BREAKING: Bills to Move on From $120 Million Player After Disappointing Tenure

It appears the Buffalo Bills could make a major decision regarding Von Miller this offseason. After restructuring his contract last year to lower his base salary while offering performance-based incentives, the team may now be preparing to move on from the veteran pass rusher entirely.

Miller’s time in Buffalo has been marked by injuries and inconsistent play, falling short of expectations after signing a $120 million deal. With another underwhelming season behind him, the Bills are expected to release him, creating significant cap relief and signaling a shift in their defensive approach.

Time for Bills to Move On?

Bleacher Report’s Alex Ballentine believes there’s “little to no chance” that Von Miller will return to the Bills on his current deal, which carries a $23.8 million cap hit for 2025. While a pay cut could be an option, Ballentine argues that Buffalo may be better off moving on entirely and investing in younger talent.

 

If the Bills cut Miller, they would free up $8.4 million in cap space. “Miller was still an important cog in the defensive front,” Ballentine noted. “He only played 25 percent of the snaps, but he was third on the team in sacks with six. If the Bills believe they can replace that production for cheaper than the cap savings they get by cutting Miller, then that makes sense.”

Initially, Miller seemed like a strong investment for Buffalo, recording 8.0 sacks in his first 11 games in 2022 before a torn ACL ended his season. However, he struggled upon his return in 2023, failing to register a sack and making just three tackles in 12 games. While he improved slightly in 2024 with 6.0 sacks in 13 games, his season was overshadowed by a four-game suspension following domestic violence allegations.

With injuries, declining production, and off-the-field concerns, Miller’s future in Buffalo appears uncertain as the team looks to reshape its defense.

New Options for the Bills

The Buffalo Bills struggled to generate consistent pressure on opposing quarterbacks throughout the 2024 season, a weakness that was exposed in the AFC Championship game against the Kansas City Chiefs. Patrick Mahomes was able to pick apart the Bills’ defense both through the air and on the ground, highlighting their need for a stronger pass rush.

Bleacher Report’s Alex Ballentine suggested the Bills could look to free agency or the NFL Draft to bolster their edge rush. “A free agent like Josh Uche might make sense,” Ballentine wrote. “They could also look to address the position in the draft with a project like Princely Umanmielen. Either way, they need a succession plan.”

Ronnie Eastham of SI.com also pointed to Philadelphia Eagles edge rusher Josh Sweat as a potential target. “Josh Sweat recorded a solid eight sacks this season, and 15 QB hits,” Eastham wrote. “He has 43 career sacks, but only one season of double-digit numbers. He’ll turn 28 in March, so he has youth going for him still, and Spotrac set his market value at three years, $56.46 million.”

With Von Miller’s future uncertain, the Bills may need to act quickly to revamp their defensive front and improve their ability to disrupt opposing quarterbacks.