Bills free agency: Von Miller on leaving LA, 'It had to be the Buffalo Bills'; plus more from another busy day

For a guy who will pocket about $50 million over the next three years, Von Miller’s been pretty conflicted lately.

The Buffalo Bills’ new superstar edge rusher admitted Thursday in his first news conference with the Western New York media that it wasn’t an easy decision to leave Los Angeles – where he just won a Super Bowl with the Rams – for a new NFL home.

In fact, Miller made it sound downright brutal.

“It really felt like I broke up with my girlfriend and she never did anything to me,” he said. “She was good to me. She was good to me, and I had to break up with her to choose another girlfriend. I hate that part. I hate that part of the league.”

To be sure, Miller had it good in Los Angeles. He loved being a member of the Rams. He got to line up next to Aaron Donald, the best defensive player in the NFL. He got to play for Sean McVay, one of the league’s premier head coaches. Oh, and did we mention, it’s Los Angeles?

Would he really leave all of that … for Buffalo?

“It was a hard decision for me to make. You know I want to put emphasis on that – leaving L.A. for Buffalo … it’s tough,” Miller said with a chuckle. “It’s tough. You know, I’m going to be completely honest with you guys.”

It begs the question: Why did he do it?

Sure, that aforementioned $50 million in the first three years of a six-year contract that has a total possible value of $120 million plays a big part. Miller, though, was already wealthy beyond his wildest imagination. He’s the first defensive player to sign two contracts with total maximum values of at least $100 million each.

It had to be about more than just money.

“It had to be something special,” Miller said. “It had to be the Buffalo Bills. What they’ve created here – it had to be the Bills Mafia. This environment that they’ve created here, it drawed me away from (Los Angeles). It’s not going to be the weather. The weather is going to be the weather, but what they’re doing inside this facility, what they’re doing in this community, what they’re doing on the football field and off the football field, man, I had to be a part of that.”

That, from a two-time Super Bowl champion and future Hall of Famer, speaks volumes about the culture the Bills have created under General Manager Brandon Beane, head coach Sean McDermott and quarterback Josh Allen.

“The only way you can walk away from that is to walk into something special,” Miller said, “and what they’re doing here is extremely special. They’re going to win a Super Bowl with or without me. They’ve built an amazing team.”

The Bills are thrilled that it will be with Miller. The soon-to-be 33-year-old said he was rejuvenated by his midseason trade last season from the Broncos to the Rams. He responded with four sacks during the Rams’ four-game postseason run to the championship, including two in the Super Bowl victory over the Bengals.

The Bills are banking on Miller providing the type of game-changing pressure off the edge that they felt was lacking too often last season.

“The last few games of the season every year, that, to me, is a barometer of where you're at and where you need to go,” McDermott said. “We just felt like we needed this piece – it was one of the pieces that we needed, not the only piece – but this was an opportunity for us to get our hands on one in Von and it's not every year you have a chance to get a player like this – at that position in particular. So, we were fortunate that the time was right for us and for him.”

Miller is the type of star that for far too long the Bills had no prayer of attracting. That is no longer the case. Allen is perhaps the best player in the entire league. Stefon Diggs is one of the game’s top wide receivers and has known Miller for years.

“That’s my guy. I talked to him about it,” Miller said. “To be honest, I talked to him about this locker room since he got here. I asked him about it. He said he loved it. He said he loved everything about Buffalo. For Stefon Diggs, Mr. International, for him to give me those kudos, it really made me feel at peace with coming here and being a part of this.”

Miller, though, wasn’t truly at peace until he actually arrived in Buffalo and put pen to paper.

“Right when I signed on the contract, I felt good,” he said. “The smile came back. The happiness came back, Von came back.”

A cross-country flight had given him time to think – and rethink – whether he was doing the right thing.

“This was definitely a stressful process,” he said. “I wasn't expecting it to be like that. I was expecting, you win the Super Bowl, you got your offers out here, where do you want to go? Pick. Go back to the Rams. But it was tough man, it came down to the very end and Coach McVay, they did everything they possibly could and it's unfortunate that I'm not a Los Angeles Ram, but I’m a Buffalo Bill, man. I'm excited to be here. I'm excited to go chase multiple Super Bowls with these guys and it's an honor and a privilege to be here. Bills Mafia, what's up baby?”

Jordan Phillips ended his news conference Thursday with a message to former teammate Shaq Lawson. 

"Sign the contract."

Reportedly, that's on the verge of happening. According to a report from NFL Network's Tom Pelissero, the Bills and Lawson are in agreement for the former first-round draft pick to return. Lawson confirmed the news on Twitter, though, the team has not offiicially announced the signing.

