Joe Brady’s first major roster call of the offseason revealed how the Buffalo Bills are beginning to reshape the roster around quarterback Josh Allen. On Friday, Buffalo moved on from four veterans in a single sweep, a decision driven by both cap considerations and recent on-field production. The move created immediate financial flexibility while also signaling a broader shift as the team prepares to integrate a significant new investment into Allen’s supporting cast.

The Bills entered the offseason significantly above the NFL’s $301.2 million salary cap for the 2026 league year, forcing general manager Brandon Beane to begin clearing space ahead of free agency. The four releases alone created roughly $12.1 million in cap relief as the front office works toward compliance before the new league year begins.

And so, Buffalo confirmed that cornerback Taron Johnson, safety Taylor Rapp, wide receiver Curtis Samuel, and cornerback Dane Jackson were all released on Friday.

Here’s a closer look at the four roster moves Buffalo made as Brandon Beane begins reshaping the team ahead of free agency and the 2026 season:

1. CB Taron Johnson

Johnson spent eight seasons with the Bills after being drafted in the fourth round of the 2018 NFL Draft out of Weber State. In the 2025 season, Johnson played in 13 games and started eight of them. He finished the year with 57 tackles, four passes defended, and one tackle for loss, whereas he recorded 572 tackles, 48 passes defended, 23 tackles for loss, and 11 quarterback hits with the Bills in eight seasons. Johnson’s strong play earned him second-team All-Pro honors in 2023.

His release ends one of the longest tenures among Buffalo’s defensive starters. Johnson also authored one of the most memorable moments in franchise postseason history during the 2020 divisional round, when he intercepted Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson in the end zone and returned it 101 yards for a touchdown.

The decision also reflected changes within the defensive structure. After Buffalo hired defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard this offseason, questions surfaced about how often Johnson’s nickel role would appear in the new system. Speaking at the NFL Scouting Combine, Beane acknowledged the uncertainty surrounding the veteran’s role moving forward.

“Nothing’s off the table,” Beane said. “We’ll look at anything and everything as we make these decisions, and he’s a good football player. You never want to rule anything out if you think that’s the best position.”

Ultimately, Buffalo chose to move forward rather than attempt a position change for the veteran defensive back.

2. S Taylor Rapp

The Bills also released safety Taylor Rapp after three seasons. Rapp first entered the NFL with the Los Angeles Rams in 2019 before signing with the Bills in 2023. Over his time in Buffalo, he played 36 games and made 24 starts and posted 488 tackles, 31 passes defended, 12 interceptions, and 11 tackles for loss.

Rapp recorded 158 tackles, eight passes defended, and three interceptions with the Bills. In 2025, he played six games and made 26 tackles before the team placed him on injured reserve on October 24 due to a knee injury that had followed him through training camp.

The injury proved particularly costly for Buffalo’s secondary depth. Rapp had stepped into a larger role after longtime starters Micah Hyde and Jordan Poyer departed in consecutive offseasons, but the knee injury eventually required surgery and ended his season early.

3. WR Curtis Samuel

The Bills also released WR Curtis Samuel, who only posted 38 receptions for 334 yards and two touchdowns in his two seasons with the franchise. Curtis was originally a second-round pick of the Carolina Panthers, and after two consecutive seasons of at least 600 yards, the team signed him to a three-year, $24 M contract.

However, the WR’s 2025 campaign proved extremely disappointing, with just seven receptions for 81 yards and one touchdown. Releasing Curtis will save the Bills $6 million in cap space.

Samuel’s arrival in Buffalo had originally been viewed as a reunion with Brady, who coached him during his time with the Carolina Panthers. The expectation was that Samuel’s versatility as a motion receiver and gadget option would translate smoothly into Buffalo’s offense.

Instead, injuries and limited availability prevented him from carving out a consistent role. Samuel appeared in just six games during the 2025 season and never fully established himself as a reliable secondary option in the passing game.

4. CB Dane Jackson

Lastly, the Bills’ front office also released cornerback Dane Jackson. In his two stints with the team between 2020 and 2023, and then again in 2025, Jackson played in 55 games and made 155 tackles (129 solo), two tackles for loss, three interceptions, 28 pass defenses, two forced fumbles, and one fumble recovery.

By removing Dane Jackson from their roster, the front office clears $1.2M of cap space.

Jackson primarily served as depth in Buffalo’s secondary during his second stint with the team. The former 2020 draft pick appeared in only a handful of regular-season games in 2025, making him one of the more straightforward roster decisions as the front office trimmed the roster.

Even after the releases, however, Buffalo still has financial maneuvering left to complete. According to cap tracking projections, the Bills remain roughly $20 million over the cap threshold, meaning additional restructures or roster adjustments could still follow in the coming days.

And while they are clearing space ahead of the 2026 season, the team also made a significant addition to the team, a move aimed at providing maximum support to Josh Allen.

The DJ Moore trade gives Josh Allen a new target in Buffalo

The Bills not only made roster cuts but also made a move that could change the look of their offense. Buffalo added a veteran wide receiver through a trade that could give Josh Allen another proven target.

DJ Moore had been part of trade rumors throughout the offseason. Those rumors turned real when the Chicago Bears agreed to send the wide receiver to Buffalo along with a 2026 fifth-round pick in exchange for a 2026 second-round pick, according to NFL insider Tom Pelissero.

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As part of the deal, Buffalo also took over the remaining years of Moore’s contract. The wide receiver still has four seasons left on his agreement, which is valued at about $98 million. The structure of the deal means the Bills are making a major financial commitment to the veteran pass catcher.

However, the contract is expected to work more like a shorter commitment. Money tied to Moore’s future seasons means the deal could realistically play out as three years for Buffalo, with the team having flexibility later if needed.

Moore arrives in Buffalo with one of the most productive receiving resumes among available veteran targets. Across eight NFL seasons with the Panthers and Bears, he has totaled more than 600 receptions and over 8,000 receiving yards, production that immediately places him among the most accomplished receivers on Buffalo’s roster.

The 28-year-old began his career with the Carolina Panthers and produced three seasons with over 1,000 receiving yards. He later joined the Bears in 2023 as part of the trade that helped Carolina secure the top pick used on quarterback Bryce Young.

In his first season in Chicago, Moore caught 96 passes for 1,364 yards and eight touchdowns. But his numbers dropped later while playing with quarterback Caleb Williams. During the 2025 season, Moore recorded 50 catches for 682 yards and six touchdowns.

The Bears now move forward with young receivers Luther Burden III and Rome Odunze. That youth movement made Moore expendable. For Buffalo, the goal is simple. The team hopes the veteran receiver can get back to the strong form he showed earlier in his career.

Not long after saying goodbye to Stefon Diggs in 2024, Buffalo began searching for someone who could fill even a piece of that gap. Moore might not reach that same level right away, but he still gives Allen another experienced target in the passing game. With Joe Brady leading the offense, the Bills are making some changes to the roster while still trying to remain strong in the AFC.