The Buffalo Bills face tough salary cap decisions this offseason. Here’s a breakdown of veteran players who could be cut to create cap space in 2026.
As the offseason really gets underway for all 32 NFL clubs, the Buffalo Bills are once again finding themselves navigating a tight salary-cap situation.
As of writing, Buffalo sits roughly $12 million over the salary cap (per OverTheCap). To make any free agent signings, acquire players via trade, or even sign their 2026 draft picks, the Bills need to clear up space one way or another.
While restructures and extensions will offer some relief, meaningful flexibility often comes from tougher decisions. And that includes moving on from proven veterans. With Buffalo needing to clear space to stay competitive, several notable players stand out as potential cap-related casualties.
Dawson Knox
Tight end Dawson Knox remains one of the most complex decisions. Knox is still a reliable presence and a respected locker-room leader, but his role in the offense has shifted. With production no longer matching his cap number, the Bills could be forced to weigh financial flexibility against continuity at the position.
He's been with the Bills for seven years and has been a fan favorite since day one. He also has a close relationship with Josh Allen that doesn't go unnoticed.
Still, his contract is one that Buffalo has to do something about. Knox is set to count $17.07 million towards the salary cap this year, which just doesn't seem realistic for the Bills right now.
Moving on from Knox would save the Bills $9.664 million, but it would also result in $7.4 million in dead cap. Should they release him with a post–June 1 designation, they would save more this season as the cap hit is spread out over two years. Going that route saves Buffalo $12 million on the cap right away with just a $5.07M dead cap hit for 2026.
All that being said, it's more likely than not that Knox either gets restructured or even takes a pay cut. Restructuring his contract would not only keep him on the team but save as much as $6.9 million this year.
Curtis Samuel
Wide receiver Curtis Samuel is another contract worth monitoring. Cutting Samuel before June 1 would free up $6.06 million, with $3.45 million in dead cap. Using a post–June 1 designation, which teams have two at their disposal during the offseason, bumps the savings to $7.78 million while reducing the dead cap hit to just $1.725 million.
Samuel was added for versatility and speed, but in two seasons with the Bills, he's made little to no impact. In two seasons, Samuel's played in just 20 games, starting two of them, with 38 catches for 334 yards and two touchdowns.
While not a guarantee, the Bills could very well replace his production with someone on a lower salary via the draft.
Taylor Rapp
Safety Taylor Rapp is one of the more straightforward cap decisions. Releasing Rapp would save the Bills $3.075 million while leaving behind just $666,668 in dead cap. While not a massive number, it’s clean cap relief that could be appealing if Buffalo feels comfortable with its depth or plans to add competition at the position.
He's likely not going to be the starter next to Cole Bishop next season, so it just makes sense.
Tyler Bass
This is another potentially difficult decision. Tyler Bass has been a pretty reliable kicker for Buffalo for five seasons. Unfortunately, last year Bass didn't play at all after suffering a hip injury that would ultimately require surgery.
Coming back from an injury like that leads to a lot of questions about his reliability. Will he be able to kick at the same distances he did before the injury? Will the hip linger despite the surgery?
It's very unlikely that Bass would be released during the offseason while he continues to rehab. However, should training camp come along and he isn't making the progress the team hopes, he could find himself off the roster. Should that happen, the Bills would save $3.95 million this year.
All in all, none of these moves would be easy due to the humans involved. However, the NFL is a business, and tough decisions have to be made. If the Bills need cap space to stay aggressive in the AFC, these are the contracts most likely to factor into those conversations.
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