Back at home pic.twitter.com/oS1fVJzKH1

— Shaq Lawson (@Shaq_Lawson90) March 17, 2022

Bills General Manager Brandon Beane continues to put the band back together in an effort to beef up the defensive line. Lawson, 27, spent the 2020 season with Miami after leaving the Bills as an unrestricted free agent following the 2019 season. He was traded from the Dolphins to the Texans, but never played in a game for Houston, instead getting traded to the New York Jets on Aug. 29, 2021. 

Lawson was waived by New York on Jan. 8, a day before the Jets lost to the Bills, 27-10, in the final game of the regular season. 

This is a developing story. Check back for updates. 

The Bills have finalized a one-year contract for defensive tackle Jordan Phillips to return to Buffalo.

He became a free agent Wednesday when he was released by the Arizona Cardinals in a move that saved the team $4.1 million in space under the salary cap.

"It's the family aspect that really draws me to this. You're playing for more than money here," Phillips told reporters Thursday. "It's nice everybody has each other's backs. People's kids grow up together. It's just a nice atmosphere to be around."

He said the signing means he's coming back "home."

"The Bills just signed the best pass rusher, have the best quarterback and the best receiver, Tre White is coming back, best safeties in the league," he said. "Why wouldn't I want to come back."

Phillips, 29, left the Bills for Arizona in March 2020, signing a three-year contract worth up to $30 million that came after he posted a career-best 9.5 sacks and 13 tackles for loss in the 2019 season. Phillips said Thursday that he had other offers for more money than the Cardinals offered and was disappointed some thought he left the Bills solely for the money. 

He dealt with injuries during his two years in Arizona. He missed seven of the final eight games of the 2020 season because of a hamstring injury, and then missed the first four games of the 2021 season because of an undisclosed injury. He also missed the final three games of the regular season and Arizona's playoff loss to the Los Angeles Rams in the wild-card round because of a knee injury. He said he had an MCL issue but it did not require surgery.

Phillips said it was a "shock" to deal with injuries with Arizona, given that it was the first time in his career that it's happended, but he believes those are behind him.

"I'm not going to try to be Superman," he said. "There are a lot of Supermans in this locker room."

In the aftermath of his release, he posted on Instagram, "Don't worry mafia I'm coming home." Phillips later thanked Cardinals fans in a post on Instagram, but the image showed him in a Bills uniform. He ended the post with "the heart wants what the heart wants #letsgobuffalo."

He’s baaaaaaaack‼️We've signed DT Jordan Phillips to a one-year contract: https://t.co/9bGauzwkUP pic.twitter.com/CrXYaHXgo4

— Buffalo Bills (@BuffaloBills) March 17, 2022

Phillips figures to provide depth behind Ed Oliver as the Bills' three-technique defensive tackle. In that role, he'll be counted on to provide a strong interior pass rush. Phillips would be the third new defensive tackle to join the roster in free agency, a quick turnaround at the position.

The Bills lost Harrison Phillips to the Vikings, and Vernon Butler Jr. is currently an unrestricted free agent, but the team announced a one-year deal with DaQuan Jones on Wednesday and is expected to officially announce a deal with Tim Settle soon. Those two figure to make up the rotation at one-technique defensive tackle, possibly in some combination with Lotulelei, who is still also on the roster.

It's clear by the contract Levi Wallace signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers that the Buffalo Bills were ready for a new starter at cornerback. 

According to contracts website spotrac.com, Wallace's two-year contract with the Steelers contains a salary cap hit of just $2.517 million in 2022. He will earn a base salary of $1.035 million, and a signing bonus of $2.965 million. 

His base salary increases to $4 million in 2023, which increases his cap hit to $5.482 million, although the Steelers can move on after this year and save $4 million of that cap hit if they choose. 

Wallace's salary is much lower than what was expected. By not matching it, the Bills have showed they believe they can upgrade the position. Whether that comes through free agency, a trade or the draft remains to be seen.

Currently, the Bills' two projected starters at outside cornerback are Tre'Davious White and Dane Jackson. White, however, is coming back from a torn ACL suffered on Thanksgiving night, and it is uncertain whether he'll be ready for the start of the regular season.

Until the contract numbers for the Bills' other additions in free agency are finalized, it's difficult to project how much cap space General Manager Brandon Beane has left to work with. There are a good number of veteran cornerbacks still on the market, though, and Beane has favored taking that route at the position in the past. 

Cole Beasley’s productive three-year run as the Buffalo Bills’ slot receiver is over.

The Bills released the soon-to-be 33-year-old wideout Wednesday after not being able to execute a trade for him.

The Bills save $6.1 million against the salary cap this season with the move. In the wake of the big move to sign Von Miller Wednesday, the Bills’ need for more cap space was obvious. The fact the Bills were likely to need to create more cap space surely limited his trade prospects.

