Von Miller

Bills Not Ruling Out Keeping Von Miller; Myles Garrett On Buffalo Radar?

The Chiefs’ Joe Thuney-at-left tackle solution looked passable in the team’s latest playoff win over the Bills, the AFC champions’ lone game with more than 30 points this season. Buffalo has seen improvement from Gregory Rousseau, but its pass rush has not seen enough from Von Miller‘s six-year $120MM contract.

Year 4 of that deal brings the first genuine release opportunity, and that is a legitimate consideration for the five-time reigning AFC East champions. Miller’s guarantees have been paid out. Were the Bills to move on from their highest-paid defender via a post-June 1 release designation, they would save $17.44MM. It is not certain that is how the team proceeds.

Miller is not a lock to be cut, with ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler classifying it as an iffy proposition. Miller could come back as an auxiliary rusher, though a reworked contract — most likely via a pay cut — would be necessary. The future Hall of Fame edge rusher is due to carry a $23.8MM cap number in 2025.

Rousseau and Miller remain under contract, as does former second-rounder A.J. Epenesa. Both Miller and Epenesa tallied six sacks last season; Rousseau led the way with eight. Neither Miller nor Epenesa recorded a postseason sack, while Rousseau notched each of his before the Chiefs rematch.

Rousseau remains one of the players the Bills want to extend, per ESPN.com’s Dan Graziano. Rousseau joins 2022 draftees Christian Benford and Terrel Bernard on Buffalo’s radar. We heard that was the case previously, and all are in contract years. The Bills have already started on their 2025 re-ups, giving Khalil Shakir a four-year extension. James Cook wants in, too, as he joins Rousseau, Benford and Bernard in a contract year.

The Bills also are likely to have an eye on another future Hall of Fame edge defender, one with more left in the tank. As the Browns reiterate they want no part of a Myles Garrett trade, the 2023 Defensive Player of the Year keeps coming up. That is understandable, as Cleveland could collect a big trade package for its disgruntled superstar, who is not believed to be interested in a second Browns extension. As Browns brass would be ready to pay Garrett despite two seasons remaining on his contract, he is holding firm on his trade request.

The Eagles have been linked to Garrett at multiple points this offseason, and Graziano adds the Bills should be viewed as an interested party as well. Buffalo took a big swing on Miller in 2022, and it was going well before the two-time Super Bowl winner’s second ACL tear — sustained on Thanksgiving that year. Miller then failed to record a sack in 2023, as he barely resembled his pre-injury version. Miller returned to better form in his age-35 season but obviously pales in comparison to Garrett’s mid-2020s form. Garrett will turn 30 in December.

As the Browns keep fending off Garrett trade calls, Fowler adds they are believed to be dug in and willing to wait him out. It would stand to reason the Browns would hold on both due to Garrett’s importance to the team and his contract. If the Browns deal Garrett before June 1, they would be hit with a $36.2MM dead money bill. That would set the non-QB record. If Cleveland decides to move on after that date, it could split that amount over two years.

That said, the Browns would presumably be making Garrett’s next team better by trading him. Waiting until after the draft to make a trade would leave them with a package fronted by 2026 draft assets, whereas a deal now would arm the Browns with better picks. Though, a Bills or Eagles package now would not exactly do so due to the teams holding the Nos. 30 and 32 first-round picks. A first-rounder would be required to enter any Garrett trade sweepstakes, with other assets likely necessary for the Browns to have serious conversations about relenting on their long-held stance.

Not too many calls have come Cleveland’s way, however, according to Fowler. Teams do believe the Browns are “dug in” here. That remaining the case come training camp would put Garrett to a test in terms of accruing fines for missing camp workouts and then moving on to game checks. Though, the Browns have restructured Garrett’s contract; he would not be missing much in terms of paragraph 5 money, as his salary is $1.26MM.

Some around the league are skeptical the Browns will truly hang on here, per Fowler, even as Andrew Berry continues to insist they will. The prospect of collecting a trade package that could include multiple first-round picks may be too much to turn down. Garrett has themed his trade ask around landing with a Super Bowl contender, and if the Browns hold their ground beyond the draft, camp will be the next stage of this impasse.

