Report: Buffalo Bills plan to cut Mario Williams

The Bills reportedly intend to cut disgruntled pass rusher Mario Williams this offseason.

According to ESPN’s Mike Rodak and the Associated Press, the Buffalo Bills plan to cut former No. 1 overall draft pick and unhappy defensive end Mario Williams sometime during this upcoming offseason.

Williams signed a massive, six-year, $100 million contract with the Bills in 2012 after playing his first six NFL seasons with the Houston Texans. However, he has reportedly not enjoyed playing in new head coach Rex Ryan’s defensive scheme, which features the blitz more than in just obvious pass rushing situations like third and long.

Williams at this stage in his career would prefer to play as a situational pass rusher, improving his effectiveness as well as possibly lengthening his NFL career. Ryan’s Bills are 7-8 and have missed the AFC Playoffs for the 16th straight season, Ryan’s first in Orchard Park.

The person inside the Bills personnel department that divulged this situation involving Williams on the condition of remaining anonymous, as it is against Buffalo’s policy to disclose information on possible personnel decisions.

Ryan denied the speculation of the team possibly moving on from Williams, “Well, I don’t know where it’s coming from or whatever. I know we have a game to play and that’s really where all our focus is. So I don’t know where this story is coming from.”

Though the Bills would have to pay Williams $11.5 million next season, he is no longer the highest paid player on the team: that would be fellow defensive lineman Marcell Dareus, who signed a six-year, $108 million extension back in September.

With Dareus on a long-term deal and four-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle Kyle Williams doing well in his recovery from a season-ending knee injury, the Bills may wish to save $12 million on next year’s cap and let Mario Williams out of his deal with the club at some point this offseason.