The Buffalo Bills are planning to release wide receiver and return specialist Deonte Harty, according to NFL insiders Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero.
Harty was an All-Pro as a special teamer and started his career with the New Orleans Saints. This release comes among several other notable releases from the Buffalo Bills, who are attempting to find their way out of one of the worst salary cap situations in the NFL.
The Buffalo Bills are trying to free up cap space with the release of Deonte Harty
The Buffalo Bills and general manager Brandon Beane were in one of the worst salary cap situations in the NFL before today. They were an NFL worst $41 million over the salary cap before they decided to release several key players.
Thus far, they have released All-Pro safety Jordan Poyer, Pro Bowl center Mitch Morse and cornerback Siran Neal. They have also restructured the contract of cornerback Rasul Douglas.
Even after the release of Harty, who combined with Morse accounts for a $12.8 million salary cap hit, the Bills are still over the cap.
Bills general manager Brandon Beane explained that they will remain competitive despite their salary cap situation in an article from Democrat and Chronicle.
“We will work around it,” Beane said. “We’re not planning to take a year off and just not be competitive. Will we be younger in some areas? Yes. Will we have to rely on draft picks? Yes. But I’m not laying my head down tonight going ‘We don’t have a shot at it next year.’”
Deonte Harty was a massive contributor for the Buffalo Bills on special teams
Former Buffalo Bills wide receiver and return specialist Deonte Harty, who spent the first four years of his career in New Orleans, had one of his best years returning the ball on punts in 2023.
He had 323 punt return yards in 2023, which was just 15 yards under his career-high. Harty had a 96-yard touchdown on a punt return this season, which was the second punt return of his career.
This return came at an extremely pivotal moment in a game against the Miami Dolphins. The Bills struggled to produce offensively for the entire game as they had just seven points at the beginning of the fourth quarter and were down by seven to the Dolphins. Harty’s return gave the Bills life. Harty’s return was the difference as the Bills went on to win by seven points.
96-yard touchdown return for Deonte Harty!
Game tied 14-14 #BillsMafia | #GoBills | #BuiltInBuffalo pic.twitter.com/2FqEX2VfkO
— Built in Buffalo (@BuiltInBuffalo_) January 8, 2024
Harty didn’t contribute much for the bills on offense as he had just 150 yards receiving and a touchdown on the season. Despite that, Harty has shown the ability to contribute on offense with the Saints in the past. In 2021, Harty had just under 600 yards receiving on 15.8 yards per catch.
Another NFL team might find more than just a boost on special teams in Deonte Harty, who is now a free agent.
Get More NFL and College Football Content
For more news and trends in the college football world, click here or follow me on Twitter @KusleikaAndrew.