Release Candidate: Von Miller

When Von Miller signed a six-year, $120MM free agent deal in 2022, questions were raised about how he would be able to remain productive over the life of that pact. Halfway through the deal, a release looms as a distinct possibility.

Miller had a strong debut campaign with Buffalo, notching eight sacks in 11 games. An ACL tear ended his season, however, and it delayed his debut the following year. The former Bronco and Ram Super Bowl winner managed to suit up for 12 contests in 2023, but he was held without a sack and handled only a rotational role. That was followed by a pay cut being worked out last March.

The 35-year-old was again a part-time contributor off the edge in 2024, logging a snap share of 33%. Miller did rebound to an extent on the statsheet with six sacks and 16 pressures in 13 games (played on either side of his four-game suspension), but reducing his impact on the team’s cap moving forward is a sensible goal. Unless Miller agrees to reduce his pay again, Joe Buscaglia writes a release can be expected (subscription required).

Miller’s scheduled compensation ranges from $17.5MM to $30MM over the next three years, but none of his base salaries over that span are guaranteed. A release before June 1 would create a larger dead money charge than cap savings for the Bills. If the team designated him a post-June 1 cut, though, $17.44MM in cap space would be created while incurring a dead money charge of only $6.37MM. Miller’s scheduled cap hit of $23.81MM certainly leaves the door open to such a move.

The Bills are led along the edge by Gregory Rousseau and A.J. Epenesa. The former is currently on track to play on his $13.39MM fifth-year option in 2025, but it would come as no surprise if the team targeted a long-term extension in his case. The latter, meanwhile, inked a two-year pact last March. Buffalo could continue to depend on those young pass rushers moving forward with 2024 fifth-rounder Javon Solomon in place as a developmental option.

Veteran Dawuane Smoot is a pending free agent, though, and losing him on the open market in addition to cutting Miller would leave the Bills in need of depth additions via free agency and/or the draft. The 2025 class contains a number of highly-regarded pass rush prospects and with 10 projected selections this April Buffalo will have plenty of opportunities to add at least one. Moving on from Miller would of course be a sign the team prefers to go in a younger direction along the edge for 2025 and beyond.

Bills Activate Von Miller After Four-Game Suspension

The Bills have activated outside linebacker Von Miller after he served a four-game suspension for violating the NFL’s personal conduct policy.

The NFL did not specify why Miller was suspended, but the three-time All-Pro was arrested in December 2023 for a domestic violence charge that sparked a league investigation. Miller denied the allegations, and commissioner Roger Goodell declined to impose a suspension after initial review in March, but it is possible that additional details came to the league’s attention and forced them to act.

Miller’s suspension sidelined him for all four of the Bills’ games in October, but Buffalo still went 3-1 with that span, holding opponents to fewer than 16 points per game. Their pass rush took a small step back in Miller’s absence, recording eight sacks over their last four games after 12 in their first four.

Miller will return to a rotational role among the Bills’ edge rushers on Sunday against the Dolphins. 76.3% of his 93 defensive snaps this season were spent rushing the passer, per Pro Football Focus (subscription required), consistent with Miller’s usage since arriving in Buffalo in 2022.

Miller agreed to a pay cut this offseason that reduced his 2024 salary from $17.5MM to $8.855MM, though he can earn up to $20MM with incentives. The move appears to be a shrewd one by the Bills as Miller’s suspension greatly reduced the chance that he can hit all of his incentives.

The Bills also used standard practice squad elevations on DT Eli Ankou and WR Jalen Virgil ahead of Sunday’s game

AFC East Notes: Rodgers, Saleh, Pats, Bills

Aaron Rodgers‘ first season as a healthy quarterback, for all intents and purposes, under Robert Saleh has not started off on a smooth track. The incident in which the future Hall of Fame quarterback appeared to push the fourth-year Jets HC away following a Week 3 touchdown preceded a sequence in which Saleh’s views on the team’s Week 4 false-start penalties did not align with Rodgers’. Saleh entered the season on probably the AFC’s hottest seat, and Rodgers’ return represented the only reason ownership left the current power structure in play. So far, Rodgers is downplaying a rift exists.

