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New York Times
19-05-2025
- Business
- New York Times
Why 2025 is Bills' inflection point to extend the winning window for Josh Allen's prime
The NFL Draft is well over, the schedule for the upcoming season is out and the Buffalo Bills are a little over one week away from beginning their first round of organized team activities. And with how they pieced things together this offseason, though 2024 led some to wonder whether a step back was on the way, 2025 is the opposite. Advertisement The Bills appear on the precipice of another memorable season and will likely be in the Super Bowl conversation all year. A year ago at this time, when we took a deep dive into where things were heading into the 2025 offseason, the conclusion was that all the roster and cap cutting from last year, along with their trove of valuable draft picks, was setting the Bills up to be major players in the offseason. And major players they were — just in their own way. Their approach to the 2025 offseason had one clear goal: set up a new core for the long term around franchise quarterback Josh Allen throughout the rest of his prime. For one, they signed a new contract extension with Allen, ensuring he's under contract through 2030, the quarterback's age-34 season. On top of that, they issued long-term extensions to homegrown players in or entering their prime, including wide receiver Khalil Shakir, defensive end Greg Rousseau, linebacker Terrel Bernard and cornerback Christian Benford. They join right tackle Spencer Brown, whom the Bills signed last offseason, as the new key group that helps lead the Bills with Allen for the foreseeable future. Putting five long-term players in place, along with a nine-player draft class on four-year cost-controlled deals, and filling in gaps with one notable pass rusher (Joey Bosa) and middle-tier free agents (wide receiver Joshua Palmer and defensive end Michael Hoecht) was as substantial an offseason as the Bills have had in many years. But as always, with as much emphasis the team will place on the 2025 season and trying to maximize things for Allen and the current team, keeping an eye on what's ahead is always percolating in the front office's mind. That's why it's equally important for fans to keep a close eye on what's ahead because of how much the 2025 season can shape those critical decisions less than a year from now — especially with Allen entering his age-30 season when 2026 rolls around. Advertisement Where are things headed in 2026, and how can 2025 help inform them of those plans? Let's analyze. Around this time last year, the Bills were in a promising position for cap space. They already projected to have cap space, which was a first for them in a few years and allowed them the liberty to go on the re-signing frenzy they did this offseason without using too many restructures or roster cuts. The 2026 offseason is going to be a slightly different story. With a projected salary cap of $295.5 million, Over the Cap has the Bills projected almost $400K over that mark. However, you have to consider many other things, which put the Bills in a worse position. For one, six of those contracts listed within that Top 51 are void years, which transfers to dead cap when they expire shortly after the 2025 season. That means six new contracts will have to take their place on the cap sheet, putting their cap space in a worse position. The other puzzle piece is that three members of the Bills' 2025 draft class, first-round pick Maxwell Hairston, second-round pick T.J. Sanders and fourth-round pick Deone Walker, remain unsigned. Those three contracts, plus three undrafted rookie deals, will replace those six vacated void deals. That will put a projected extra $10 million on the Top 51 of their 2026 cap sheet, putting the team about $10.5 million over next year's projected cap. That number could improve if they have any rollover savings from 2025 to 2026, but it likely won't be all that substantial. That means, unlike this offseason, they'll likely have to dip their toes back into the waters of contract restructures, cap casualties and pay cuts to create workable space in 2026. If the entire offseason you've been thinking, 'Why don't they just get the deal done with James Cook like all the others?' the 2026 cap space snapshot can help you begin to see why the Bills are playing it the way they are. Not only is Cook a free agent, but so is starting center Connor McGovern, starting left guard David Edwards, defensive end Joey Bosa and linebacker Matt Milano, among others. Advertisement On top of all those upcoming free agents, in 2027, the free-agent list includes up-and-coming starting right guard O'Cyrus Torrence and a potential significant salary increase for tight end Dalton Kincaid, should they trigger the fifth-year option on Kincaid's rookie deal. Although the first year of a contract extension for someone like Cook usually yields a lower cap number, if the Bills are working with potentially limited cap resources next year as it