Tre’Davious White, Jordan Poyer among Buffalo Bills’ biggest salary cap cuts

The Buffalo Bills made some major roster moves Wednesday, releasing a number of key cap-saving players.

The team announced the release of safety Jordan Poyer, center Mitch Morse, defensive back Siran Neal, wide receiver Deonte Harty and running back Nyheim Hines.

The team also plans to release cornerback Tre’Davious White, according to multiple reports. However, White’s salary cap figure won’t come off the Bills’ books until after June 1. ESPN was the first to announce White’s impending release.

Additionally, the Bills restructured linebacker Von Miller’s contract, saving more than $8 million in salary cap space, by ESPN.

Despite an “unprecedented” $30 million increase in the league-wide salary cap for the 2024 season, the Bills had to clear space and make some tough decisions. Releasing these six players will save the team approximately $36 million in salary cap space. Teams have until the start of the new league year on March 13 to comply with the 2024 salary cap.

Poyer and White were key members of the Bills’ defense, with each player earning first-team All-Pro honors during their careers. Poyer, originally selected by the Philadelphia Eagles in the seventh round of the 2013 NFL Draft, became one of the NFL’s top safeties after moving to Buffalo in 2017. White, a first-round pick of the Bills in the 2017 NFL Draft, had his previous three seasons cut short due to injuries.

Morse spent the previous five seasons with the Bills, starting 77 games and earning a Pro Bowl nod during the 2022 season. Harty was used primarily as a punt return specialist, returning one punt of 96 yards for a touchdown in the Bills’ season-ending AFC East victory over the Miami Dolphins. Neal, a reserve defensive back, played in all 17 games this season. Hines missed the entire 2023 season after injuring his knee in a water skiing accident.

Mitch Trubisky returns to Bills

Mitch Trubisky spent the 2021 season as Josh Allen’s backup, and it appears the quarterback will return to that role for the 2024 season.

The Bills and Trubisky – who was released by the Pittsburgh Steelers this offseason – have reached an agreement, NFL Media reports. Trubisky appeared in six games for the Bills in 2021, completing six of eight passes for 43 yards. His two-season stint with the Steelers did not go well. Trubisky lost the starting job to rookie Kenny Pickett in Week 5 of the 2022 season. Overall, Trubisky completed 62.6% of his passes, throwing eight touchdowns and 10 interceptions.

Trubisky was the second overall selection in the 2017 NFL Draft by the Chicago Bears, with whom Trubisky played four seasons.

Bills keep Taylor Rapp

Even though Poyer and White won’t be with the Bills for the 2024 season, the team’s defensive secondary won’t be totally decimated.

Safety Taylor Rapp has reached an agreement to stay with the Bills on a two-year contract, according to ESPN.

Rapp was signed by the Bills as a free agent last year after spending his first four seasons in the NFL with the Los Angeles Rams.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Buffalo Bills to release Jordan Poyer, Tre’Davious White and Mitch Morse