I think there’s some driving force to try and put a wedge [from] outside the facility between Robert and I,” Rodgers said, via the New York Post’s Brian Costello. “But, you know, we’re really good friends. We enjoy each other and we spend time [together]. Almost every day, I’m in his office talking about things and talking about the energy of the team, the focus of the team, what we need to get done, how I can help him out, how he can help me out. So we’ve got a great relationship.”

Rumblings about Rodgers-Saleh friction trace back to the embattled New York HC fining the QB for his trip to Egypt, which occurred during Gang Green’s minicamp. How not fining Rodgers would look to the locker room was at the root of that minor penalty, but the instances of perceived friction between coach and player are piling up. Rodgers’ denial probably will not do too much to cool down this plot, especially as the Jets struggle for consistency.

Here is the latest from the AFC East:

  • Jerod Mayo warned of consequences for Rhamondre Stevenson, who has fumbled in each game this season. The recently extended Patriots back has received both public and private warnings about his RB1 status if this fumbling persists. “That’s definitely under consideration,” Mayo said of a demotion. “I’ve had multiple conversations with Rhamondre. But look, we can’t preach that ball security is job security and still have him out there the majority of the time.” Bill Belichick‘s leash was memorably shorter for fumble-prone RBs, but Mayo’s patience is now running thin. The 1-3 Pats gave Stevenson a four-year, $38MM extension this offseason, with $17.12MM fully guaranteed.
  • Mayo cited the Patriots’ offensive line issues when discussing Drake Maye‘s limited participation to open the preseason, and the team has suffered additional blows up front since. Starting four left tackles in four games, the Pats have missed guard starter Sidy Sow for part of this season and been without Cole Strange throughout. They have since placed third-round rookie Caedan Wallace on IR and are set to play without 10th-year center David Andrews the rest of the way. Pushing back on the notion New England’s O-line issues factor into why Maye is still behind Jacoby Brissett, OC Alex Van Pelt said (via the Boston Herald’s Doug Kyed) that is not part of the team’s consideration. Maye began seeing first-team practice reps early this season, but the team is starting Brissett for a fifth game. The No. 3 overall pick almost definitely will play this season, though the Pats do not exactly have a good situation for a rookie QB.
  • Von Miller likely received his four-game suspension for the arrest on a charge of assaulting a pregnant person, despite the Bills edge rusher and his girlfriend — the alleged victim — denying any crime occurred. That said, The Athletic’s Tim Graham notes the Bills are not entirely sure why Miller was suspended. The team received word a suspension was coming days before it was official, Sean McDermott said. (via ESPN.com’s Alaina Getzenberg). Nearly two years removed from his second ACL tear, Miller (three sacks) is playing much better than he did last year. The subject of a suspension voiding guarantees is now moot, as Miller’s 2024 salary is locked in (as a vested veteran); no guarantees remain for 2025 or 2026.
  • Kyle Dugger sustained an ankle injury, but ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler notes the recently extended Patriots safety avoided a major issue. Dugger still could miss time for a reeling Pats team, though an IR stint may not be necessary.

Bills’ Von Miller Issued Four-Game Ban

Von Miller has remained healthy this season, but he will be absent from the Bills for a notable stretch. The All-Pro edge rusher has been an issued a four-game suspension for violating the NFL’s personal conduct policy, per a league announcement.

Miller was arrested last December on a domestic violence charge. The 35-year-old – who faced a third-degree felony charge – denied the allegations during his first public remarks on the matter, calling them “100% false.” A league investigation into the matter took place, and in March commissioner Roger Goodell said a suspension “was not appropriate based on the facts.” The incident remained under league review after that point, however.

It is possible further investigation has now led to a ban, although the NFL did not specify which incident led to today’s suspension. Miller was not placed on the commissioner’s exempt list ahead of the campaign, something which is common in cases of domestic violence. The three-time All-Pro appeared in all four of Buffalo’s games this season, albeit in a rotational capacity. Miller has logged a snap share of 35%, which is roughly in line with his usage from a 2023 campaign in which his effectiveness was hindered by his ACL recovery.

