In with one big name, out with another. Days after adding star pass rusher Von Miller on a six-year, $120 million deal, the Bills have released veteran defensive tackle Star Lotulelei, the team announced Friday. The 32-year-old starter, who was limited to 11 games in 2021 due to illness and injury, is four years removed from signing a five-year, $50 million deal with Buffalo. His release instantly saves the Bills at least $1.5 million. According to multiple reports, Lotulelei was not designated as a post-June 1 cut.
One of the Bills' top additions in 2018, Lotulelei was unavailable as a first-string interior man for much of his last two seasons, sitting out the entire 2020 season due to COVID-19 and making just eight starts a year ago while battling injuries. He renegotiated his $50M contract ahead of the 2020 campaign, per Over the Cap, but was still due over $9M in 2022.
Lotulelei found mixed results when healthy. He logged just 17 total tackles in his Bills debut but stepped up in 2019, recording two sacks to go along with three quarterback hits and three tackles for loss. He nearly matched a career high in sacks in 2021, with three, despite playing just 11 games, while also recording three QB hits and four tackles for loss.
Prior to his four-year run with the Bills, the former first-round pick spent five seasons with the Panthers, missing just four games during that time. He received Defensive Rookie of the Year consideration for his 2013 debut.
