Von Miller and 3 Bills who are nearing the end of their tenure in Buffalo

This season has been an absolute success up to this point for the Buffalo Bills. While there is still plenty of football left to play, no one can say that the Bills are the team that most people thought they would be. In the offseason, the Bills took a step back because of the talent they lost. However, that doesn’t seem to matter because they are 9-2 and are on their way to clinching the AFC East very soon.

The coaching staff and players have bought into the system that they have going this season. While they are focused on raising the Lombardi trophy in February, Brandon Beane and his staff in the front office has to start evaluating the roster to see who could be released and who could potentially be extended.

There are four current Bills who could very well be on their way out of Buffalo after this season. Whether it’s through an expiring contract or even getting released, Bills fans should keep an eye on these four players potentially not being a member of the Bills in 2025.

DE Von Miller

The Bills made a gigantic splash in 2022 when they inked future Hall of Famer Von Miller to a massive six-year, $120 million deal. Buffalo had everything they needed to finally get past the Kansas City Chiefs and they then added Miller to be the closer in crucial situations on defense.

Unfortunately, it hasn’t panned out the way Buffalo had hoped. On Thanksgiving Day in 2022 against the Detroit Lions, Miller tore his ACL and it took until this season to finally see the old Miller that signed with the Bills. Due to that massive injury, it hurt the Bills and they did not get the production that they expected out of Miller.

According to Spotrac, Miller’s cap hit is set to be listed at $23.8 million and the dead cap hit would be $15.4 million. The Bills can get out of this contract and while the dead cap would be a little bit of a hit, it’s nothing compared to what it would have been going into this season.

S Damar Hamlin

Believe it or not, Damar Hamlin has been solid for the Bills in the two years he has been a consistent starter. He started in 13 games in 2022 and racked up 91 tackles, but his season unfortunately came to an abrupt end when he went into cardiac arrest after a freak hit in Week 17 against the Cincinnati Bengals.

Going into this season, the safety room for the Bills took a hit with injuries to guys like Mike Edwards and rookie Cole Bishop. This have Hamlin the chance to make an impact and he has started in every game along with Taylor. Hamlin has two interceptions and recorded 65 total tackles.

This is his final year of his rookie contract with the Bills and unless Beane decided to bring him back as depth, Hamlin is more than likely seeing the last of his playing days with the Bills.

CB Kaiir Elam

The 2022 first round pick for the Bills has been a bust without question. Buffalo drafted Kaiir Elam out of Florida to help bring some stability in the secondary due to the fact that Tre’Davious White tore his ACL in the season prior, on Thanksgiving Day.

It got to the point where Elam couldn’t beat out Christian Benford, who was drafted in the sixth round that year by the Bills, but has since become one of the team’s best shutdown corners. Elam hasn’t made an impactful play with the Bills and he’s had opportunities to earn a starting role and has failed to do so.

The Bills will more than likely decline Elam’s fifth-year option next offseason but it might be time to move off of him sooner than later.

LB Matt Milano

It is beyond painful to put All-Pro Matt Milano on this list, but we have to face some harsh reality. Last season, Milano suffered a leg injury in Week 5 in London that kept him out of action the entire 2023 season. Then going into training camp and the preseason, Milano tore his bicep that has kept him out of action this entire season.

Throughout his career, Milano has had injuries that has affected the defense. He’s never played every single game in a season and he has had two major injuries the last two seasons. He may end up seeing the field this coming weekend for the first time this season, but Bills fans may want to brace themselves for the fact that unless Milano can return to his old form, he might be on his way out of Buffalo.

According to Spotrac, Milano’s 2025 cap hit is set to be $16.1 million while the dead cap would be $17.2. Financially, it wouldn’t make sense to leave Milano go but if he is underwhelming in his potential return, don’t think that Beane and his staff won’t have conversations about Milano’s future.

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