Buffalo Bills fans, brace yourselves for a bloodbath in the front office. As the 2026 offseason heats up, GM Brandon Beane is staring down a salary cap nightmare, and the axe is swinging toward two longtime offensive weapons: wide receiver Curtis Samuel and tight end Dawson Knox. These vets, locked into deals totaling a staggering $76 million combined, could be shown the door to free up precious cap space for a Super Bowl push around Josh Allen. But while the math adds up, Bills Mafia is already erupting in outrage—especially over one beloved homegrown star. This isn’t just a roster tweak; it’s a full-on massacre that could redefine the franchise.

The Cap Crunch: Why Buffalo’s Hand is Forced

After yet another gut-wrenching playoff flameout in 2025, the Bills hit the reset button hard—firing head coach Sean McDermott and elevating offensive coordinator Joe Brady to the top job. Now, with the new league year kicking off on March 11, Beane’s mission is clear: Retool the offense to finally unlock Allen’s full potential and chase that elusive Lombardi Trophy.

Enter the cut candidates. NFL.com’s Matt Okada dropped the bombshell in his 2026 free agency preview, pinpointing Samuel and Knox as prime targets for release. “GM Brandon Beane has struggled to find the right offensive pieces to properly support his all-world QB, and chief among his misses were Samuel and Knox,” Okada wrote. “Dumping one (or both) would go a long way to arming Buffalo for a run at a true No. 1 receiver.”

The numbers are brutal. Samuel, signed to a three-year, $24 million pact in 2024, could save the Bills $6.1 million if cut outright—a no-brainer given his underwhelming output of just 38 catches for 334 yards and two touchdowns over the last two seasons. Knox, inked to a four-year, $52 million extension back in 2022, offers even bigger relief: $9.7 million pre-June 1 or a whopping $12 million post-June 1. Combined, that’s up to $18 million in instant cap magic to chase a star wideout like a Mike Evans or Tee Higgins.

But sources across the league echo Okada’s take. Sports Illustrated urges a Knox release to open $10.4 million, calling it the “final year” of his deal. The Athletic highlights Knox as a “complex decision,” noting his diminished role behind rising star Dalton Kincaid. And Spotrac lists both as top release candidates, with Samuel’s move saving $6.055 million. Even a YouTube breakdown screams for the cuts, projecting $9.4 million from Knox alone.

Curtis Samuel: The Underwhelming Import Who’s Expendable

Samuel’s Bills tenure has been a flop from the jump. The speedy vet, who bounced from the Carolina Panthers to the Washington Commanders before landing in Buffalo, was supposed to add juice to the passing game. Instead, injuries—a nagging hamstring from camp, plus neck and elbow woes—limited him to just 20 games over two years, with most of his snaps coming in 2024.

Last offseason’s signing of Josh Palmer to a three-year, $36 million deal already hinted at Samuel’s shaky status, but the Bills kept him around. Now? Analysts like those at Buffalo Rumblings call it a “no-brainer,” with $6 million in savings on the line. Yahoo Sports agrees: “This one seems like a no-brainer.” Fans on X are even harsher—Bills Roundtable’s poll asks straight-up: “Should the Bills cut Curtis Samuel?” with overwhelming yes votes pouring in.

Dawson Knox: The Fan Favorite Whose Boot Will Spark Riots

Here’s where the fury ignites. Knox, a Bills lifer since his 2019 draft day, exploded onto the scene with a Pro Bowl nod in 2022—the year of his mega-extension. But since then? Middling production as Kincaid ascends to TE1 status, pushing Knox to a costly No. 2 role. WKBW predicts he’ll stick around via restructure or extension, citing his desire to retire a Bill. But others, like Buffalorumblings, say sentiment must yield to efficiency: Save $11 million and move on.

Knox’s bond with Allen—best buds on and off the field—adds emotional dynamite. Bills Mafia is split: One X user warns, “Don’t put it past them to do something dumb” like cutting him, while another floats restructures to keep him. Bills Roundtable’s poll on Knox? Heated debates, with fans howling over the $9.6 million savings versus losing a locker room staple. As Cedi Sports notes, this could “reshape” the team—but at what cost to morale?

Ditching both could unlock over $18 million (or more post-June 1), fueling a splash for that elusive WR1 to pair with Allen. Facebook chatter even suggests restructuring stars like Allen and Dion Dawkins to free up $75 million total. But fans like @kilmerdave27 on X advocate cutting Samuel and safety Taylor Rapp first, saving cash without gutting the core.

Others eye bigger overhauls: Trade Keon Coleman for Marvin Harrison Jr.? Sign Mike Evans? The possibilities are endless, but the pain is real. As Smitty on X points out, with Knox gone, Buffalo might chase a TE like Evan Likely for depth behind Kincaid.

This cap massacre could supercharge the Bills’ title hunt—or fracture the fanbase. Knox’s potential exit has X ablaze, with cries of betrayal echoing from Orchard Park. Will Beane pull the trigger? March 11 looms like Judgment Day. One thing’s certain: If these cuts happen, the roar from Highmark Stadium won’t be cheers—it’ll be rage. Stay tuned, Mafia; the boot is dropping, and it’s gonna hurt.