5 highest-paid Buffalo Bills heading into 2024

The Buffalo Bills have built themselves up into a top tier team over the last four seasons. Brandon Beane and Sean McDermott have built a foundation together by drafting well and sticking to development of players. We see players blossom into stars each year and while their success helps the team, it also means that they will be looking to get the bag in contract negotiations. The Bills have paid their top tier players over the years but it has limited them on what they can do in free agency over the last two offseasons.

This past offseason, the Bills felt the big contracts being a big impact on the team as Buffalo had to release multiple players to just get under the salary cap. The roster looks a lot different, but make no mistake, the Bills are still one of the best teams in the NFL until they prove that they are not.

Buffalo is going to need their players on cheap contracts to step up heavily, but are still going to need their highest paid players to carry this team to success.

We take a look at the five highest paid players that the Bills are paying via Spotrac.

5.) DT Ed Oliver

Cap hit: $9.7 million

A year ago, the Bills extended Ed Oliver to a questionable four-year extension. However, it turned out to be a bargain of a deal considering the production Oliver displayed last season. He set a career high in sacks and total tackles. Oliver was up-and-down to start his career but has grown as a pass rusher that has helped take pressure off of the secondary. Buffalo is going to need him to keep that up as the secondary is practically brand new in terms of who is starting.

4.) LT Dion Dawkins

Cap hit: $11.5 million

The highest rated Bills offensive lineman has been a cornerstone player for the franchise since he arrived. He has been voted to the Pro Bowl the last three seasons and continues to be the true anchor of the offensive line. The Bills gifted Dawkins this past offseason with a three-year, $60.5 million deal and he deserves it rightfully so.

3.) LB Matt Milano

Cap hit: $12.4 million

The All-Pro linebacker has been the best defender for the Bills for quite some time now. While he has had some injury issues (including a season-ending injury in Week 5 last season), Milano has been nothing short of spectacular for this defense. Bills fans are hoping that Milano can stay healthy next season, especially since Terrel Bernard stepped up big time and showed everyone what he can do.

2.) DE Von Miller

Cap hit: $15.1 million

It has been a tough journey for Von Miller and the Bills. After signing a big six-year deal in 2022, Miller was brought to Buffalo to become the pass-rush that the Bills had been lacking for seasons. Miller started off great in 2022 with the Bills, racking up 8 sacks before he tore ACL on Thanksgiving. Surprisingly, Miller came back on the field earlier than expected last year (Week 5) but he was more of a liability than an asset. The frustration towards Miller is understandable, but it is also important to keep in mind coming back from a major injury is not easy.

However, with the money that Miller is making, there are expectations that are set for him to be his old-self in 2024.

1.) QB Josh Allen

Cap hit: $30.3 million

Allen’s contract is looking like a bargain more and more every time a quarterback signs a new big deal and resets the market. However, that could easily change with Allen getting a new contract in the near future. It is the right thing to do considering what Allen has been able to provide the Bills the last couple of seasons. 

This roster that Allen has to work with next season might be the most challenging one since his rookie year. At the same time, the Bills are now in belief that Allen can elevate players around him, rather than the other way around.