After acquiring wide receiver DJ Moore in a trade with the Chicago Bears, the Buffalo Bills entered Friday roughly $34 million over the NFL’s $301.2 million salary cap limit for the 2026 NFL season.
The Bills have until the new league year starts on Monday to become cap compliant, and on Friday, president of football operations/general manager Brandon Beane continued to shed salary by releasing four veteran players, led by former All-Pro nickel cornerback Taron Johnson.
Today’s edition of Buffalo Rumblinks
leads off by analyzing these cost-cutting moves.
Taron Johnson, Curtis Samuel among cost-cutting moves made
By releasing slot cornerback Taron Johnson, wide receiver Curtis Samuel, safety Taylor Rapp, and cornerback Dane Jackson ($1.2 million), Brandon Beane was able to create $12.1 million in salary cap space, but he still has work to do. According to Spotrac.com, the Bills are still roughly $22 million over the salary cap limit.
Linked below: A run through each of the cost-cutting moves, including saying farewell to Taron Johnson, who ushered in the “Buffalo Nickel” era; Curtis Samuel, who slogged through two mostly disappointing seasons in Buffalo; Taylor Rapp, the hard-hitting safety who struggled to stay on the field in 2025; and veteran Dane Jackson, who completed his second stint with the team.
- Buffalo’s Roster Shakeup: Bills Release Four as $22M Cap Deficit Looms – newyorkupstate.com
- Bills release four players, save about $12 million in cap space – WGR 550
- Bills release 4, including CB Johnson, WR Samuel – ESPN.com Buffalo Bills blog
- Bills release 4 players, prepare for busy offseason – WGRZ
- Buffalo Bills release longtime CB Taron Johnson, three others ahead of free agency – BuffaloBills.com
- Tracking Bills’ Salary Cap Space Created through Veteran Purge – Sports Illustrated Buffalo Bills
- Bills release CB Taron Johnson after 8 seasons – The Athletic (subscription required)
- Bills release longtime cornerback Taron Johnson – WGR 550
- Buffalo Bills release All-Pro cornerback who doesn’t fit new defense – Democrat & Chronicle
- Buffalo Bills Make Roster Decision on Longtime Starter Taron Johnson – Sports Illustrated Buffalo Bills
- Why the Bills cut veteran nickel cornerback Taron Johnson before free agency – Buffalo News (subscription required)
- Buffalo Bills release wide receiver after two disappointing seasons – Democrat & Chronicle
- Source: Buffalo Bills to release wide receiver Curtis Samuel – Buffalo News (subscription required)
- Bills release wide receiver Curtis Samuel – WGR 550
- Buffalo Bills Create $6 Million in Cap Space by Releasing WR Curtis Samuel – Sports Illustrated Buffalo Bills
- Bills cut safety Taylor Rapp, cornerback Dane Jackson ahead of free agency – Buffalo News (subscription required)
- Veteran safety is next Bills cap casualty as cuts continue – Democrat & Chronicle
- Buffalo Bills Release Taylor Rapp, Clear Much-Needed Cap Space – Sports Illustrated Buffalo Bills
- Bills Announce Release of Veteran Cornerback Among Flurry of Roster Moves – Sports Illustrated Buffalo Bills
- Buffalo Bills release third defensive back in one day – Democrat & Chronicle
Even more Bills news
Exploring whether Brandon Beane and the Bills overpaid to pry DJ Moore away from the Bears. Plus, Moore shares how he feels about playing in Buffalo for new head coach Joe Brady; learn about the new host and venue for the Micah Hyde charity softball game; and more!
- Did the Buffalo Bills overpay for D.J. Moore? 5 thoughts on blockbuster trade with Bears – newyorkupstate.com
- Bills trade for DJ Moore gives Josh Allen a weapon but at what cost? – Democrat & Chronicle
- Making sense of two big NFL trades: Barnwell on DJ Moore to the Bills, Trent McDuffie to the Rams – ESPN.com
- What DJ Moore recently said about Joe Brady, Josh Allen and ‘electric’ Bills offense – newyorkupstate.com
- Micah Hyde passing the torch on Charity Softball Game – WGRZ
- The Micah Hyde charity softball game has a new host – and a new venue – Buffalo News (subscription required)
- The Bills raised nearly $260 million by selling PSLs at the new stadium – Buffalo News (subscription required)
Buffalo Bills articles recently featured on Buffalo Rumblings
- Bills release Taron Johnson in cost-saving move – Buffalo Rumblings
- Taylor Rapp released by Buffalo Bills – Buffalo Rumblings
- Bills release Curtis Samuel after two frustrating seasons – Buffalo Rumblings
- Dane Jackson released ahead of Bills’ 2026 season – Buffalo Rumblings
- Bills have difficult decision to make about team’s kicker in 2026 – Buffalo Rumblings
- Contract details for Bills S Sam Franklin Jr.’s 3-year deal – Buffalo Rumblings









