According to Mike Rodak of ESPN.com, the Bills have a number of players with roster bonuses due this week.
This list of players includes: QB Kevin Kolb ($1 million), LB Manny Lawson ($500,000) and WR Stevie Johnson ($1.75 million).
Rodak mentions that “it would be a surprise” if the Bills elect to keep Kolb beyond this week given his roster bonus and concerns regarding his health moving forward.
As for the other two players, Rodak believes they have a better shot at returning next year, but adds that this could be something to watch in the coming days.
Johnson, 27, will be entering the third season of his five-year, $36.25 million contract and will make $3.65 million for the 2014 season.
It’s worth noting that the Bills wouldn’t see any actual saving in regards to their cap situation until 2015 and 2016 if they were to release him outright. However, they could designate him as a post June-1 release, which would free up $5.675 million, according to OverTheCap.com.
Johnson played in 12 games for the Bills this season where he caught 52 passes for 597 yards and three touchdowns. Pro Football Focus gave Johnson a positive rating in 2013, but it was still only good enough for No. 54 overall among qualifying receivers.
Lawson, 29, signed a four-year, $12 million contract that included $4.6 million guaranteed with the Bills last year. He carries a cap figure of $3.1 million next season. The Bills could free up $850,000 by releasing him outright, or $2.35 million if they were to designate him as a June 1 release.
Last year, Lawson totaled 73 tackles, four sacks, one interception, a forced fumble and a one recovery over the course of 15 games.
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