After a hectic March, the 2024 Buffalo Bills roster is still being assembled, with the draft in just a few weeks. Here are the most recent updates:
1. The loss of cornerback Tre’Davius White: Coach Sean McDermott stated at last week’s owners meetings that parting ways with White was “tragic in some ways,” given the serious injuries White sustained while playing for Buffalo, including tearing his left ACL on Thanksgiving in 2021 and his right Achilles during a Week 4 victory against the Miami Dolphins in 2023.
When discussing White’s release, McDermott said it was an emotional moment for him because White has been an important part of the defense during his tenure in Buffalo. McDermott was drafted for the first time as a first-round choice in 2017.
“It’s going to happen eventually because that’s how long NFL players play. But it came way too early in my mind, right, and I’m sure in his mind as well,” McDermott stated. “I think he’s one of the best defensive backs to ever play in Buffalo— I really believe that. He’s all class all the time and he works his tail off. And he’s one of the best human beings I know.” White recently signed with the Los Angeles Rams and will now take on his former team this season.
Last Sunday, Beane calculated the Bills’ cap room to be between $6 and $7 million.
2. Samuel’s role: The team’s largest free-agent acquisition was wide receiver Curtis Samuel, who was signed to a three-year contract. Beane and McDermott anticipate using him in a number of ways, which is one of the things that makes this signing exciting for the Bills.
When Ohio State’s Samuel was selected by the Carolina Panthers in the second round of the 2017 draft, Beane was their assistant general manager. Beane remembered their time together during the draft process, describing Samuel as “a unique player” who could divide his time between the collegiate running backs’ and receivers’ rooms.
“Talking with [offensive coordinator] Joe Brady gave me the confidence to bring him here.” And he played for the Panthers in 2020—that was his greatest year with Joe,” Beane remarked. Therefore, we view him as a player who, sure, can line up at receiver, in the backfield, or on the sidelines. He also has the ability to return kicks for us. The field can be extended vertically by him. Simply line up at wide receiver or in the slot, not in a typical fashion. We believe he can play backfield, inside, or outside, giving Joe a lot of flexible options for how to deploy him.”
McDermott repeatedly mentioned Samuel’s speed when discussing him; Buffalo has expressed interest in expanding the receiver room. Samuel is 27 years old.
Samuel acknowledged in an online press conference following his signing that his time with Brady on the Panthers had a big impact, but he also had a clear-cut reason for going to Buffalo.
“You’ve seen the team, after all. You can perceive their excellence. Why not, you ask? That is the query: “Why not visit us here?”
3. Comp pick update: In addition to the other free agent departures and acquisitions that go into the league’s formula for compensatory picks, the Bills anticipated receiving a third-round compensatory draft pick in exchange for the departure of linebacker Tremaine Edmunds in free agency. However, they were instead awarded a fourth-round compensatory pick.
Buffalo is tied for the most draft picks at 11 right now, but they do not have a pick in the third round, so dropping to the end of the fourth round at No. 133 is a big step back.
Beane revealed that the 49ers in San Francisco had a similar issue, and that the NFL had not changed its decision even after the teams had brought their issues to the league’s attention. A different problem led to the modification that gave the Cincinnati Bengals an extra choice.
It took me by surprise. “I think we got a raw deal, us and San Francisco,” Beane remarked. It has to do with all the conversions, vacancies, and other such things, as well as numbers that aren’t actually numbers.
One of San Francisco’s players, who was rated about a 17 [average per year], was being counted as a 26 APY; notice how they completed the void with larger cap figures at the end. We had prepared for it, and San Francisco shared our sentiments, so it was a serious setback.”
Although he believes the league will “alter how they’re doing that going forward,” the general manager acknowledged that Buffalo will not benefit from it this year.
4. Latest on Von Miller: According to the Dallas County District Attorney’s Office, pass-rusher Von Miller is still being looked into for an alleged assault from November. The situation has not changed.
In a news conference last week, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell stated that while he did think about adding Miller to the Commissioner’s Exempt list, he ultimately decided it would not be “appropriate at that time based on all the facts.”
Goodell and Beane were not aware of any developments regarding the probe.