Beasley caught 82 passes each of the past two seasons, second on the team both years behind Stefon Diggs. Beasley ranked No. 2 in the NFL in catches out of the slot each of the last two seasons, with 69 in 2021 and 78 in 2020.

Overall, the Bills paid Beasley an average of $7.6 million a year the past three seasons and got a lot for their money. He finishes his Buffalo tenure with 233 catches and 11 touchdown receptions.

Beasley’s departure leaves a big hole in the slot in the Buffalo offense. His ability to get quick initial separation was a big benefit to quarterback Josh Allen. Beasley and Allen developed a great feel for how he would run the many option routes in the Buffalo offense. Beasley is a master at giving the QB a good target in holes in zone defenses.

However, Beasley’s playing time waned a bit late last season as the Bills’ offense gained momentum on the road to the playoffs. Beasley played 65% of the offensive snaps overall. But the Bills made more use of Isaiah McKenzie’s speed and McKenzie’s ability to get open vs. man-to-man coverage later in the year. Over the last five games, counting playoffs, Beasley averaged 45% of the snaps.

Another factor in the drop was the Bills’ use later in the year of more varied personnel packages to enhance their play-action pass game, help the run game and keep defenses off balance.

Like most teams, the Bills still are going to rely a on a three-receiver set the most. They used it 70% last season. But the over-reliance on the spread – they used three- and four-receiver sets 87.5% in 2020 – probably is not the direction the offense is headed.

McKenzie will be at least part of the solution to replacing Beasley. McKenzie, who re-signed with Buffalo on Sunday, caught 20 passes last season. Diggs plays some out of the slot, too. He caught 33 of his 103 passes from an inside receiving position.

Will McKenzie get half of Beasley’s snaps? More than that? Less? There’s a long way to go before that can be estimated. The Bills are going to add more receivers to their roster this offseason.

The NFL draft is deep in slot-receiving prospects.

Exactly why Beasley wanted to seek a trade is uncertain. There’s a good chance the Bills, needing to create cap space, wanted him to take some kind of a pay cut.

As an unvaccinated player, Beasley bristled at the NFL’s vaccine regulations the past year. He also was put off early in the season when he drew some boos over his stance from the home crowd in Orchard Park. However, the NFL halted all aspects of its Covid protocols early this month, so his vaccination status, for now, seems it will be a non-issue next season.

Beasley was due to make $6.1 million in base salary and bonus money from the Bills in 2022. His cap hit was going to be $7.6 million. He still will count $1.5 million in “dead money” against the Bills’ cap.

The Buffalo Bills have restructured the contract of linebacker Matt Milano to create $5.17 of cap space for the 2022 season. The deal was first reported by ESPN’s Field Yates.

Milano base salary is $7.5 million.

Milano previously was going to count $9.97 million against the salary cap. Now, he will count $4.79 million, according to Spotrac.com. The Bills took the base salary Milano was due to receive – $7.5 million – and converted most of it to bonus money, spread out over the three remaining years of his contract.

Milano signed a four-year contract with the Bills a year ago that was worth at total of $41.5 million. Milano is entering his sixth NFL season and is only 27 years old. He turns 28 in July. The restructuring gives Milano cap hits of $13 million in each of the last two years of his deal, 2023 and 2024.

Fresh off inking a one-year contract, defensive tackle Jordan Phillips talked about returning to a place that felt like home and why he wanted to come back.

He also got a question about another former Bill: Shaq Lawson. Phillips leaned forward, grabbed the microphone and gave a firm suggestion, if not a demand:

"Shaq, sign the contract."

Just a few minutes later, it appeared that was the plan: NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reported that Lawson is returning to Buffalo on a one-year deal.

It seems all but official at this point. Lawson tweeted “Back at home,” complete with a picture with Phillips from their previous Buffalo days.

It’s trending that quite soon, Phillips and Lawson will both back in Buffalo, each after two seasons away: Phillips with the Cardinals, and Lawson with the Dolphins and Jets. It’s a testament to their time in Buffalo that they are so set on returning.

In Phillips’ re-introductory news conference, he was clear that the hope was always to come back to the Bills, where he played just under two seasons. Even in just 28 games, something about Buffalo seeped in. He left, but he felt caught in what he realized he'd left behind. 

“I didn’t miss a game. You can ask me anything about a game and I could probably tell you,” Phillips said on the Bills. “I talked to the guys constantly, stayed in touch. When I left, it was a real close knit group. It was the first time I felt part of a football team that’s like more of a family. So it was easy. I’d go see the guys in the offseason, we still hung out.”

