BUFFALO, NY (AP) – Headline linebacker Matt Milano will explore the free agency next month because of Buffalo’s salary cap restrictions, a person with direct knowledge of the situation told the Associated Press on Friday.
Milano has been a starter since his debut season in 2017, and his decision is based on the fact that the Bills are not in a position to match the offers he expects to receive when the NFL subscription period opens on March 17. who spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because discussions between the player and the team have been private.
Milano is projected to be among the best linebackers available on the market, and Bills are currently estimated to have only $ 3 million available under a wage cap that is falling due to revenue losses incurred during the coronavirus pandemic.
The league informed the teams this week that the minimum limit will be $ 180 million, which is a drop from last season’s $ 198 million.
Draft laws should already create more space by cutting or restructuring existing wages to meet other, more accessible needs, such as the offensive line. The team also needs to free up space for the future salary cap to reinstate defender Josh Allen, who is coming off a great season and entering the final year of his rookie contract.
General manager Brandon Beane last month raised the prospect of not being able to re-sign Milano.
“Listen, we want to keep good players. Matt is a good player, so we would love to keep him here, ”said Beane. “But then again, he deserved that right and we’ll just have to see how it works.”
Buffalo comes from a 13-3 submission, in which he won his first AFC Eastern Division title in 25 years, and reached the conference championship for the first time since 1994.
Milano, 26, was selected by Buffalo in the fifth round of the 2017 draft and became an important contributor when healthy. His versatility in the position of the external linebacker to defend against the race and the pass made him a valuable player of three defeats in Buffalo’s defensive system.
A variety of injuries limited him to appearing in just 11 games of the regular season and six games last year, in which Milano still recorded the best of his career with 3 1/2 sacks and nine pressures in the quarterback. Including the playoffs, Bills had a record 12-1 with Milano last season.
In 2018, he was the only NFL player with at least 75 tackles, three interceptions and three fumble recoveries. Overall, Milano has five interceptions, five fumble recoveries and a forced fumble in 55 career games, including 39 matches.
AJ Klein, who still has two more years on the contract, would be a candidate to take over after taking over Milan this season.
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