Sam Martin‘s time with the Bills has come to an end. The veteran punter was released on Thursday, per a team announcement.

One year remained on Martin’s contract, but none of his $1.89MM in scheduled compensation for 2025 was guaranteed. Buffalo will save that amount in cap space while generating just $400K in dead money and avoiding a $500K roster bonus which was due shortly after the start of the new league year. Martin, 35, will immediately be free to join a new team.

Over the course of his 12-year career, Martin has spent time with three teams. His first seven campaigns came in Detroit and saw relatively steady production. The former fifth-rounder then punted for the Broncos over a three-year stretch, but he was not retained once his pact expired. The 2022 offseason – in which Matt Araiza was drafted and subsequently released by the Bills – opened the door for another new opportunity.

Martin inked a one-year Buffalo deal that offseason, and his 47.7 yards per punt average was the second-highest mark of his career. It thus came as little surprise when he remained in place the following spring on a three-year pact. After playing out only two campaigns on that deal, though, the Appalachian State product is no longer in the fold.

Buffalo signed Jake Camarda to a reserve deal in January, and as a result of today’s move he is the only punter in the organization. The Bills could certainly look to add competition this offseason, while Martin will attempt to catch on with a new team over the coming days.

Sam Martin didn’t spend much time on the open market. The veteran punter is signing with the Bills, reports NFL Network’s Peter Schrager (on Twitter). His college Tom Pelissero adds that it is a one-year deal. 

The move comes just hours after ESPN’s Field Yates reported that Martin visited Buffalo (Twitter link). That comes as little surprise, given the team’s need at the position. Indeed, Mike Klis of 9News indicated (via Twitter) that, assuming his physical went well, a contract would be inevitable.

Martin, 32, was released by the Broncos on Monday. That ended his two-year tenure in the Mile High City, where his punting average (46.4) slightly outperformed that of his time with the Lions. While he was only mid-pack statically speaking last season, it was reported that the decision to move on from him was financially driven. Denver will replace Martin with Corliss Waitman.

The Bills have been in need of a punter since they waived Matt Araiza. The sixth-round rookie was named in a lawsuit alleging he was involved in a gang rape at San Diego State; the team parted ways with him shortly thereafter. That left Buffalo without a punter, and they worked out a number of options to potentially serve as replacements.

Martin was one of a pair of notable veterans to be let go recently in favor of younger, less expensive options. The Titans released Brett Kern on Monday, leaving him as arguably the top option on the market. His personal ties to the Buffalo area made Kern a favorite to land with the Bills, but their special teams should nevertheless be much less of a concern now with Martin in the fold.