The Bills continue to move on from veterans in their path to cap compliance. Buffalo is releasing center Mitch Morse, Mike Garafolo and Ian Rapoport of NFL Network report. The team also plans to cut receiver/returner Deonte Harty, Rapoport and colleague Tom Pelissero add. Both moves are now official. 
Morse’s release marks further changes along the offensive line for Buffalo. The team traded Ryan Bates to the Bears on Monday, giving him a better chance of seeing first-team duties. That suggested the Bills’ starting interior trio of Connor McGovern, O’Cyrus Torrence and Morse would remain intact for 2024. Instead, the latter is now poised for free agency.
Moving on from Morse – who had one year remaining on his contract – will produce $8.5MM in cap savings and $3MM in dead money. The move means Buffalo will have a new starting center for the first time since 2019 unless a new, more cost-effective agreement can be reached between team and player in this situation. Morse earned his lone Pro Bowl nod in 2022, and he logged over 1,100 snaps for the second time in his career last season.
The 31-year-old ranked 20th amongst qualifying centers in 2023, drawing a 64.1 overall grade. That falls in line with his evaluations throughout much of his career, and a similar level of play may have been expected for 2024. Buffalo entered the offseason in unenviable cap shape, though, leading to a number of departures via veteran releases.
That process has included safety Jordan Poyer and special teamer Siran Neal being let go in cost-shedding moves earlier today. Harty’s release will add to the financial benefits, as it will yield a further $4.3MM in extra cap space. The latter joined Buffalo on a two-year pact last offseason and served as the team’s primary punt returner. He ran back 26 punts in 2023, and scored a 96-yard touchdown as part of his special teams contributions. The Bills will aim to find a less expensive option this offseason.
Rapoport notes Connor McGovern is expected to slide over from guard to center to take Morse’s place. Not to be confused with the Jets center of the same name, McGovern joined the Bills last offseason following his Cowboys tenure. He played exclusively at left guard in 2023, but he has limited experience as a center dating back to his time in Dallas. David Edwards, meanwhile, will be the favorite to replace McGovern at the LG spot on Buffalo’s new-look offensive line.
Time to go younger and clear some cap, but the Bills have a strong core, especially on the offense side.
Bills have been cleaning house today! My goodness!!
Morse is the only one that really hurts, but the team already has solid replacements in-house for every position other than safety.
You don’t miss Poyer or Tre White?
Both will be missed, but Poyer’s lost a few steps over the last couple of years, and after two serious injuries, Tre has similarly been slowed and might be better off retiring.
Agreed. Poyer was in his peak a few seasons ago. So maybe safe to say you guys go CB C WR or LB in first pick. Davis is still a free agent. Bills would be amazing with Xavier Worthy. Might have to move up to get him
WR in 1st, safety second. Douglas is taking the Tre White role, as he did most of last season with TW on IT.
Makes sense. Which WR do you want?
I like Legette but there are a few others who might be a good fit.
Worthy in that offense lined up with Diggs could be something. I also want to see Shorter get a chance. He was a decent route runner in Florida
The Bills should sign the other Connor McGovern and rotate them between guard and center just to mess with opposing defenses.
After trading Bates, we release Morse? Seems like experimenting with McGovern at center is playing with fire.
I wasn’t opposed to keeping Hardy – I don’t think he got a good look in the weird Bills offense last year. Andy Isabella probably becomes the primary returner.
They could bring in another center via the draft or free agency.
It is likely, but they are not spending big money in a center, and drafting one – is still a ?.
Chargers Mitch Morse
Replace Lindsey
Steelers need to sign Morse immediately
I don’t know if Morse has played other OL positions in the past but given how tepid the FA market will be, he should serve as a good depth piece at the very least for some needy team.