Why White’s June 1 release during the 2024 NFL offseason is important to his return to One Bills Drive.
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The Buffalo Bills brought back cornerback Tre’Davious White on a one-year deal worth up to as much as $6.8 million for the 2025 NFL season. White, one of the team’s biggest fan favorites was also the very first player to be drafted by head coach Sean McDermott. As such, his departure was all bitter, no sweet.
When the team broke the news to White in March of last year, general manager Brandon Beane designated Tre’Davious White as a post-June 1 release. That designation saved the Bills $10.2 million in 2024 salary cap space, while levying $6.2 million in the form of a dead-cap charge.
However, moving on from White’s contract didn’t fully end the team’s financial commitment to it last season. Following news of White’s reunion with Buffalo, Bills reporter Sal Capaccio made a key point that because of the post-June 1 release in 2024:
“(T)he Bills must still count $4.13 million in dead salary cap money for him this season, on top of whatever his cap hit is. The original dead cap hit does not go away.”
Because Tre’Davious White was a post-June 1 release a year ago, the Bills must still count $4.13 million in dead salary cap money for him this season, on top of whatever his cap hit is. The original dead cap hit does not go away.
— Sal Capaccio 🏈 (@SalSports) April 17, 2025
It’s an interesting if not rare “twist” to Tre’ White’s return to Buffalo, and one that reveals he will constitute a bigger financial commitment. Though that may come as surprising to many within Bills Mafia, you can be certain Brandon Beane knew the situation and was comfortable signing White to the reported deal.
To look at it another way: This way, at least the Bills will see production and input from White within the confines of the dead-cap charge. Had he not returned to Buffalo, that dead cap would still be in place.