“Prior to the commencement of free agency, the Buffalo Bills unexpectedly released six seasoned players, including wide receiver Deonte Harty.
Harty had previously inked a two-year contract worth $9.5 million with Buffalo in March of last year. His base salary for 2024 stood at $2.6 million, contributing to a cap hit of $5.7 million. The Bills made a significant clearance of over $4 million by letting him go.
A month later, Harty has secured a new opportunity in the NFL and he couldn’t be more excited. NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero broke the news on April 10th that Harty had agreed to a one-year contract with the Baltimore Ravens. Following the announcement, Harty shared a brief message on X, formerly known as Twitter.”
“BALTIMORE!! IM HOME,” Harty posted.
The kick-returner, hailing from Baltimore, has also opted for a hometown discount. Harty has put pen to paper on a one-year contract worth $1.29 million with the Ravens.
Although Harty didn’t quite establish himself as a key component of the Bills’ offense, he demonstrated his explosiveness in the regular season finale against the Miami Dolphins. He broke a franchise record with a 96-yard punt return touchdown, effectively swinging the momentum of the game. This pivotal play contributed to the Bills’ 21-14 victory, securing the No. 2 seed and clinching the AFC East championship title.
The 26-year-old earned recognition as the AFC Special Teams Player of the Week for his performance, yet that momentum didn’t carry into the postseason for Harty. Throughout the regular season, he tallied 15 receptions for 150 yards and one touchdown. In the two postseason matchups, he caught both of his targets for 37 yards.
Despite his departure from Buffalo, Harty harbors no ill feelings towards the team. On March 6th, he expressed gratitude, writing, “Bills mafia!! It’s been a pleasure. Thank you for embracing me and my family! Love always 💙🫶🏽.”
With Deonte Harty & Nyheim Hines Gone, the Bills Still Need to Address Special Teams
When the Bills released Harty, they also let go of wide receiver Nyheim Hines, who missed the entirety of 2023 due to an offseason jet ski accident. Cutting Hines allowed the Bills to save approximately $4.6 million, and he subsequently signed a one-year, $1.9 million contract with the Cleveland Browns.
With both Harty and Hines no longer with the team, Buffalo faces a need to address its special teams, especially in light of the new kickoff rules approved for the 2024 NFL season.
Prior to the NFL’s approval of these new rules, Bills head coach Sean McDermott acknowledged their potential impact on their offseason plans. “When you look at the kickoff rule, if that goes through, you’re gonna need someone to occupy that spot – or maybe more than one,” McDermott remarked, according to team reporter Patrick Warren.
One potential candidate to fill this role is wide receiver Curtis Samuel, who recently signed a three-year, $24 million contract with the Bills. Samuel has previous experience as a kick returner during his time with the Carolina Panthers in 2017 and 2018.
Bills general manager Brandon Beane expressed openness to the idea, stating, “We see him as a guy that, yes, can line up in the backfield, can line up at receiver, gadgets, he could be a returner for us.”
