With only $6 million left in their 2025 cap space, re-signing Rasul Douglas—a cornerback with an estimated market value of $8-10 million per year—seems like an impossible task for the Buffalo Bills. However, through savvy cap management, including cutting contracts or restructuring deals, the Bills could carve out the necessary room to retain Douglas. Here’s an in-depth analysis and specific scenarios to make it happen.
The Bills’ Current Financial Situation
According to Spotrac data (as of April 6, 2025), the Bills have $6 million in available cap space, with the NFL’s total salary cap for 2025 projected to rise to around $260 million. However, hefty commitments to stars like Josh Allen ($43 million cap hit), Stefon Diggs ($27 million), and Von Miller ($17 million) have severely constrained their financial flexibility. To re-sign Douglas at a reasonable rate (say, $9 million/year), the Bills need to free up an additional $3-5 million from other sources.
Scenario 1: Cutting Contracts
One straightforward way to free up cap space is to cut or trade players with expensive contracts who no longer justify their cost. Here are two prime candidates:
– Von Miller (Edge Rusher): With a $17 million cap hit in 2025, Miller—at age 36—is no longer the dominant force he was in his prime with the Denver Broncos. Cutting him before June 1, 2025, would save $8.8 million (with $8.2 million in dead cap). This alone could cover most of Douglas’s contract without further adjustments.
– Mitch Morse (Center): Morse carries an $11.5 million cap hit in 2025. Releasing him would save $8.5 million (with $3 million in dead cap). While Morse is a key part of the offensive line, the Bills could replace him with a cheaper rookie from the draft or a low-cost free-agent center.
Executing both moves could free up $17.3 million—more than enough to sign Douglas and even leave room for a few smaller deals.
Scenario 2: Restructuring Contracts
Instead of cuts, the Bills could restructure deals of their stars to lower 2025 cap hits, pushing costs into future years when the cap is expected to rise. Two ideal targets are:
– Josh Allen (QB): With a $43 million cap hit, restructuring Allen’s deal by converting part of his salary into a signing bonus could reduce his 2025 hit to $30-35 million, saving $8-13 million. This doesn’t affect Allen’s actual earnings, just the timing of the financial burden.
– Stefon Diggs (WR): Diggs’s $27 million cap hit could be lowered to around $20 million similarly, freeing up about $7 million. As Allen’s top target, Diggs might agree to this tweak if offered a long-term extension as reassurance.
Restructuring just one of these contracts would generate enough space to sign Douglas at $9 million without losing roster depth.
Scenario 3: Short-Term Deal with Douglas
If unwilling to alter the current roster, the Bills could negotiate a one-year deal with Douglas at a below-market rate—say, $5-6 million—supplemented by performance-based incentives (e.g., for games played, tackles, or interceptions). This maximizes their existing cap space without major adjustments, though convincing Douglas to accept could be tough when other teams might offer more.
Feasibility Assessment
Scenario 1 (Cuts): Highly effective but sacrifices roster depth, especially if Miller still adds value in pass-rush situations. Scenario 2 (Restructuring): The most feasible, preserving team strength and financial flexibility, though it requires buy-in from key stars. Scenario 3 (Short-Term Deal): Risky, as Douglas could bolt for a higher bidder, but a viable stopgap if the Bills are confident in their draft plans.
Conclusion
With just $6 million in hand, the Bills can absolutely re-sign Douglas by combining cuts (e.g., Von Miller) or restructuring (e.g., Josh Allen). Restructuring Allen’s deal stands out as the optimal path, retaining Douglas while maintaining roster strength for a Super Bowl push. Cap management isn’t just a numbers game—it’s a long-term strategy—and if the Bills want to prove their championship mettle, keeping a veteran like Douglas could be the key.