BOCA RATON, Fla. -- The Buffalo Bills have made just two free-agent signings since the NFL's official signing period opened March 9: tight end Jim Dray and safety Robert Blanton, and the team saved some extra cap space in each case.
Both signed one-year deals at the NFL's veteran minimum salary ($760,000) for their experience level (four-to-six seasons). That qualified both contracts for the league's veteran minimum salary benefit, allowing the Bills to count each player for just $600,000 against their salary cap.
Because both also received $80,000 signing bonuses -- the maximum allowed under this particular cap rule -- Dray and Blanton will count $680,000 against the Bills' salary cap, instead of $840,000.