The Buffalo Bills face a challenging path to making another playoff push next season. Spotrac projects the Bills to be $43.7 million above the cap, thus it will take a lot of contract restructures and player cuts to get them under the cap. Nyheim Hines, a running back and kick returner, may be a cap casualty after missing the entire season due to a ruptured ACL.
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.”
According to NBC Sports, the Bills may save $8.5 million by cutting veteran center Mitch Morse. While the Bills are starving for cap space, removing a captain and offensive line mainstay without a clear replacement and upgrade would be harmful to the Bills and their playoff prospects the next season, making the move doubtful.
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.
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