Bills salary cap situation is better than it was last year
There are still challenges to face, but Brandon Beane said the salary cap is in better shape this year than last.
The Buffalo Bills spent the second-fewest of any NFL team on the safety position last year.
That could change this offseason.
Buffalo is predicted to land Miami Dolphins safety Jevon Holland in free agency by USA Today. Holland is the No. 1 ranked 2025 free agent on defense by Pro Football Focus and USA Today.
“The Bills appear destined for a life of coming close, but never getting over the top. Whether Holland wants that life remains to be seen, but he certainly fits into Buffalo’s roster,” USAT wrote. “The safety took a step back in 2024, but has been a key piece to the Dolphins defense during his years in Miami. Going from the warm climate to the cold could ultimately play a factor here, with the west coast native possibly heading home in free agency.”
Holland moved to California when he was 8 but was born in British Columbia, Canada, where his dad coached in the Canadian Football League.
Holland, who turns 25 in March, had a dip in production in 2024, but it hasn’t seemed to impact his market value. He’s versatile with good ball skills and is estimated to command a $15.1 million annual salary by Spotrac. The Bills spent less than $6 million total on safeties in 2024.
“I wouldn’t hate the idea of coming back (to Miami). I wouldn’t hate the idea of leaving,” Holland said in January.
Holland was a second-round pick, No. 36 overall, by the Dolphins in 2021. He took over as the starting free safety early in the season and was named to the PFWA NFL All-Rookie Team in 2021. Holland was Miami team captain in 2022 – at age 22 – and 2023. He’s been lauded as a leader by veteran players.
Holland recorded a career-high 96 tackles in 2022.
Holland was the highest-ranked safety in the AFC by Pro Football Focus in 2023, and third-highest in the NFL, with a 90.5 overall grade but not selected to the Pro Bowl. He finished 2023 with 74 tackles, three forced fumbles, a fumble and a 99-yard pick-six.
He seemed to celebrate Miami parting ways with defensive coordinator Vic Fangio a season ago, despite a career year under Fangio in the coach’s lone year with the Dolphins. Holland posted a video of himself kicking rocks shortly after news broke that Fangio leaving Miami. Holland later credited Fangio with being a great mind but “I just didn’t feel like he really wanted to be here.”
Fangio was hired by the Philadelphia Eagles in the same role three days later. The Eagles’ No. 1 ranked defense put on a masterclass against the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl 59. Fangio’s defense sacked quarterback Patrick Mahomes six times and forced three turnovers in the 40-22 championship game victory. “Vic calling a HELL of a game!” Holland posted on X at halftime of the Super Bowl.
Holland played part of 2024 with a broken left hand that required surgery midseason and his PFF grade of 63.0 was 89th of 170 safeties. The grade was still better than any of the Bills’ safeties last season. Holland did record career bests in completion percentage against (54.2%) and passer rating allowed (89.0).
Buffalo has two safeties under contract, Taylor Rapp and Cole Bishop. Damar Hamlin, who started 14 games and was third on the team with 89 tackles, is an unrestricted free agent.
Rapp started all 14 games he played, with 82 tackles, two interceptions and a forced fumble. Bishop played in 16 games with four starts as a rookie. The 2024 second-round pick had 40 tackles with a forced fumble and two passes defended. The Bills could give Bishop an opportunity to step up as a starting safety if Hamlin isn’t signed in free agency.
