Mario Williams time in Buffalo is over after four seasons.
The Bills released the high-priced defensive end on Tuesday. This according to ESPN’s Josina Anderson, who was told by a source inside the organization the team was parting ways with Williams. He had two years remaining on a six-year, $96 million contract he had signed during the 2012 off-season.
I'm told by a source Bills DE Mario Williams has been informed he's been released.
— JosinaAnderson (@JosinaAnderson) March 1, 2016
Bills Release Mario Williams
Williams’ cap hit was a gargantuan $19.9 million in 2016. The only player in the league with a higher number was Miami’s Ndamukong Suh ($28.6 million). Though the Bills do absorb a total of $8.6 million in dead money over the next two seasons, they also free up $12.9 million in cap space in 2016 and another $14.7 million next season.
The 31-year-old had fallen out of favor after a disappointing 2015 where he had just 15 tackles, five sacks and six tackles for loss. It was a far cry from the previous two seasons in Western New York when he averaged nearly 14 sacks and was named to the Pro Bowl both years.
Williams was picked by the Houston Texans with the first overall pick of the 2006 NFL Draft. He played the first six seasons of his NFL career in Houston, making the Pro Bowl in 2008 and 2009. He played collegiately at North Carolina State.
In other Bills-related news, the team also placed the non-exclusive franchise tag on offensive tackle Cordy Glenn ahead of the deadline to do so at 4 PM Tuesday.
Bills have submitted paperwork placing the non-exclusive franchise tag on tackle Cordy Glenn
— Jason La Canfora (@JasonLaCanfora) March 1, 2016
Cordy Glenn Franchise Tagged By Bills
Glenn was an impending free agent heading into 2016. Per the recently released franchise and transition tag numbers, the move locks Glenn into a one-year fully guaranteed, $13.706 million contract if he signs the tender. More likely than not, though, the team will get a long-term deal done at some point during the off-season. They have until July 15th to do so.
The fourth-year player out of Georgia emerged into one of the better left tackles in the league this season. Along with guard Richie Incognito and center Eric Wood, he was part of an increasingly competent Buffalo offensive line. Incognito and Wood would make appearances in the Pro Bowl. And another priority for the team heading into free agency is to sign looming free agent Incognito to a new deal.
The non-exclusive element means that teams can submit offer sheets for Glenn. The Bills can either choose to match the contract offer Glenn receives or decide to part ways. In the event they choose not to, Buffalo would receive two first-round draft picks as compensation for Glenn’s departure.
