Matt Cassel‘s release earlier today appears to be part of the Bills’ plan to make enough room for Marcell Dareus‘ looming contract extension, according to Vic Carucci of the Buffalo News (on Twitter).
The Bills, according to Carucci, want to extend Dareus before the season begins. If a deal cannot be completed in the next week before the regular season begins, the team will not address the fifth-year standout’s contract until the season ends, notes Carucci (on Twitter).
Buffalo also wants to extend outside linebacker Nigel Bradham, according to CBS Sports’ Jason La Canfora (via Twitter).
Like Dareus, who will earn just more than $8MM this season as part of the defensive tackle’s fifth-year option, Bradham is entering a contract year. Although since the third-year starter arrived as a fourth-round pick in 2012, he has no such fifth-year negotiation-delaying luxury, increasing the team’s incentive to lock up the underrated outside backer.