Miller was one of many Bills whose contracts was restructured this offseason. As a result of that move, no guaranteed salary remains on his pact beyond 2024. The two-time Super Bowl champion’s value took a nosedive in 2023 when he was held without a sack. His debut Buffalo campaign included eight sacks in 11 games, though, so expectations were high for a rebound provided he remained healthy. Miller has notched three sacks this season.

In his absence, the Bills will move forward with the likes of Gregory Rousseau, A.J. Epenesa, Dawuane Smoot and Javon Solomon along the edge. The team sits at 3-1 on the year but a defense which has been dealing with several impactful injuries has now lost another contributor for one month.

Bills’ Von Miller Healthy Ahead Of 2024 Season

The 2023 campaign began with expectations for continued production in the case of Von Miller. The future Hall of Famer’s Bills career got off to a strong with eight sacks in 11 contests during the 2022 campaign, but it was abruptly ended by an ACL tear.

Miller spent last offseason rehabbing, and on multiple occasions he expressed confidence in his knee’s status. The two-time Super Bowl winner had already rebounded from an ACL tear earlier in his career, and managing to do so again would have provided Buffalo with a key contributor along the edge. In the end, though, Miller suited up for 12 contests and had by far the least impactful season of his career. When reflecting on the year, he admitted playing was not the best decision.

“I wanted to be out there and play,” Miller said (via ESPN’s Alaina Getzenberg). “If I was 50%, like, nobody was going to stop me from going out there… But the truth, just being honest with you guys, my knee wasn’t at a place where I could go, and I could move, and I could do the things that I wanted to do. I mean, I could play, but that was just about it.”

Miller was held without a sack and recorded only three tackles in 2023, a major step back from his 2022 totals and a highly underwhelming return on investment from the Bills’ perspective. The 35-year-old remains attached to the six-year, $120MM deal he signed in 2022. He did accept a pay cut this spring as part of Buffalo’s financial maneuvering, but delivering better production would be critical for the team’s pass rush (and allow him to recoup money via incentives).

Repeating the positive sentiment he shared earlier this offseason, Miller added that he is now “feeling normal,” an encouraging sign for his health outlook. The former Bronco and Ram’s best 2023 showings came at the end of the regular season and Buffalo’s two playoff games, and remaining healthy through training camp could set him up for a rotational role to kick off the coming campaign. The Bills still have projected starters Gregory Rousseau and A.J. Epenesa in place at the defensive end spot; the former had his 2025 fifth-year option picked up, while the latter was retained on a two-year deal in March.

Buffalo did lose Leonard Floyd in free agency, though, and Miller returning to his previous form could help offset that departure. Another All-Pro season on Miller’s part should not be expected, of course, but he is at least optimistic 2024 will include a notable step forward in terms of effectiveness compared to last year.

NFL Active Leaders In Career Earnings

Kirk Cousins‘ four-year, $180MM deal with the Falcons this season vaulted him up the list of active career earners. This was by virtue of his $50MM signing bonus, adding to the more than $231MM he earned from the Commanders and (mostly) the Vikings throughout his career. Even under the worst-case scenario, Cousins will still see at least another $50MM come his way via his contract with Atlanta, which would push his career earnings north of $331MM.

While the soon-to-be 36-year-old Cousins will surely see a significant portion of the $80MM worth of unguaranteed money on his contract, he’ll still be hard pressed to catch Aaron Rodgers on the career-earnings list. Rodgers earned more than $306MM during his long tenure in Green Bay, and he’s already made close to $37MM during his one season in New York (mostly via the $35MM signing bonus on his reworked pact).

With at least $40MM of additional guarantees coming his way from the Jets, Rodgers will continue to grow his lead as the highest-earning NFL player of all time. Both Rodgers and Matthew Stafford were able to leap Tom Brady among the NFL’s highest all-time earners over the past year.

