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When the Bills brought in Rex Ryan this offseason, he was expected to elevate the play of the defense even further after they were No. 4 in total defense in 2014. Unfortunately, that didn't happen as they suffered a big drop off, falling from first to 31st in sacks. Surprisingly, it was the offense that took a huge step forward thanks to the play of LeSean McCoy, Tyrod Taylor and several others.
Entering the offseason, the defense needs to be addressed, particularly with regards to expensive veteran contracts. The Bills must move on from these five players in 2016.
1. Mario Williams
If there's one player the Bills have to move on from in 2016, it's Williams. His cap hit of $19.9 million will be the largest on the team, but the Bills can save $14.5 million by releasing him after June 1. His differences with Rex Ryan were well documented in 2015 and he proved to be largely ineffective for most of the season. He finished with five sacks this season after racking up 14 1/2 in 2014. Whether that's due to the scheme or his decline in play is relatively unknown, but there's no doubt he's struggled to fit in with what Ryan tries to do.
2. Leodis McKelvin
Another veteran checks in on this list after struggling in 2015. McKelvin missed the first seven games of the season and returned to play both safety and cornerback due to injuries in the secondary. He finished the season with 32 tackles and two interceptions, but was targeted in coverage. His cap hit will be $4.9 million in 2016, which is fairly high for an aging defensive back. The Bills can save $3.9 million by cutting him, which is a good option given the talent Buffalo has at cornerback in Stephon Gilmore and Ronald Darby. McKelvin isn't the player he once was for the Bills.
3. Dan Carpenter
Few kickers struggled more than Carpenter did last season. He missed six extra points, which was second-most in the NFL. He was also just 23-of-27 on field goal attempts, or 85.2 percent. There's no doubt the Bills could use an upgrade at kicker for the upcoming season with Carpenter being an expendable player. His cap hit of $2.84 million is far too high for an ineffective kicker, especially with the importance of the longer extra point now. The Bills will save $2.3 million by cutting him.
4. Percy Harvin
Harvin was expected to be a contributor on offense and special teams for the Bills in 2015 but that was hardly the case. He finished with 19 catches for 218 yards and one touchdown in what was another wasted year for the talented wideout. He signed a team-friendly contract back in March, and it will likely lead the Bills to move on from him. The final two years of his contract void on Feb. 12, making it easy for the Bills to remove him from their plans. He hasn't showed the ability to stay healthy and has left the team in the dark regarding his playing future. Even the Bills don't know "what's going on."
5. Nigel Bradham
The linebacker group was a weak spot for the Bills this season. Bradham in particular didn't meet expectations in Ryan's defense and probably won't be re-signed by the team this offseason. He made $1.54 million in 2015, which isn't much when compared to other players, but he'll be looking for a new contract in March, one that will likely be more expensive. Add in the fact that he only played 11 games this season and made 59 tackles with no forced turnovers and it's easy to see why the Bills will probably let him walk.
*All salary cap information comes from OverTheCap.com.
