The Buffalo Bills have made a surprising move this week that could have a big impact on their roster. The Bills have restructured the contract of their starting left tackle Dion Dawkins, converting some of his base salary into a signing bonus. This has freed up about $3.9 million in salary cap space for 2023, according to ESPN’s NFL insider Field Yates.
Why did the Bills do this? That’s the question that everyone is asking, as this kind of move usually signals that a team is preparing to make a free agent signing or a trade. The NFL trade deadline is on October 31, and the Bills might be looking to add some talent to their already strong team.
The NFL world has been buzzing with reactions and speculations about the Bills’ decision, as many wonder what they are planning to do with their extra cap space. Some think that the Bills are targeting a specific player or position, while others think that they are just creating some flexibility for the future. Here are some of the tweets that capture the mood of the fans and analysts:
The Bills recently restructured the contract of LT Dion Dawkins, converting base salary into a signing bonus and creating about $3.9M in 2023 cap space.
— Field Yates (@FieldYates) October 24, 2023
Correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe this would be enough space to trade for Hopkins. https://t.co/StUUpxTd10
— Tweets by Sneaky Joe (@SneakyJoeSports) October 24, 2023
Derrick Henry you are a Buffalo Bill https://t.co/xMtNPAkYGy
— TicTacTitans (@TicTacTitans) October 24, 2023
Bills create some space. Trade deadline is one week from today. https://t.co/fGVC4L6tJl
— Sal Capaccio 🏈 (@SalSports) October 24, 2023
Sooooo are we trading for Hopkins, Henry, a DT, CB or LB? https://t.co/0jTat7eSri
— Jefe (@JSpenceTheKing) October 24, 2023
The Bills don't have a ton of cap space. This could just be a move to do in-season business.
But 3.9 million in late October is notable enough to wonder if it's for something bigger https://t.co/pKAfLtR77t
— Bills Chat Podcast (@BillsChatPod) October 24, 2023
Help is on the way 🥹 https://t.co/0VPMlgQPlR
— Brother Bill (@BrotherBill716) October 24, 2023
THE GOOD: The #BIlls had just about $1M in space this year. So this puts them closer to $5M, if they're hoping to make a move.
THE BAD: They were already $18.9M OVER the cap in 2024. And this restructure probably puts them over $20M in the red. https://t.co/HnfKxVqr83
— Henry McKenna (@henrycmckenna) October 24, 2023
The Bills are one of the best teams in the league, and they have a chance to make a deep playoff run this season. They have a dynamic offense led by Josh Allen and Stefon Diggs, and a solid defense anchored by Tre’Davious White and Micah Hyde. But they might still be looking for some upgrades or depth at certain positions, such as cornerback, linebacker, or tight end.
The Bills have made a bold move by restructuring Dawkins’ contract, and now they have some cap space to work with. Will they make another move before the deadline? We’ll have to wait and see what the Bills have in store for us.