His long-distance loyalty to the Bills stood out to coach Sean McDermott.

“I think that's a pretty unique situation and story around the NFL. ... He shared the same thing with me earlier this afternoon,” McDermott said. “… That speaks volumes of not only who we are, what we do, the resources (team owners) Terry and Kim (Pegula) provide, but also the players on our team and what those friendships and relationships are to these players.”

Phillips was drafted by the Dolphins in the second round in 2015. He was waived in 2018, just a few days after an outburst in a blowout loss, and he was promptly claimed by the Bills. His most productive year followed in 2019, his one full season with the Bills. During that season, he tallied a career-high and team-high 9.5 sacks. But the business side of the sport reared its head, and Phillips left for the Cardinals.

“Me and Brandon talked and it just seemed like the better opportunity for me to leave at the time,” Phillips said. “It served its purpose. But my end goal was always to come back here and I’m happy it worked out.”

He said he had no hard feelings toward Arizona. Injuries made his time there challenging. Phillips played nine games in each of the last two seasons in Arizona, working through different injuries. In those 18 games, he had five sacks and two forced fumbles.

“It was the first time I’ve ever been injured in my career, so it was definitely a shock,” he said. “But I’ve taken some different approaches, not that it shouldn’t be an issue. So knock on wood. Football happens, but I’m going to do everything in my power to stay healthy and give you guys everything I’ve got.”

He said he did not need knee surgery following last season for an MCL injury. Which was good, as he had offseason plans.

Phillips made sure he was at the Bills’ Divisional Game in Arrowhead Stadium in January. Phillips was not only in Kansas City to watch the game, he showed up wearing a Star Lotulelei jersey. Though he knew how hard the loss was for his former teammates, he saw an opportunity.

“Star is like my big brother. I was just really there to support him, but also I love the Bills,” Phillips said. “So it worked out well that way. I don’t want to say I’m not sad that a Super Bowl didn’t happen. But I’m happy I get a chance to be a part of it. I’ll say that.”

He joins what is now a revamped defensive line. The Bills added (or re-added) Phillips, Lawson, Tim Settle and DaQuan Jones the last few days. Oh, and standout pass rusher Von Miller is also now a Buffalo Bills player. Phillips said he hopes to be a good complement to Ed Oliver, who he’s seen grow since he left. But Phillips also doesn’t plan to overstep.

“Like I've said to the guys here today, I just want to be a piece of the puzzle. I'm not going to do anything different,” Phillips said. “What you guys saw before is what you're gonna get. I'm not going to try and be Superman. There's a whole bunch of supermen on this team. Just do your job and it will get done."

After his signing his contract with the Buffalo Bills on Thursday, new pass rusher Von Miller met with Western New York reporters. Here are some highlights:

"What they're doing here is extremely special. They were going to win a Super Bowl with or without me. They’ve been an amazing team. Josh Allen and Diggs on the offensive, and this offensive line they've built. Dion Dawkins, I’ve been a huge fan of the way he plays for a long time. To this defense, the No. 1 defense in the league, the safeties with Poyer and Micah and Ed Oliver up front and now we got Jordan Phillips and Settle … They made the No. 1 defense even better, and I’ve got a lot of respect for these linebackers as well, Matt Milano and Tremaine.

"I’m excited to go win, I’m excited to go win a Super Bowl in this city. I’m excited to see Bills Mafia go crazy. I’m excited for all the things this special place brings. They were going to win a Super Bowl without me, so it’s an honor and a privilege to be a part of it."

Video @TheBuffaloNews @VonMiller just showed up to meet media for first time at @HighmarkStadm. Said he’s been a @BuffaloBills fan forever. pic.twitter.com/omonKqCRTQ

— Robert Kirkham (@RobertKirkhamBN) March 17, 2022

"It was a hard decision for me to make. I want to put emphasis on that. Leaving LA for Buffalo, it's tough. I'm going to be completely honest with you. ... Playing football is what I love to do, winning games is what I love to do, being around a great group of guys, being around this team and these guys ... that's really the only way they can draw me away from the great weather and it was to come over here and be part of something special here."

"When I left Denver and went to LA, I said, 'I’m not leaving.' It had to be something special and had to be this, it had to be the Buffalo Bills. What they’ve created here and the Bills Mafia, it had to be this environment to draw me away from that. It’s not really the weather – the weather is going to be the weather – but what they’re doing inside this facility and what they’re doing in this community, what they’re doing on the football field and off the football field I had to be a part of that.

In a video posted as he was visiting the field at Highmark Stadium, a smiling Miller said, "I've played on this field 50 million times and no dubs. We're getting big dubs now, baby. ... I appreciate you all. I'm so excited to be here. Let's get this Super Bowl."