The Buffalo Bills and running back Nyheim Hines have reworked his contract to help the team’s salary cap position out as free agency is set to begin in the NFL.
On Monday, multiple reports indicated that Hines has restructured his deal, one way or another. What appears to have happened is that Hines has taken a pay cut, of sorts. Full details have yet to be announced.
What we know: NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo reports that it’s a bit of a two-way street. Buffalo general manager Brandon Beane gets some salary cap relief, meanwhile, Hines adds some incentives to his contract which could help him earn more at the end of 2023:
#Bills RB Nyhiem Hines is in the process of reworking his deal to stay in Buffalo, sources say. He’ll convert part of his base salary to signing bonus to provide some cap relief. Incentives added give him the chance to earn more than his previously scheduled $4.79 million in ’23.
— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) March 13, 2023
In addition to NFL Network, league insider Adam Caplan from SiriusXM radio adds that $1.7 million of Hines’ previously scheduled $4.45M base salary is now fully guaranteed. It’s likely that this is a new signing or roster bonus.
It remains to be seen how much this contract change gives Buffalo in terms of salary cap space. Beane will still have to continue putting in work, though. The Bills were approximately $11M over the salary cap when Matt Milano adjusted his contract and signed an extension over the weekend.
The Hines update won’t give the team that much relief, but every bit counts.
On a side note relating to Hines, the news means he will still be on the team in 2023.
Buffalo did not have many players on their roster that could be cut to save a bunch of salary cap space this offseason. The one at the top of that list was Hines, who would have saved the Bills approximately $4.79M on their cap if let go because his contract he previously signed with the Indianapolis Colts did not carry a dead-cap hit.
Hines was acquired from Indy at the 2022 NFL trade deadline.
With Hines back, Buffalo will still add to their running back room this offseason. James Cook is the only other rusher under contract with Hines as Devin Singletary and others are pending free agents.
It remains to be seen if Singletary returns and who else is added to the Buffalo backfield. Bills Wire will continue to provide updates on the roster throughout the offseason.
[lawrence-related id=114655,114643,114639]