is and have so many questions hanging over their heads for other ways to open cap space, taking a patient approach to see how 2025 plays out seems like an intelligent way to go about it. When you analyze their roster situation, there are only two extremely straightforward contract restructures for them to tap into. The first and most obvious is Allen, which would yield over $12 million in cap space to put them in the positive. It's likely not a matter of 'if' but 'when' for that move. The second is for Brown, the right tackle. They could save under $5 million on that simple restructure. Those two moves will give them over $6 million in cap space. Every other potential move they could make comes with a giant question mark. They have a trio of longtime Bills players they could restructure next year, but each has concerns about kicking cap space to future years. From an age perspective, left tackle Dion Dawkins will be 32 for the 2026 season, and nickel Taron Johnson will be 30. Defensive tackle Ed Oliver will be only 28 in 2026, but the team did just draft Sanders and has a potential out from Oliver's deal in 2027, yielding $13 million in cap space that year, which might persuade them to resist the temptation of taking away some of that flexibility. Other possible significant restructures with 2025 free-agent signings Palmer and Hoecht are tricky. In Palmer's case, it would place another $4 million onto his void-year dead cap charge in 2028. Hoecht would add another $2 million onto his in 2028, but it remains to be seen whether he's anything more than a rotational player. Then there are the cap casualty candidates, who all would save them a good amount of cap space, but who all have at least a small reason to consider keeping them in 2026. Tight end Dawson Knox would save the most, but the team loves him, and he plays a big role. Wide receiver Curtis Samuel would save the second most, but he came on strong in the playoffs, which built some optimism within the front office about what he could do in the second year. Taylor Rapp would save the third most, but he's a starting safety, and the Bills don't have an in-house replacement for him yet unless fifth-round rookie Jordan Hancock shows well in 2025. Then there's kicker Tyler Bass, which will be self-explanatory based on results, and running back Ty Johnson, who is likely directly correlated to what happens with Cook. At least from the Bills' perspective, there aren't many easy answers to their cap questions in 2026 just yet. But in this case, patience will yield prudence. Regarding what's ahead in the 2026 offseason, the Bills would be smart to go with the wait-and-see attitude heading into 2025. There are so many things in the air that holding the line, at least for now, is the most sensible approach. Though they have some potential questions at defensive end, outside linebacker and safety, they at least have some temporary in-house answers. Most of the big questions requiring immediate answers are on offense. So then, 'let's see' mode awaits. Advertisement Let's see how Cook performs in 2025, whether his role increases from only the top snap-getter in a committee, and whether he proves he should be one of their long-term investments — despite not playing a premium position. If not, or he takes a step back, it could mean they move forward with Ray Davis, Johnson and a rookie they draft next year. Let's see whether Torrence continues his strong second half in 2024 into 2025 and becomes one of the core players they want to invest in for the long term next offseason. And if so, that might worsen their consideration of extending one or both of McGovern and Edwards. Let's see whether Kincaid leaps forward now that he's no longer injured, which could put him in the extension conversation and directly affect any decisions about Knox. It may even affect how they deal with the Cook situation, too, considering running back and tight end are viewed by the NFL as two non-premium positions. And, finally, let's see whether this wide receivers group, as constructed, can give the Bills some of the intermediate and downfield lift they had been missing in 2024. Because if it doesn't, that might mean they say goodbye to Samuel, decline to restructure Palmer's deal and use what resources they do have to come up with a solution in 2026, perhaps even that being their big swing next offseason. So much is at stake for the 2025 season by itself, with the Bills looking to finally get to the Super Bowl with Allen as their quarterback and having a great roster to try to do so. But, more so than several other seasons, the amount of information they get from this year will have a severe ripple effect in shaping not only what they target in the offseason but also how they choose to open up the cap space to do so. With so much on the line and Allen heading into his 30s beginning in 2026, the emphasis on getting those moves right and extending the winning window is more important than almost everything else — outside of doing everything they can to win it all in 2025.
