; designating him a post-June 1 release would have, on the other hand, seen that figure rise to $7.12MM with a far smaller dead money charge. No cap savings become available until June 2 when teams take the latter route, though.
A torn pectoral muscle required surgery and forced Maddox to miss considerable time in 2023. He was limited to just four games in the regular season, though he had recovered in time for the Eagles’ wild-card loss. The former fourth-rounder started at least two games in each of his Philadelphia campaigns, totaling 38 across his 64 appearances. In that span, he racked up four interceptions, 31 pass breakups and eight forced fumbles.
That production could make the slot man an attractive free agent if he lands with a new team. Struggles in coverage could – along with injury issues, of course – limit his market to a prove-it deal with Philadelphia or another suitor, however. The Eagles already have veterans Darius Slay and James Bradberry under contract for two more seasons, although each have had their futures questioned given their age and the possibility Philadelphia could pursue a youth movement at the CB spot.
Both Slay and Bradberry are on track to remain with the Eagles, so the slot will be a position worth watching if no new Maddox deal can be worked out. The team entered today with roughly $42MM in cap space, giving them much more spending power than a number of others around the league. If Maddox does indeed depart, some of those resources will likely be needed to find an impact replacement.
Bills Release Mitch Morse, Deonte Harty
The Bills continue to move on from veterans in their path to cap compliance. Buffalo is releasing center Mitch Morse, Mike Garafolo and Ian Rapoport of NFL Network report. The team also plans to cut receiver/returner Deonte Harty, Rapoport and colleague Tom Pelissero add. Both moves are now official. 
Morse’s release marks further changes along the offensive line for Buffalo. The team traded Ryan Bates to the Bears on Monday, giving him a better chance of seeing first-team duties. That suggested the Bills’ starting interior trio of Connor McGovern, O’Cyrus Torrence and Morse would remain intact for 2024. Instead, the latter is now poised for free agency.
Moving on from Morse – who had one year remaining on his contract – will produce $8.5MM in cap savings and $3MM in dead money. The move means Buffalo will have a new starting center for the first time since 2019 unless a new, more cost-effective agreement can be reached between team and player in this situation. Morse earned his lone Pro Bowl nod in 2022, and he logged over 1,100 snaps for the second time in his career last season.
The 31-year-old ranked 20th amongst qualifying centers in 2023, drawing a 64.1 overall grade. That falls in line with his evaluations throughout much of his career, and a similar level of play may have been expected for 2024. Buffalo entered the offseason in unenviable cap shape, though, leading to a number of departures via veteran releases.
That process has included safety Jordan Poyer and special teamer Siran Neal being let go in cost-shedding moves earlier today. Harty’s release will add to the financial benefits, as it will yield a further $4.3MM in extra cap space. The latter joined Buffalo on a two-year pact last offseason and served as the team’s primary punt returner. He ran back 26 punts in 2023, and scored a 96-yard touchdown as part of his special teams contributions. The Bills will aim to find a less expensive option this offseason.
Rapoport notes Connor McGovern is expected to slide over from guard to center to take Morse’s place. Not to be confused with the Jets center of the same name, McGovern joined the Bills last offseason following his Cowboys tenure. He played exclusively at left guard in 2023, but he has limited experience as a center dating back to his time in Dallas. David Edwards, meanwhile, will be the favorite to replace McGovern at the LG spot on Buffalo’s new-look offensive line.
Seahawks Release DT Bryan Mone
One day after executing a number of cost-shedding moves, the Seahawks remain busy on that front. Seattle has released defensive tackle Bryan Mone, per a team announcement. This moves comes with a non-football injury designation, Aaron Wilson of KPRC2 notes.
Only $500K of Mone’s 2024 compensation was guaranteed for 2024, making this a relatively easy move from the Seahawks’ perspective. The team will free up $5.39MM in cap space by moving on. However, Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times notes the parties could work out a new arrangement at a lower price tag.
The Seahawks made the expected move of releasing safeties Jamal Adams and Quandre Diggs on Tuesday, incurring notable dead money charges in the process. The team also cut tight end Will Dissly, leaving open the possibility of a mass exodus at that position. Mone could join that trio in departing the Emerald City in free agency, something which would leave a depth vacancy along the defensive interior.
The latter had been with the Seahawks since joining the team as a UDFA in 2019. In all, he made 41 appearances and eight starts while logging a consistent workload. Mone’s defensive snap share ranged between 30-38% each season and he chipped in with 73 tackles and a pair of sacks during his four-year run on the field. The 28-year-old was placed on the PUP list in July, though, and he was sidelined for the entire 2023 campaign while rehabbing from an ACL tear.
Seattle was already well under the cap ceiling before today’s move, but given Mone’s injury situation it comes as little surprise. Even if he is brought back, improvement in the front seven will be a key priority for new head coach Mike Macdonald, who enters the team with plenty of acclaim after running the Ravens’ defense for the past two years. Further turnover along the D-line could take place if fellow veteran and pending free agent Mario Edwards departs once the new league year begins.
For the time being, Seattle will move forward with Dre’Mont Jones and Jarran Reed under contract at the DT spot. The team now sits at $41.6MM in cap space, some of which will likely be used on depth additions at a minimum. The draft will also present opportunities to pursue upgrades, and the Seahawks are among the teams already known to have a 30 visit with first-round prospect Byron Murphy lined up.
Bills Release S Jordan Poyer, CB Siran Neal
In need of cost-shedding moves in the lead-in to free agency, the Bills are moving on from Jordan Poyer. The veteran safety is being released, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports. The team has since confirmed the move.
Poyer had been a Bills mainstay over the past seven years, remaining a full-time starter and enjoying his most productive seasons in Buffalo. One year remained on his pact, and the 33-year-old was due $5.5MM. Poyer’s cap hit was set to be $7.72MM, though, and $760K of his salary was due to become guaranteed on March 18. Moving on will create $5.72MM in cap space while generating a dead money charge of $2MM.
Buffalo first inked Poyer in 2017, and extended him in 2020. A free agent departure was a distinct possibility last offseason, and the former seventh-rounder tested his value on the open market. After failing to receive much in the way of outside interest, he agreed to a two-year, $12.5MM re-up in Buffalo. Halfway through that pact, he will now seek out a new team as he looks to continue his career.
Buffalo safety partner Micah Hyde is a pending free agent, but his playing future is uncertain. Given the questions surrounding Hyde’s willingness to work out another Bills pact – and the interest the team would have in one – as well as today’s move, the position is on track to see notable turnover this offseason. Both Hyde and Poyer had been in place as full-time starters for the past seven years.
The latter remained productive through much of his Buffalo tenure. Poyer earned first-team All-Pro honors in 2021, and he received a Pro Bowl invite the following season. After racking up a combined nine interceptions and 17 pass deflections during that span, however, those totals fell to zero and four in 2023. Between a drop-off in production and concerns about his age, Poyer could be hard-pressed to land a lucrative deal with a new team in free agency (something which figures to have a number of veteran safeties available).
Depth corner and special teamer Siran Neal is also being released, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports. That move will free up roughly $2.9MM in cap space; one year remained on Neal’s contract. The 29-year-old had been with the Bills since 2018, playing 97 games and logging a heavy workload on special teams along the way. While Buffalo’s third phase will take a hit with this move, the team will move closer to cap compliance as a result of it.
Even with Poyer and Neal off the books, Buffalo still sits $32.5MM over the cap ceiling. Teams must be under the limit by the start of the new league year next week, so further moves will be required over the coming days. The Bills’ secondary, meanwhile, will feature a number of new faces in 2024.