With all that said, we’ve listed the 25 active players who have earned the most money in their NFL careers (h/t to OverTheCap.com). While this list is up to date, it doesn’t account for soon-to-realized salaries for the 2024 campaign. This list is also solely focused on NFL cash and does not include off-the-field earnings:

  1. QB Aaron Rodgers: $343MM
  2. QB Matthew Stafford: $328MM
  3. QB Russell Wilson: $305MM
  4. QB Kirk Cousins: $281MM
  5. QB Jared Goff: $234MM
  6. LB Von Miller: $179MM
  7. QB Joe Flacco: $177MM
  8. OT Trent Williams: $171MM
  9. QB Derek Carr: $165MM
  10. LB Khalil Mack: $162MM
  11. QB Dak Prescott: $161MM
  12. DL Aaron Donald: $157MM
  13. QB Jimmy Garoppolo: $150MM
  14. DE Calais Campbell: $143MM
  15. QB Deshaun Watson: $142MM
  16. QB Patrick Mahomes: $136MM
  17. DE Joey Bosa: $134MM
  18. DL Leonard Williams: $134MM
  19. WR Mike Evans: $132MM
  20. QB Carson Wentz: $130MM
  21. WR DeAndre Hopkins: $128MM
  22. WR Stefon Diggs: $126MM
  23. DE Cameron Jordan: $126MM
  24. OT Lane Johnson: $121MM
  25. DT Chris Jones: $120MM

Bills’ Von Miller Addresses Health Status

The 2023 campaign did not go according to plan for Von Miller. The future Hall of Famer’s second Bills campaign included a lengthy recovery from an ACL tear and finished without a sack being recorded.

A key factor in Miller’s ability to rebound in 2024 will of course be the status of his knee. A return to health could pave the way for a bounce-back season, although at age 35 expectations will be lowered with respect to pass rush production. In any event, positive signs have been seen this spring.

“I have continued to grind and continued to work on my knee,” Miller said when speaking to the media (via Michael David Smith of Pro Football Talk). “Everything revolves around my health, the way my knee is feeling So far, I’ve been feeling great. I’ve been practicing without a knee brace. That’s something that I just could not do last year.”

The longtime Broncos Pro Bowler made just three tackles last season while playing a rotational role. That stands in stark contrast to the eight sacks and 27 QB pressures he registered the year before, figures which potentially offered a preview of his time in Buffalo. Four years remain on Miller’s pact, which was restructured in March as part of the team’s multitude of cost-shedding moves ahead of free agency. As a result, he is due $8.86MM in 2024 base compensation with the potential to earn more via incentives.

No guaranteed salary exists on Miller’s contract beyond this season, and a post-June 1 release would generate notable cap savings as early as 2025. The extent to which he rebounds during the coming campaign will therefore be worth watching closely. Buffalo lost Leonard Floyd in free agency, but the team still has Gregory Rousseau and A.J. Epenesa along with veteran addition Dawuane Smoot and fifth-round rookie Javon Solomon on the edge. Miller will compete for snaps as part of that contingent.

“During the season, once we start getting in the mix, in games and stuff, I think I should be good to go,” the latter added. “I think my last three games of the [2023] season, Miami, Pittsburgh and K.C., were my best games of the year. I hate that it waited all the way to that point, but that’s just what it took, and I’ve just been trying to use that to springboard into this season.”

WR Notes: Adams, Aiyuk, Bills

Davante Adams has been mentioned in trade speculation on a number of occasions, but new Raiders general manager Tom Telesco has made it clear the team is not looking to find him a new home. Adams himself has offered a similar commitment.

“If I wanted to be gone, I’d be gone by now,” the three-time All-Pro said Sunday during an appearance at his youth camp (h/t Adam Hill of the Las Vegas Review-Journal). Adams has been connected to the Jets in particular given New York’s addition of Aaron Rodgers last offseason, but the team has made other veteran WR plans. The Jets added Mike Williams on one-year deal after his Chargers release, leaving the Raiders in place to make Adams the focal point of their passing game for a third season.

Adams was among the members of Vegas’ core who endorsed giving Antonio Pierce – after finishing the 2023 campaign as interim head coach – the full-time gig for 2024. That wound up being the case, and the Raiders will no doubt lean heavily on the 31-year-old on offense with running back Josh Jacobs no longer in the fold and, potentially, a rookie quarterback competing for playing time with Aidan O’Connell and Gardner Minshew. Three years remain on Adams’ deal (although no guaranteed salary is in place for 2025 or ’26).

