Khalil Shakir was locked up by the Buffalo Bills for the foreseeable future this offseason.
However, now we have full details of his contract. Realistically, it’s a bit of a smaller extension.
Shakir’s extension is worth $60.2 million with $32M guaranteed. Factored into that are other various variables such as bonuses, incentives, and more.
For fans, most are just concerned with how the salary cap looks when it comes to a contract. That’s what makes Shakir’s contract a bit of a two or three-year extension.
In 2025, Shakir will play on the final year of his rookie contract he signed after being selected by Buffalo in the fifth round of the 2022 NFL draft. In 2026, the extension kicks in.
In that, Shakir’s salary cap hit remains low in the first year and then jumps up. According to Over The Cap, those cap hits are:
- 2026: $6.792 million
- 2027: $13.92 million
- 2028: $15 million
- 2029: $16.22 million
In addition to those years, to help lower the cap hits, the Bills added one void year at the end in 2030. Doing so helps spread out the cap hit, a move general manager Brandon Beane is known for doing.
If the team were to release Shakir or any player before their contract is over, a dead-cap hit is added to the Bills’ salary cap. Those numbers vary.
For Shakir, cutting him in 2026 would add $17.9 million to Buffalo’s salary cap. He’s not going anywhere.
The final three years are different. Over those, the Bills can save $2.4M, $6.76M and $11.18M, respectively.
What’s likely to happen is Beane restructuring Shakir’s contract at some point. Maybe as soon as 2027 because of those savings. Time will tell, but that’s also a move Beane has routinely done over the years.
Bills Wire will continue to provide updates throughout the 2025 offseason.