Yahoo
10-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Bills Rookie Landon Jackson Taking 1-Percent Approach At Camp
Rookie mini-camps are happening all over the NFL, and the Buffalo Bills have just started theirs with all draft picks hitting the field and the classroom in preparation for the 2025 season. One such player is edge rusher Landon Jackson, the Bills' third-round pick, who will come to the franchise looking to bolster Buffalo's quarterback-hunting group. Advertisement With the first day of mini-camp done and dusted, which Jackson loved, when asked how he would feel with the proper professionals hitting the field with him soon, Landon was over the moon at the thought. "The end of the day, it's football," Jackson said. "So just come out here, do what I know I can do, not here for no reason. Just come out here with the same mindset every day and that's to get one percent better, so once the vets come around just kind of try picking their brain, getting to know more from them and really do all I can to perfect my craft." Arkansas Razorbacks defensive lineman Landon Jackson (40) celebrates after sacking Louisiana Tech Bulldogs quarterback Evan Bullock (7) during the fourth quarter at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium.© Nelson Chenault-Imagn Images Thought to be part of the rotation that will be tasked with getting the defense off the field on third down, something the unit struggled with last year, especially in the playoffs, Jackson will have quite the crew to learn from. Advertisement Greg Rousseau, Joey Bosa, Michael Hoecht, Larry Ogunjobi, and A.J. Epenesa are quite the group Jackson should watch go about their business both on and off the field. It will be a long, hard grind for Jackson and the other rookies as they get acclimated to the rigors of NFL football, but Landon's enthusiasm and willingness to work are contagious, and he will be looking to hit the ground running in his first offseason. Related: Bills Sign Rookie With Maxx Crosby Role Model Goal Related: What Should Bills Do About Edge Rusher Need?
USA Today
08-03-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Bills extend DE Greg Rousseau with four-year, $80 million contract through 2029
Bills extend DE Greg Rousseau with four-year, $80 million contract through 2029 Show Caption Hide Caption Bills' Josh Allen edges Ravens' Lamar Jackson for NFL MVP Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen has been named the 2024 NFL Most Valuable Player, edging out Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson in a tightly contested race. unbranded - Sport The Buffalo Bills have continued their early offseason activity with another extension for their home-grown talent. Buffalo and defensive end Greg Rousseau agreed to terms on a four-year, $80 million extension that runs through the 2029 season, the team announced Saturday. The contract extension includes $54 million in guaranteed money, according to reports. Rousseau is the second of three Bills players to receive a four-year extension from the team in the last two days. On Friday, Buffalo granted linebacker Terrel Bernard a four-year, $50 million extension ahead of the final year on his rookie deal. And later on Saturday, the Bills signed their longest-tenured player – long snapper Reid Ferguson, who has been with the team since 2016 – to a four-year deal before he became a free agent on Wednesday. Buffalo also signed wide receiver Khalil Shakir to a four-year, $60.2 million extension last week. KHALIL SHAKIR: Buffalo Bills sign wide receiver to four-year extension Rousseau has been a key member of the Bills' defensive front since the team selected him in the first round of the 2021 NFL draft. In the four seasons since, he leads the team with 25.0 sacks, including a team-leading eight sacks in 2024, which tied a career high. The Miami (Florida) product finished the 2024 season with 53 tackles (including 16 tackles for loss), eight sacks, three pass deflections, three forced fumbles and a fumble recovery. Rousseau's 24 quarterback hits in 2024 were also a career high. NFL FREE AGENCY RUMORS: Latest news, updates ahead of new league year Greg Rousseau contract Rousseau signed a four-year, $80 million contract extension to remain with the Bills through 2029, the team announced Saturday. Of the $80 million total value, $54 million is guaranteed, according to reports. Buffalo had exercised the defensive end's fifth-year option last offseason, so he'll make roughly $13.39 million in 2025 before the extension kicks in at the start of the 2026 season. Rousseau's new deal is nearly identical to the one that Cowboys defensive tackle Osa Odighizuwa signed Tuesday, though it includes $2 million more in guarantees. The $20 million average annual value is tied with Odighizuwa and teammate Von Miller for 21st of all NFL defensive linemen, according to Spotrac.
