Bills Cap Casualties: Could Special Teams Players Get Cut?

The Buffalo Bills have to clear $43.7 million in cap space before the start of the new league year.

The Buffalo Bills face a difficult path toward improving for another playoff run next season. 

With the Bills projected by Spotrac to be $43.7 million over the cap, it's going to take plenty of contracts being restructured and players getting cut for them to get under the cap. One player who may be a cap casualty is running back and kick returner Nyheim Hines, who missed all of this past season with torn ACL.

Deonte Harty on his punt return for a touchdown vs. the Dolphins / © BILL INGRAM, THE PALM BEACH POST

Cutting Hines would save the Bills $4.7 million in cap space. His fellow returner, receiver Deonte Harty, could also get cut, which would save the Bills $4.1 million. 

"Hines missed all of the 2023 season because of a knee injury that occurred during a jet ski accident," NBC Sports writes. "He took the majority of his snaps on special teams after being traded to the Bills in 2022. Deonte Harty ($4.1 million) is another special teamer who can be cut to save Buffalo a notable chunk of change. With the Bills entering the offseason $43.7 million over the cap, it’s hard to justify that much money going to kick and punt returners."

NBC Sports also noted the Bills would save $8.5 million if they cut veteran center Mitch Morse. While they're desperate for cap space, cutting a captain and mainstay on the offensive line without a clear-cut replacement and upgrade would be detrimental to the Bills and their playoff chances next season, making that move highly unlikely.

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Hines and Harty have made an impact at crucial moments during their Bills tenure. Hines had two kickoff returns for touchdowns against the New England Patriots in the final game of the 2022 regular season, and Harty returned a punt 96 yards to tie the game against the Miami Dolphins in the fourth quarter with the AFC East title on the line in Week 18. The Bills would go on to win both games.

Hines' freak injury before last season was unfortunate, but it likely means his days with the Bills are numbered. While Harty has proven he can provide a spark as a returner, he's been inconsistent as a receiver. 

For a team as over the cap as Buffalo, its best path may be cutting Hines and Harty and then replacing them through the draft.