The Buffalo Bills spent the 2026 offseason doing what contenders do best: getting uncomfortable. They swapped out a head coach, reshuffled the front office philosophy, and made aggressive moves to reload around Josh Allen. But that kind of transformation doesn’t come without casualties. As minicamp wraps and training camp looms, two veterans are staring down an uncertain future — not because they’ve played poorly, but because the math of the modern NFL is ruthless.
According to team salary data and league insiders, punter Mitch Wishnowsky and running back Ty Johnson are facing real pressure to keep their jobs. Neither has been a liability on the field. But in a league where cap space and upside are currency, experience alone doesn’t guarantee a paycheck.
The Punter Paradox
Wishnowsky has quietly been one of the more reliable specialists in the league. He can handle the wind at Highmark Stadium, pin teams deep, and handle bad snaps. Those traits kept him on the roster during the Sean McDermott era. But under new head coach Joe Brady and GM Brandon Beane, the evaluation criteria have shifted.
Younger punters on rookie deals are entering camp with lower cap hits and more developmental upside. The Bills currently have a financial incentive to move on from Wishnowsky: a release would free up meaningful cap room with minimal dead money, per industry contract tracking sources. For a team that just traded for wide receiver DJ Moore and signed players like safety CJ Gardner-Johnson and center Lloyd Cushenberry, every dollar matters.
The team has not confirmed any impending move. But if younger specialists show comparable leg strength and accuracy during training camp, the front office may decide that the savings outweigh the veteran edge.
A Running Back Caught in the Numbers Game
The tougher call might involve Ty Johnson. He’s not just a backup runner — he’s a third-down specialist who can pass protect, catch out of the backfield, and spell James Cook. Last season alone, Johnson racked up more than 450 scrimmage yards and earned the trust of coaches in critical situations.
But trust isn’t cap-proof. Johnson carries a cap figure that stands out in a running back room suddenly full of cheaper options. Cook is the clear lead back, and several younger depth pieces have turned heads during early workouts. If Buffalo believes it can replicate Johnson’s production for less, the financial logic is clear: redirect that salary toward a position where depth is harder to find.
Johnson hasn’t done anything wrong. He’s respected in the locker room and productive on tape. But in the NFL, especially on a team built to win now, being solid isn’t always enough to guarantee a spot.
The Bottom Line on Buffalo’s Bubble
Neither Wishnowsky nor Johnson is guaranteed to be cut. Training camp performances and preseason reps will ultimately decide their fate. But the Bills have made it clear they’re willing to make uncomfortable decisions in the name of long-term flexibility.
For Wishnowsky, the battle is against youth and cap savings. For Johnson, it’s against the economics of a position the league has devalued. Both players are capable. Both have fans in the building. But in a league built on constant turnover, sometimes the roster math just doesn’t add up.
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