The Trent Murphy situation
This is one you’ve maybe heard of, and if you have, that doesn’t mean it’s any less easier of a decision for the Bills to make.
Trent Murphy was the Bills’ No. 2 defensive end last season, but Mario Addison will now start across from Jerry Hughes. Murphy is a talented player, however, he hasn’t lived up to his three-year $22.5 million contract he signed and could save the Bills some big money against the cap in cutting him, near $8 million. That space could be saved for a rainy day, namely a storm named Matt Milano.
Buffalo will want to re-sign Milano. If the Bills cut Murphy, don’t spend that cap space, and put it toward 2021 with the rollover rules? That could go a very long way for the Bills, especially considering COVID-19. The salary cap floor is projected to be $175M next offseason, after it was $198.2M this year. Typically the cap increases each year, not decreases, throwing a huge curve ball to teams. Beane, at one point, was probably figured he’d be getting more space to re-sign guys, not lose a chuck of it.
Due to Murphy’s contract, a $6.4M base salary this season, per Spotrac, he’s not likely to be a trade candidate at this point.
Cut or stay, a decision to be made by the Bills that’s not an envious one.
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