November 7, 2024

Leonard Floyd

Bills $16 Million ‘Indispensable’ Starter Expected to Exit

The Buffalo Bills‘ hunt for the Super Bowl continues in 2024, however, the team will look decidedly different next season.

According to OverTheCap.com, the Bills are approximately $51 million over the salary cap limit. While Bills general manager Brandon Beane can nearly half that number with a simple restructure of quarterback Josh Allen‘s contract, there isn’t a lot of wiggle room.

Leonard Floyd

Of the team’s 22 pending free agents, defensive end Leonard Floyd is considered the top prospect entering the market. Buffalo landed Floyd as a steal last offseason, signing the linebacker to a 1-year, $7 million deal. This year, Floyd is predicted to earn a 2-year, $16.2 million contract.

The Athletic’s Joe Buscaglia wrote, “The Floyd signing yielded an every-week starter and the team’s leader in sacks this season with 10.5. Even at 31 years old, Floyd became an indispensable piece of the defense early and paired with Greg Rousseau as the top two pass rushers on the roster.

Leonard Floyd

“Floyd did slow down near the end of the season, though, as he had only one sack over his last seven games. Regardless, Floyd can be an impact player with his length and pass-rushing awareness. He said he would follow the money and wanted to play for a Super Bowl contender.”

Floyd was pretty blunt about wanting the bag after the Bills’ postseason journey came to an abrupt end. “For me, I’m always going where the money goes,” Floyd said, per Democrat & Chronicle‘s Sal Maiorana. “I’d rather be here, but it is what it is. It’s a business. I’m gonna go wherever my agent feels like we get the most the most money from.” And that won’t be from Buffalo.

In Addition to Leonard Floyd, Buffalo Is Predicted to Lose A.J. Epenesa in Free Agency

AJ Epenesa

Floyd isn’t the only defensive end the Bills are predicted to lose this offseason. Buscaglia lists A.J. Epenesa, the Bills’ second-round pick from the 2020 NFL draft, as the team’s third-best pending free agent. Due to financial constraints, and Epenesa failing to live up to expectations, he’s also expected to walk in free agency.

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