BUFFALO, NY (AP) – Starting batsman Matt Milano will investigate free agency next month due to Buffalo’s salary restrictions, a person with direct knowledge of the situation told The Associated Press on Friday.
Milano has been an appetizer since his rookie season in 2017, and his decision is based on the fact that the bills will not be able to accommodate the offers he expects to receive once the NFL’s signing period opens on March 17th. His decision was confirmed by the person who spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because the discussions between the player and the team were private.
Milano is expected to be one of the leading linebackers on the market, and the Bills will currently have only $ 3 million available under a salary cap that is falling due to revenue losses suffered during the coronavirus pandemic.
The league informed teams this week that the minimum amount will be $ 180 million, which is lower than $ 198 million compared to the previous season.
It is already expected that the bills will create more space by cutting or restructuring existing salaries to meet other more affordable needs, such as offending. The team also needs to free up the future space for the salary cap to re-sign Josh Allen, the full-back, who is coming off a breakthrough season and entering the final year of his rookie contract.
General manager Brandon Beane raised the outlook last month not being able to afford to sign Milano again.
‘Listen, we want to keep good players. “Matt is a good player, so we want to keep him here,” said Beane. “But he deserved this right again and we’ll just have to see how it plays out.”
Buffalo scored a 13-3 finish in which he won his first AFC East Division title in 25 years and reached the conference for the first time since 1994.
The 26-year-old Milano was selected by Buffalo in the fifth round of the 2017 draft and develops as a major contributor if healthy. His versatility in the lineout position from the outside to defend against the lead and pass made him a valuable player in Buffalo’s defense system.
A variety of injuries have limited him to appearing in just 11 games in the regular season, and six games have taken place in the past year, in which Milano still has the best careers with 3 1/2 pockets and nine quarterback pressure. Including playoffs, the Bills had a 12-1 record with Milano in the series last season.
In 2018, he was the NFL’s only player with at least 75 tackles, three interceptions and three fumble recoveries. Overall, Milano has five interceptions, five repairs and a forced fumble in 55 professional games, including 39 games.
AJ Klein, who is still two years away, is a candidate to take over the starting post after filling in for Milan this season.
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