The health and future of Buffalo Bills guard Chris Williams are among the team's top stories entering a mandatory minicamp this week.
Williams not reporting for voluntary offseason workouts and the Philadelphia Eagles releasing Pro Bowl guard Evan Mathis last week has ramped up discussion among fans about how much cap space the Bills can clear by releasing Williams and if that amount would be enough to sign Mathis.
Without knowing Mathis' exact demands and offers from teams that have expressed interest in signing him over the past few days, it's tough to know the answer to the latter question. However, I can provide some details on Williams' contract situation.
From speaking to an agent over the weekend who has viewed Williams' deal, the Bills would save $1.975 million off their 2015 cap by releasing Williams prior to the regular season, which is the difference between his current $3.35 million cap hit and his $1.375 million dead money amount if released.
That 2015 dead money amount would include an $875,000 signing bonus proration and a $500,000 roster bonus that was paid in March, but it would not include his $100,000 offseason workout bonus, since payment of that bonus typically requires 90 percent participation in offseason workouts.
Since Williams' release would come after June 1, his 2016 and 2017 signing bonus prorations ($875,000 each year) wouldn't accelerate into 2015. Instead, they would count together against the Bills' 2016 cap, creating a $1.75 million dead money hit. Willliams' current 2016 cap hit is $3.675 million, so the difference between that and the $1.75 million in dead money would be a $1.925 million cap savings in 2016.
In other words, if the Bills released Williams, they would save $1.975 million in 2015 and $1.925 million in 2016 -- or $3.9 million in 2016 if they rolled over that $1.975 million in extra space into next season.
Williams' back injury could complicate his release, the agent said, but without knowing the specific time frame of Williams' recovery or the team's wishes, it's difficult to determine if the Bills would need to release Williams with an injury settlement.