During the 2025 offseason, the Buffalo Bills successfully retained much of their core roster, with general manager Brandon Beane reaching agreements with key players including wide receiver Khalil Shakir, linebacker Terrel Bernard, cornerback Christian Benford, defensive end Greg Rousseau, and running back James Cook. A crucial part of this retention involved restructuring quarterback Josh Allen’s lucrative six-year contract, which provided the necessary flexibility to keep the team intact.
However, as the Bills look toward the 2026 season, they face new challenges, particularly in managing their salary cap. Currently, the team is projected to be $5.6 million over the cap. While Beane has options, including further salary restructures, some players may need to be released to create space. One of the most likely candidates to be affected is veteran tight end Dawson Knox.
Knox, who was drafted in the third round out of Ole Miss in 2019, signed a substantial four-year, $53.6 million extension with the Bills in 2022. After restructuring his contract last year and taking a pay cut, he now approaches the final year of that deal, which entails a significant cap hit of $17 million.
The Bills could consider releasing Knox as a pre-June 1 cut, which would save approximately $9.6 million but still leave about $7.4 million in dead money on the books. Alternatively, a post-June 1 release would yield $12 million in cap savings and would result in just over $5 million in dead money.
As discussions continue regarding the future of the team, the possibility of cutting Dawson Knox remains a significant topic among fans and analysts. The decisions made in the coming months will be crucial for the Bills as they seek to balance maintaining competitive talent while adhering to the constraints of the salary cap.