In their Week 1 victory against the Arizona Cardinals, Bass successfully made both of his field goal attempts, but both were under 40 yards. He did hit a 43-yarder against the Miami Dolphins in Week 2, but his miss from 45 yards in the fourth quarter was so wide left that many viewers thought it had been blocked.
Despite Buffalo’s 31-10 win over Miami, head coach Sean McDermott started considering backup options just two days later. On September 17, Anders Carlson and Cade York worked out with the team, drawing attention even though neither is seen as a clear upgrade.
Joe Buscaglia of The Athletic remarked that if the Bills are worried about Bass, they might consider signing a kicker to the practice squad. While Bass has successfully converted all his extra points and only missed one field goal attempt, that miss was particularly poor during a non-pressure situation.
Since signing Bass to a four-year, $21 million extension in April 2023, his performance has declined. Last season, he made only 82.8% of his field goals and struggled in the playoffs, going 2-of-5, including a miss on a 27-yarder in the AFC Wild Card game.
In the Bills’ 27-24 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC Divisional round, Bass missed a crucial 44-yard field goal attempt that would have tied the game.
Bass’s struggles aren’t solely due to a single missed kick. While Sean McDermott and general manager Brandon Beane expressed belief in his ability to rebound this season, he finished his preseason with only 5-of-12 successful field goals from 40 yards or more, according to Tim Graham of The Athletic. In the final preseason game against the Carolina Panthers, he missed a 51-yard attempt. McDermott acknowledged the importance of that kick, saying, “That’s one we’ve got to have.”
Cutting Bass poses financial challenges for the Bills, as it would result in a $7.38 million dead cap hit. Beane likely wants to avoid another major financial blow after the team absorbed $31 million in dead money when parting ways with Stefon Diggs.
If they could find a trade partner for Bass, his $2.8 million salary for 2024 would transfer to the new team. If released after the season, the dead cap would drop to just over $3 million.
Ultimately, while the financial implications of cutting Bass are significant, if he can’t be trusted to secure wins, it might be time to move on. Buffalo Bills’ Interest Wanes in $21 Million Kicker Following Missed Field Goal
