BREAKING: Buffalo Bills Announce Key Defensive Player Returning in 2025

Buffalo Bills All-Pro linebacker Matt Milano has dealt with persistent injuries over the past two seasons, sidelining him for 27 regular season and playoff games. In Week 5 of the 2023 season against the Jacksonville Jaguars, he suffered a season-ending tibial plateau fracture and MCL tear. During training camp in 2024, he tore his bicep, causing him to miss the first 11 games, and he was also out in Week 16 due to a groin injury.

The Buffalo Bills’ LB was a potential cap casualty

Milano is in the first year of his two-year, $28.33 million contract extension, with a scheduled $9.265 million base salary and a $15.822 million cap hit in 2025. However, due to his injury history, the rise of Terrel Bernard, and Dorian Williams’ strong performance in relief, many view him as a potential cap casualty. If the Bills were to release him, it would likely be as a post-June 1st cut, allowing them to spread the $17.253 million dead cap hit into the 2026 offseason. On June 2nd, they would free up $10.414 million in cap space while incurring a $5.408 million dead cap hit in 2025 and $11.845 million in 2026.

Buffalo Bills announce key defensive player returning in 2025

According to Jason Fitzgerald of Over The Cap, the Bills and Matt Milano have agreed to a $3,633,500 pay cut, which he can earn back through performance-based incentives.

This adjustment lowers his guaranteed salary from $9.265 million to $5.631 million, creating $3,658,500 in cap space. As a result, his base salary drops from $9.265 million to $3.275 million, and his 2025 cap hit decreases from $15.822 million to $12.163 million. Additionally, both sides have agreed to void the final year of his contract, making him a free agent in 2026 instead of 2027.