{"id":155021,"date":"2026-02-22T07:35:17","date_gmt":"2026-02-22T07:35:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=155021"},"modified":"2026-02-22T07:35:17","modified_gmt":"2026-02-22T07:35:17","slug":"seven-years-gone-buffalo-is-finally-pulling-the-plug-on-their-veteran-lineman-after-a-loyal-run-this-shocking-post-june-1-cut-of-the-defensive-anchor-frees-up-nearly-15-million-in-cap-spa","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=155021","title":{"rendered":"SEVEN YEARS, GONE! Buffalo is FINALLY pulling the plug on their veteran lineman after a loyal run \u2014 This shocking post-June 1 cut of the defensive anchor frees up nearly $15 MILLION in cap space, wiping out their entire overage in ONE ruthless move and giving Josh Allen the financial firepower to reload for a true Super Bowl push! \ud83e\uddac\ud83d\udca5\ud83d\udea8"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Buffalo Bills have nearly $16 million worth of cap ground to make up over the course of the next few weeks before free agency begins.<\/p>\n

There are some obvious cut candidates in the pipeline already; tight end Dawson Knox, who carries a $17.86 million cap hit in 2026 can be released to generate almost $10.5 million to help balance the books.<\/p>\n

And Curtis Samuel feels at this point like a near certainty to hit the open market once more, as Buffalo can free up an additional $6 million by releasing the former second round pick, who has been broadly unproductive due to both injuries and middling performances since arriving as a free agent from the Washington Commanders.<\/p>\n

But one name that has generally been omitted from cut lists is defensive tackle Ed Oliver, who Brad Gagnon of Bleacher Report believes could ultimately also see himself being released this spring.<\/p>\n

Oliver managed to get on the field just four times in 2025 \u2013 three times in the regular season and once in the playoffs \u2013 with the former 9th overall pick suffering an ankle, bicep and meniscus injuries over the course of the season.<\/p>\n

Ed Oliver\u2019s Future up in the Air in Buffalo<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cInjuries destroyed the veteran\u2019s 2025 season, and his production had already dipped in 2024. At 28, there are real questions about whether he can return to his previous level of play.\u201d Gagnon notes.<\/p>\n

Although the Bills save less than $2.5 million in 2026 by cutting him in the traditional fashion, if the team designate him as a post-June 1 release, that number becomes far more impactful.<\/p>\n

Ed Oliver 2025 stats, game log, news, injury status<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"Ed<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Bills are again in a tight cap situation, and Oliver is one of the highest-priced players on the roster with a $23.9 million 2026 cap hit. If the team releases him with a post-June 1 designation, it can save $14.7 million in cap space.\u201d<\/p>\n

Gagnon also argues that with there having been an organizational shift since the departure of former head coach, Sean McDermott, new defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard may want to make his mark on the defense \u2013 which could see him look to move off an ostensibly declining veteran in Oliver.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere\u2019s a new defensive coordinator in town and Oliver is heading in the wrong direction in terms of both effectiveness and cost. The Bills will need him to restructure or they should consider moving on.\u201d<\/p>\n

Would it Make the Most Sense to Cut Oliver?<\/strong><\/p>\n

$14.7 million extra in cap space is certainly something the Bills would appreciate, given that it would all but eradicate the team\u2019s cap deficit heading into March. But moving off a player that has shown himself to be one of the more dangerous 3-techniques in the league is never a light decision.<\/p>\n

T.J. Sanders and Deone Walker \u2013 both of whom were selected in the 2025 NFL Draft \u2013 showed promise last season and look to be the future starters at the position for Buffalo, but beyond those two the team have only Oliver and 2024 third round pick, DeWayne Carter; who missed the entirety of last season with a torn Achilles; under contract.<\/p>\n

If Leonhard and the team believe Oliver\u2019s value to the team is diminishing and want to open up more avenues to get aggressive in free agency, the former Houston product could well end up being released in the coming month.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The Buffalo Bills have nearly $16 million worth of cap ground to make up over the course of the next few weeks before free agency begins. There… <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":155022,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-155021","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-nfl"],"yoast_head":"\nSEVEN YEARS, GONE! 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