The Buffalo Bills have parted ways with a veteran player, creating some cap space while also opening a roster spot that will need to be addressed this offseason.
NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport reported on March 6 that the Bills released punter Sam Martin after contract discussions.
“The #Bills are releasing P Sam Martin today, source says. Martin is in the final year of his contract, and after discussions aimed at keeping him in Buffalo, the two parties decided to part ways,” Rapoport shared in a post on X. “Martin gets released now and can sign immediately.”
As reported by ESPN’s Alaina Getzenberg, the Bills will gain some salary cap relief by releasing 35-year-old punter Sam Martin.
“The move saves the Bills almost $1.9 million in cap space. Ends a three-year tenure for Martin in Buffalo,” Getzenberg shared in a post on X.
Bills Build Cap Space With Move
With the new NFL season approaching, the Bills are projected to be over the salary cap, though general manager Brandon Beane remains optimistic about their financial situation. Last year, the team made several significant moves to create cap space, parting ways with veterans Jordan Poyer and Mitch Morse while also trading star receiver Stefon Diggs. Many of the cap savings from those moves carry over into 2025.
“We won’t be in as deep of a cap hole,” Beane said in February, via the team’s official website. “Now, we also had some numbers that were easier to move off of last year…I don’t think we have as many of those options, but we’re okay. We also have to remember we’ve got guys that are coming up on extensions…I don’t expect us to be, as I said here a year ago, big spenders in free agency or anything like that.”
The Bills still have options to create additional cap space, including restructuring quarterback Josh Allen’s contract or negotiating a pay cut for Von Miller. The edge rusher agreed to a reduced base salary for the 2024 season and could do so again, though some insiders speculate that the Bills may opt to part ways with Miller altogether.
New Need on Special Teams
With Martin’s release on Thursday, the Bills will need to find a new punter for the upcoming season—but they may already have a potential replacement. The team signed former Tampa Bay Buccaneers punter Jake Camarda to a reserve/future contract in January.
Camarda was released by the Buccaneers in October after being a healthy scratch for three games. Originally a fifth-round pick in 2022, he played in 34 games for Tampa Bay, punting 169 times for 8,302 yards. He averaged 49.1 yards per punt with a net average of 40.9.
The Bills have also made significant changes on special teams this offseason, parting ways with coordinator Matthew Smiley and bringing in Chris Tabor as his replacement. A 15-year NFL veteran, Tabor most recently served as the Carolina Panthers’ interim head coach and special teams coordinator in 2023. He has also held special teams coordinator roles with the Chicago Bears and Cleveland Browns.
