Bills DeAndre Hopkins Signing: 'Out' Because Leonard Floyd is 'In'?

Did the Leonard Floyd signing take the Buffalo Bills out of the DeAndre Hopkins sweepstakes?

Yes, "2 + 2 = 4.'' But if a team manages its salary cap exactly that way, it is destined to suffer from such linear thinking.

Here's hoping the Buffalo Bills are not limiting themselves with that mentality.

The Arizona Cardinals cut star wideout DeAndre Hopkins on May 26. The Bills were immediately included on most observers' lists of potential landing spots, along with the Kansas City Chiefs, Tennessee Titans and New England Patriots. The Titans and Patriots have already acted; "D-Hop'' started his Titans visit on Sunday and will see New England this week.

Are there reasons why the All-Pro receiver and the Bills won't hook up? Is one of them the fact that Buffalo just spent $7 million on signing pass-rusher Leonard Floyd?

When asked if the Floyd signing eliminated the Bills from the Hopkins sweepstakes, Sports Illustrated's Albert Breer says, “Mostly, yes. ... "I'd say it's unlikely for (Buffalo to sign him), and the Floyd signing only reinforced that.”

Buffalo presently has only about $5 million in cap room. GM Brandon Beane is already talking about the "heartache'' to come when more cap considerations cause the Bills to move off of good players - totally legit. But a reminder: When it comes to cap gymnastics, "2 + 2 = 4'' does not have to apply.

Pending knowing exactly what sort of contract Hopkins would want to eventually sign with Buffalo - and maybe $20 million APY will be viewed as excessive - the Bills are not chasing Hopkins right now because Floyd blocks them from doing so. The Bills are not chasing Hopkins because cap-wise, they choose not to.

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