Associated Press
08-03-2025
- Sport
- Associated Press
Bills sign edge rusher Greg Rousseau to 4-year extension, which AP source says is worth up to $80M
ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) — The Buffalo Bills on Saturday signed edge rusher Greg Rousseau to a four-year contract extension that's worth up to $80 million in the team's latest move to lock up its young core. The Bills announced the signing, and a person with knowledge of the contact revealed its value to The Associated Press. The person spoke to the AP on the condition of anonymity because the Bills did not provide that figure. Also, long snapper Reid Ferguson is staying in Buffalo after signing a four-year contract before he was eligible to become a free agent next week. The 30-year-old Ferguson is the longest-active tenured player on the Bills roster in having spent his entire eight-year NFL career with the team. The 24-year-old Rousseau was selected by Buffalo 30th overall in the 2021 draft out of the University of Miami. He was entering this season playing on the fifth-year option of his rookie contract, and is now under contract through 2029. At 6-foot-6 and 266 pounds, he earned the nickname 'Groot' after the 'Guardians of the Galaxy' movie character because of Rousseau's size and long arms in providing him a knack to shed blockers and bat down passes. Rousseau finished last season with a team-leading eight sacks, three coming in Buffalo's season opener, 16 tackles for a loss and forced three fumbles. Overall, he's totaled 25 sacks, 46 tackles for a loss and forced six fumbles over 62 games — all of them starts. He was considered a raw project entering the draft because he played only one full college season. Rousseau's freshman year was cut short when he broke his right ankle two games into the 2018 season. After leading the ACC with 15 1/2 sacks in 2019, he then missed his entire junior year after opting out because of COVID-19 reasons. Rousseau becomes Buffalo's third player to sign a four-year contract extension this offseason, joining third-year linebacker Terrel Bernard and third-year receiver Khalil Shakir. The signings come with the five-time defending AFC East champions projected to have plenty of salary cap space in 2026. The team, however, will be limited under the cap entering the league's new year, which opens Wednesday. Buffalo was projected to be about $8.5 million over the cap after cutting punter Sam Martin on Thursday. The constraints could limit Buffalo's ability to re-sign several pending unrestricted free agents, including starting cornerback Rasul Douglas and starting safety Damar Hamlin. ___
New York Times
08-03-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
Bills, DE Greg Rousseau agree to 4-year, $80 million extension: Source
The Buffalo Bills and defensive end Greg Rousseau have agreed to a multi-year contract extension, the team announced Saturday. The new deal is for four years and worth up to $80 million with $54 million being guaranteed, a league source told The Athletic. Rousseau is the third player the Bills have signed to a long-term extension this offseason with linebacker Terrel Bernard and receiver Khalil Shakir signing new contracts since the season ended. Advertisement All three players are now under contract through the 2029 season, locking in the Bills' core players for the long term. There are still a handful of core starters due to be free agents in 2026 in cornerback Christian Benford, running back James Cook, center Connor McGovern and left guard David Edwards, which showed why it was such a pressing issue to get to work on the group as a whole this offseason. Rousseau was undoubtedly one of the Bills' best and most consistent defenders in 2024. He was on the field constantly and was one of the key pieces to their pass rush, working from both the left and right defensive end positions. Although he has never hit the double-digit sack marker in a year, his pressure rate has consistently been on the higher side over the last few seasons. General manager Brandon Beane said at the NFL Combine he believed Rousseau was an ascending player, though they mentioned that they'd like him to be a consistent double-digit sack pass rusher. The contract extension is a humongous vote of confidence that he'll be able to get there. The numbers on the deal are surprisingly on the low side, considering he turns 25 in April and remains a high-ceiling type of player. If Rousseau's final APY is $20 million, that would make him the 12th-highest among edge rushers in the NFL, which will assuredly be topped by some free-agent deals on the way in the coming days. For the Bills, they are hoping they got ahead of the player's true prime on a contract that will look good in a few years. That's how they approached the deal with right tackle Spencer Brown ahead of the 2024 season, and it worked out well. They are also likely to get some cap space relief in 2025 as part of the deal. For Rousseau, he cashes in before ever having to think about the open market on a contract that is higher than some of his stats would have pointed to. Either way, it's a leap of faith by both player and team, but Rousseau has enough of an all-around game to make sure he remains a core starter through the length of the deal.
