The Buffalo Bills began Wednesday with the NFL’s worst salary-cap scenario. They did not finish the day that way.
The Bills saved around $26 million on their contractual obligations for the 2024 season by dismissing five players on Wednesday, including defensive back Siran Neal.
Neal had one season left on a three-year, $9 million contract deal inked in 2022, just before he became an unrestricted free agent.
Since entering the NFL as a fifth-round draft pick from Jacksonville State in 2018, only three players in the league have made more special-teams plays with one team than Neal, who has 1,714 in regular-season play with the Bills. He has also taken 567 defensive snaps in 97 regular-season games. Neal has also appeared in ten postseason games for Buffalo.
In six NFL seasons, Neal has missed two games.
Releasing Neal freed up $2.88 million in salary cap room for the Bills.
Buffalo also released wide receiver Deonte Harty, running back Nyheim Hines, center Mitch Morse, and safety Jordan Poyer.
In 2011, Neal earned honorable mention All-State honors as a wide receiver at Abbeville High. In 2012, he was named first-team All-State athlete at Eufaula High School.
Neal concentrated on cornerback at Jacksonville State, where he competed in the 2015 NCAA FCS title game and was named to the 2017 American Football Coaches Association NCAA FCS All-American team.
