Millers time might be up in Orchard Park.
Just a few days prior to the beginning of the new league year this week, the Buffalo Bills announced the release of veteran linebacker Von Miller on Sunday.
According to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, Miller’s release is a move to shave money off the salary cap for the Bills, although everyone involved has not closed the door on a possible reunion in free agency.
According to ESPN’s senior NFL insider Adam Schefter, cutting Miller saves the Bills $8.4 million in salary cap space.
Miller, who turns 36 on March 26, spent the past three seasons with the Bills in upstate New York, recording 14 sacks in 36 games.
After spending 11 years with the Denver Broncos and part of one season with the Los Angeles Rams, who he helped win a Super Bowl in 2021, Miller signed a massive six-year, $120 million contract with the Bills in 2022.
Miller had already won one Super Bowl each with the Broncos and Rams, respectively, and he had accumulated 115.5 career sacks to his credit when he signed with Buffalo.
Embed from Getty ImagesEarly returns on the deal were good, as Miller had eight sacks through 11 games in 2022, but a torn ACL on Thanksgiving Day against the Detroit Lions, cut his season short and caused him to miss the start of the 2023 campaign.
Miller obviously was not back to form upon returning from injury, as he failed to register a single sack over 12 games in 2023.
Given his poor performance, Miller effectively agreed to a pay cut prior to the 2024 season by converting $8.645 million of his salary into incentives, according to Spotrac.
“Last year at this time, we were working on a restructure for him, and he did something unprecedented,” general manager Brandon Beane said at the NFL scouting combine. “… He took a pay cut below his actual guarantee. And you’re talking about a first-ballot Hall of Famer that did that. So, a lot of respect for what he did to come back and try and help us chase this trophy. And I thought as the year went on, he continued to show that he could still play.”
While Miller was off to a strong start in 2024 with a trio of sacks in the first four games, it was announced in October that he was banned for four games for violating the NFL’s personal conduct policy.
In nine games after returning from the suspension last season, Miller only got home to the quarterback three more times, giving him six total on the year.
While his recent performances left a lot of meat on the bone and have largely been disappointing, Miller ranks among the greatest pass-rushers in NFL history, as his 129.5 career sacks are 16th on the official all-time list.
Miller also has 10.5 career playoff sacks, and he was named Super Bowl MVP when the Broncos beat the Carolina Panthers 24-10 to conclude the 2015 season. Additionally, Miller is an eight-time Pro Bowler and three-time First Team All-Pro, and he was the 2011 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year.
The Bills have been busy taking care of their own this offseason when it comes to retaining core pieces, as they have signed wide receiver Khalil Shakir, linebacker Terrel Bernard and pass-rusher Greg Rousseau to contract extensions. However, they need to make some outside additions as well, to get over the hump and reach a Super Bowl for the first time since the Jim Kelly era.
Despite making six straight playoff appearances and winning five consecutive AFC East titles, the Bills have not been able to make it past the AFC Championship Game due primarily to Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs.
Releasing Miller gives the Bills flexibility to fill some of their holes through free agency or trade, although it sounds like Miller’s return could be in the cards if Buffalo is unable to find an upgrade at pass-rusher.
