5 Buffalo Bills playing for a new contract after this season
By Aaron Tully
Vernon Butler
Vernon Butler was a valuable member of the Buffalo Bills defensive line in 2020. He made 18 combined tackles (including five for loss) and forced a fumble. Despite his solid 2020, he may not have much longer left in Buffalo.
Butler is scheduled to be an unrestricted free agent at the conclusion of the 2021 season, and how well he plays this season will determine his future with the Bills.
If Butler improves upon his 2020 numbers, he may be looking for a pay increase. He is currently a $5.3M cap hit for the Bills. The Bills may not want to fork over more money to Butler, because they will need to extend Ed Oliver within the next couple of seasons.
If that ends up being the case, the Bills will likely let Butler walk in free agency and look for a cheaper replacement to fill his spot on the roster. If Butler plays poorly, the Bills may also let him walk, allowing a younger player who is playing better to take his spot on the roster.
The only scenario in which Butler would stick around for 2022 or longer is if he puts up close to the same numbers he did in 2020, which is not unlikely. Butler was a solid addition for the Bills in 2020, but he may not return in 2022 if the salary cap does not allow him to do so.