Bills' Ed Oliver Deemed Most Overpaid Player on Roster

Buffalo restructures contract of 2019 first-round pick, who has struggled with injuries

Mar. 29, 2026 at 5:07am

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A fragmented, geometric painting depicting a football player in motion, with sharp planes of muted earth tones representing the complex issues surrounding the Bills' defensive tackle Ed Oliver and his lucrative contract.A cubist interpretation of a Bills defensive tackle struggling to break through the line, reflecting the team's challenges in managing high-priced, injury-prone players.Buffalo Today

The Buffalo Bills have been active in free agency, but one of their own players has been identified as the most overpaid on the roster. Defensive tackle Ed Oliver, a 2019 first-round pick, was named the Bills' most overpaid player by Bleacher Report's Brad Gagnon. Oliver is set to make an average of $17 million per year despite missing most of the 2025 season due to injuries. The Bills have restructured Oliver's contract to free up salary cap space, but he will need to bounce back in 2026 to justify his hefty price tag.

Why it matters

The Bills have high expectations after making the playoffs in 2025, and they need key players like Oliver to perform at a high level. Oliver's injury history and lack of Pro Bowl selections raise concerns about whether he is worth his lucrative contract. How the Bills manage Oliver's deal and his on-field production will be crucial as they aim to contend for a Super Bowl.

The details

Oliver was selected 9th overall by the Bills in the 2019 NFL Draft and has appeared in 92 games over his first six seasons. However, he missed almost the entire 2025 campaign due to various injuries, including an ankle issue, a bicep injury, and meniscus problems. The Bills signed Oliver to a four-year, $68 million extension in June 2023, but that deal now appears to be an overpayment given his injury history and lack of elite production. Buffalo has restructured Oliver's contract, converting a large portion of his base salary into a signing bonus and adding two void years to the deal in order to free up $10.3 million in 2026 salary cap space.

  • Oliver was selected 9th overall by the Bills in the 2019 NFL Draft.
  • In June 2023, the Bills signed Oliver to a four-year, $68 million extension.
  • In 2025, Oliver missed almost the entire season due to various injuries.
  • On March 8, 2026, the Bills restructured Oliver's contract to free up $10.3 million in salary cap space.

The players

Ed Oliver

A 28-year-old defensive tackle who was a first-round pick of the Bills in 2019. He has struggled with injuries and missed most of the 2025 season.

Jim Leonhard

The Bills' new defensive coordinator, who will be implementing a potential 3-4 scheme that Oliver will need to adapt to.

Brad Gagnon

A writer for Bleacher Report who identified Oliver as the Bills' most overpaid player.

Ryan Miller

A reporter for the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle who wrote about the Bills restructuring Oliver's contract.

Aaron Wilson

A reporter for KPRC2 who provided details on the specifics of the Oliver contract restructure.

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What they’re saying

“It was a toss-up between Oliver and Greg Rousseau, neither of whom has lived up to hefty contracts. Oliver is a 28-year-old zero-time Pro Bowler who missed almost the entire 2025 season but has a $17 million average annual value, while Rousseau is a good-not-great edge who has never registered more than eight sacks in his five NFL seasons but makes $20 million a year.”

— Brad Gagnon, Writer, Bleacher Report

“Buffalo restructured defensive tackle Ed Oliver's contract, a move expected to free about $10.3 million in 2026 salary cap space, according to multiple reports on Saturday.”

— Ryan Miller, Reporter

“Oliver previously carried a cap hit of about $24 million in 2026. The restructure converts a large portion of his base salary into a signing bonus and spreads the cap charges into future seasons, lowering his 2026 cap figure to roughly $13.6 million, according to Aaron Wilson of KPRC2.”

— Aaron Wilson, Reporter

What’s next

It's going to be interesting to see how Oliver performs this season, and not just because he missed most of last year. The Bills have a new defensive coordinator in Jim Leonhard, and nobody knows how he'll implement his potential 3-4 scheme. Oliver needs to get used to the new scheme, and hopefully, he can stay healthy while learning the new defense and have an impressive season helping the Bills possibly make a Super Bowl run.

The takeaway

The Bills' decision to restructure Ed Oliver's contract highlights the challenges teams face in managing high-priced players who have struggled with injuries and inconsistent production. Oliver's situation will be closely watched as the Bills aim to contend for a championship, with the team needing him to bounce back and justify his lucrative deal.