Here are some other WR-related notes from around the league:

  • 49ers standout Brandon Aiyuk has seen his future questioned recently, despite comments from general manager John Lynch confirming the team’s willingness to get a new deal done. With little progress being made on extension talks, the former first-rounder unfollowed the 49ers on Instagram, as noted by NFL Network’s Clayton Holloway. While such a move has become increasingly common over the years during contract disputes, Aiyuk is not eyeing a deal sending him elsewhere. The 26-year-old has not requested a trade, per his agent. Aiyuk is set to earn $14.12MM on his fifth-year option in 2024 absent a more lucrative San Francisco agreement being worked out.
  • General manager Brandon Beane included edge rusher Von Miller as part of the Bills‘ party at least year’s Combine, and the latter intends to become a general manager once his playing days are over. Beane and Miller were linked once again on Friday when the future Hall of Famer posted a video with the caption reading in part: “Brandon Beane arriving to the 2024 NFL draft to trade up for a WR.” The Bills have been named as a team to watch on the receiver front in the draft, with Gabe Davis departing in free agency and Stefon Diggs being dealt to the Texans. While Buffalo has signed Curtis Samuel, the team could use a Day 1 rookie addition. The Bills currently own the 28th overall pick, and a move up the board could give them access to a number of highly-rated wideouts from the celebrated 2024 class.

AFC East Notes: Tua, Jets, Patriots, Miller

We previously heard that both the Dolphins and quarterback Tua Tagovailoa were hoping for speedy negotiations on an extension. However, it sounds like the two sides are temporarily pumping the brakes on a potential deal.

Daniel Oyefusi of The Miami Herald writes that while Tagovailoa’s next contract is the most “consequential matter” in Miami, it isn’t the most pressing. A source also made it clear that an agreement isn’t imminent and there’s “no rush” to finalize a deal.

When we last heard about the impending negotiations, there was a general sentiment that neither the Dolphins nor Tagovailoa wanted the extension talks to hang over training camp, much less the regular season. The two sides could simply be delaying talks until after free agency and the draft, which would still provide an ample amount of time to negotiate before practices start.

The former first-round pick is currently slated to play the 2024 season on a $23.17MM salary via the fifth-year option. Tua is coming off a career year where he set career highs in passing yards (4,624), touchdowns (29), and completion percentage (69.3). He also managed to get into all 17 games, a significant accomplishment after he missed 14 contests through his first three years in the NFL due to injuries and concussions.

More notes out of the AFC East…

  • The Jets recently added Mike Williams to their receivers room, but with the former Charger coming off a torn ACL, he won’t immediately be seen on the practice field. GM Joe Douglas told reporters that Williams will not be ready for the start of training camp, but there’s optimism that he’ll be good to go for Week 1 (per SNY’s Connor Hughes). Williams himself echoed that sentiment, telling ESPN’s Adam Schefter that it’s his goal to be ready for the regular season opener.
  • Two more Jets injury updates, both coming on the offensive line. After being limited to five games last season thanks to an Achilles injury, guard Alijah Vera-Tucker is expected to be ready for the start of the regular season, coach Robert Saleh told reporters (via team reporter Caroline Hendershot). Meanwhile, new addition (and old friend) Morgan Moses revealed that he played through most of last season with a torn pec, telling the team’s website that he’s looking forward “to having two arms this year.”
  • While the Patriots have been busy re-signing their own free agents, the new regime is making it clear that they’re not following the same formula as Bill Belichick. ESPN’s Mike Reiss points to the recent release of special teams ace Chris Board, “who was a Belichick favorite.” While the former head coach/chief decision maker used to invest in top-of-the-market deals for key ST players, Reiss notes that new head coach Jerod Mayo and de facto GM Eliot Wolf “appear less willing.” Reiss also points to defensive back Myles Bryant, who “lost a top advocate in Belichick.” After spending the past four seasons in New England, Bryant remains unsigned, and the Patriots are only willing to bring him back if his salary is reflective of a “depth player” vs. a “key cog.”
  • After Von Miller was arrested on a domestic violence charge, the NFL considered suspending the Bills linebacker. However, commissioner Roger Goodell told reporters (including ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler) that a suspension “was not appropriate based on the facts,” although the case remains under review by the NFL. Miller told reporters in December that the allegations were “100% false.”