The Buffalo Bills must make a prompt decision regarding Von Miller; otherwise, they may face significant financial consequences.
Von Miller, who plays for the Buffalo Bills at number 40, participated in a game against the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 5 of the 2023 National Football League season. Unfortunately, his performance was affected by a major knee surgery, resulting in zero sacks in 14 games.
Furthermore, Miller’s age and signs of decline are evident. He will turn 35 on March 26 and has been away from the game for nearly two years due to surgery. The question arises: can this former Super Bowl MVP regain his previous level of skill, or is it time for the Bills to move on?
Both options have their downsides. Releasing the two-time Super Bowl winner would result in a massive dead-cap space of $32.5 million, which will increase to $39 million after March 18. This would become the third highest dead-cap hit in the league’s history, a statistic the Bills front office likely wishes to avoid.
To mitigate the situation, the Bills could spread out the dead cap over the next two years. Miller is set to earn $23.7 million against the cap, with a base salary of $17 million. If released in the spring, the Bills could allocate $17 million this year and $15 million in 2024 towards the dead money.
Alternatively, the Bills could designate Miller as a post-June 1 release. This would allow them to release him before the March 18 deadline while still counting his salary cap hit of $23 million until June 1.
However, this move comes with a downside. Although it would save money on the salary cap, it may limit the Bills’ ability to acquire desired players in free agency, as it would occur later in the offseason.
Opinions among football fans vary. Some believe the Bills should release Von Miller to save money on the salary cap, while others think he should retire or that no team would trade for him given his recent performance.
If the Bills do decide to part ways with Miller, they will face the challenge of finding a top-tier linebacker to replace him. Additionally, other key players such as Leonard Floyd, Dion Dawkins, Taron Johnson, Rasul Douglas, Greg Rousseau, and Spencer Brown are all entering free agency, further complicating the situation.
Considering all factors, it may be in the Bills’ best interest to retain Miller for the 2024 season. With his improved fitness, he has the potential to achieve 10 sacks per season. The team could also consider drafting a rookie to learn from Miller and eventually take over his position in the future.
According to the Source firstsportz.com