Bills Trim Roster To 53
The Bills announced that they’ve moved their roster to 53 players by cutting 21 players. That list of cuts includes notable names like fullback Jerome Felton, linebacker Manny Lawson, versatile cornerback Sterling Moore, and linebacker Randell Johnson.
The Bills will save $2.35MM against the cap by releasing Lawson and $1.55MM by cutting Felton. By freeing up that cash, the Bills will have a little more room to work with as they negotiate a new deal with cornerback Stephon Gilmore.
Felton was signed as a free agent last offseason to a four-year pact worth $9.2MM, with $4MM guaranteed. Considering how the fullback position has been phased out by many NFL teams, that was a steep price to pay for the former Viking. With Minnesota, Felton acted as the lead blocker for Adrian Peterson‘s 2012 MVP campaign, paving the way for Peterson to nearly break the all-time rushing record. Felton himself went to the Pro Bowl that season, and was named second-team All Pro. The team is saving money by dropping the 30-year-old, but his release is also a sign of their confidence in Glenn Gronkowski.
Over the last three seasons, Lawson has appeared in all but one regular season game for the Bills. In 2015, Lawson appeared in every contest and started 14 games, racking up 45 tackles, 1 sack, and 5 pass deflections. Lawson is facing a one-game ban as a result of a domestic violence incident and that was thought to be a big blow in the season opener considering that the team will also be without top rookies Reggie Ragland and Shaq Lawson plus reserve linebacker IK Enemkpali. For one reason or another, the Bills have decided that they are better off without him.
Moore, 26, came over from Tampa Bay during the offseason, and has also spent time with the Patriots, Cowboys, and Raiders. Johnson, meanwhile, has been with Buffalo for the past two seasons, starting one game during that time.
Here is the complete list of cuts:
- FB Jerome Felton
- CB Sterling Moore
- LB Manny Lawson
- LB Randell Johnson (waived/injured)
- TE Blake Annen (waived/injured)
- LB Kroy Biermann
- WR Jarrett Boykin
- CB Mario Butler
- WR Kain Colter
- DT Brandon Deaderick
- DL Lavar Edwards
- RB Boom Herron
- WR Dez Lewis
- OL Marquis Lucas (waived/injured)
- OT Chris Martin
- G Cyril Richardson
- CB Sammy Seamster
- LB Max Valles
- C Fernando Velasco
- DT Casey Walker
- RB James Wilder Jr. (waived/injured)
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Bills Cut Jarius Wynn, Add 14 UDFAs
The Bills have fortified their rookie class, adding to their seven-man draft class by agreeing to terms with another 14 undrafted free agents, the team announced today. Here are the 14 undrafted rookies who have agreed to sign with Buffalo:
- LB Bryson Albright (Miami OH)
- WR Davonte Allen (Marshall)
- WR Gary Chambers (Arizona State)
- LS Reid Ferguson (LSU)
- FB Glenn Gronkowski (Kansas State) ($15K signing bonus, per Ben Volin of the Boston Globe)
- C Robert Kugler (Purdue)
- G/C Jamison Lalk (Iowa State)
- DE Claudell Louis (Fresno State)
- T Marquis Lucas (West Virginia) ($10K signing bonus, per Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle)
- T Keith Lumpkin (Rutgers)
- K Marshall Morgan (Georgia)
- ILB Eric Striker (Oklahoma)
- CB Julian Whigham (Syracuse)
- DT Justin Zimmer (Ferris State)
In addition to adding over a dozen rookies to their roster, the Bills also cut ties with some veteran players, per a press release. The most notable name in the trio of players released is edge defender Jarius Wynn, who perhaps became more expandable after Buffalo used its first-round pick on outside rusher Shaq Lawson. Wynn last played in 2014, recording 17 tackles and two sacks for the Bills.
The club also cut cornerback Merrill Noel and offensive lineman Ronald Patrick.