Saving cap with extensions
The Bills have multiple key young players in need of an extension as well, which could deter them from how much help they look for outside of the organization. What’s got them to a consistent winning team is drafting good and extending their key homegrown players, and it should continue.
While not everyone can get paid, James Cook, Greg Rousseau, Terrel Bernard, Khalil Shakir, and Christian Benford all need extensions. Benford seems set to command top-of-the-market money after his ascension to one of the most underrated and best corners in the league. He is currently projected to ink a contract in the four-year $92 million range.
Running back is tricky with second contracts, but Cook has been talked of glowingly by the Bills’ brass and is evolving into one of the best backs, and weapons, in the NFL. Cook is projected to land a four-year $36 million contract with an average annual salary of $9 million. That seems like a no-brainer move and the Bills should lock him up this offseason.
Rousseau might not be a premier number-one defensive end, but he is an elite run defender who’s gotten better as a pass rusher every season. He is projected to land a four-year deal in the $100 million range.
Terrel Bernard, the now captain of the Bills’ defense, has emerged as one of the better linebackers in the league and is sure to command a hefty deal as well. However, we’ve already seen the Bills move on from their emerging middle linebacker in the past.
One extension not a lot of people are talking about possibly happening, is center Connor McGovern. He made the switch from guard last season and proved he’s the team’s future at the position. McGovern is set to be a free agent next off-season, and anchoring down the middle of the Bills offensive line has been a priority in the past and should remain that way. A three-year deal makes sense and locks up Dawkins, Spencer Brown, and McGovern for the next few years, with rising guard O’Cyrus Torrence still having two years left on his rookie deal.
All of these extensions would come with unique ways for the Bills to clear up the cap with signing bonus chunks paid upfront and backloading the deals. So all in all, the Bills could clear up some nice chunks of money to make some moves.
However, they will likely seem content paying their own guys and adding smaller pieces to round the team out more. They also have a lot of draft capital, so they could swing a trade or two. It is worth noting as well that they have guys like Amari Cooper, Mack Hollins, Damar Hamlin, and Ty Johnson set to hit free agency that they likely to want to keep around for the right price.