Orlando, Florida — In front of media at the NFL’s annual meeting on Monday at the JW Marriott, an emotional Sean McDermott talked about the Buffalo Bills’ decision to release franchise cornerstone Tre’Davious White earlier this month.
Because of the injuries, I think it’s unfortunate in some ways, McDermott said. “And who knows where his time in Buffalo would have taken him and us if the injuries hadn’t happened?”
The Bills have faced two major games during McDermott’s leadership – playoff defeats to the Kansas City Chiefs in 2021 and 2023 – without White. White was sidelined by an ACL injury in 2021 against the New Orleans Saints and a torn Achilles in 2023. Despite his limited recent interceptions, White, an AP All Pro in 2019, is highly regarded by McDermott as one of Buffalo’s top cornerbacks. The difficult decision to release White for cap relief stirred strong emotions within the organization, as he had been a valuable player since McDermott’s early days as head coach. McDermott expressed disbelief to White about the decision, recognizing his contributions on and off the field.
He expressed disbelief at the timing of the situation for NFL players like Tre, acknowledging that it was inevitable due to the players’ careers duration, but feeling it happened sooner than expected. At the start of the offseason, Bills GM Brandon Beane faced uncertainty with the team’s roster due to the challenging salary cap situation. He engaged in discussions with several players about restructuring contracts or possibly accepting pay cuts. Von Miller agreed to a pay cut, benefiting the team after a decline in performance. Beane was transparent with Tre White about the process, considering options like pay reductions or release. While not disclosing White’s stance on a pay cut, it seems the discussions ended positively. Beane assured White that this move doesn’t mean he won’t return to Buffalo in the future, but for now, the team must adhere to cap regulations.
