Another unusual offseason awaits

In a normal year, with a normal offseason, now would be the perfect time to give Josh Allen the monster contract extension he so clearly deserves.

- MARK Ludwiczak

It’s not a normal offseason, however. We may be starting to see that light at the end of the tunnel when it comes to the coronavirus, but NFL business remains very much affected by the worldwide pandemic. Instead of having a comfortable amount of room under the salary cap, the Bills currently sit right around the projected cap number of $180-185 million. (As of press time, the official cap number had yet to be determined.) Instead of continuing its year after-year climb, the cap actually is set to decrease due to the necessary downturn in attendance.

The Bills should be able to create around $30 million in cap space with a handful of veteran cuts, which will give them both some breathing room and the ability to make a few key additions. It does not mean, however, that the Bills will likely be able to both spend and reward their own — which includes Allen — right away. It’s very different from last off-season, when the Bills had $80 million in cap space and were able to spend in free agency and sign Tre’Davious White, Dion Dawkins and Jordan Poyer to contract extensions.

Allen has one year remaining on his initial rookie contract, plus a fifth-year option for 2022. So there’s still time.

For now, the Bills should focus on two areas in free agency: the offensive line and the run defense.

The entire right side of Buffalo’s offensive line is set to hit free agency. Both players should absolutely return.