The Bills start the final phase of their offseason work this week when they hold their first organized team activity of the year, but one of their best defensive players reportedly won’t be taking part.
Tyler Dunne of the Buffalo News reports that cornerback Stephon Gilmore won’t be in attendance.
Gilmore is entering the fifth and final year of the deal he signed as a rookie after the Bills exercised their team option for this season. He’s set to make over $11 million in 2016 and both he and the team have expressed a desire to continue working together beyond this season.
General Manager Doug Whaley termed himself “supremely confident” about being able to reach agreement on an extension with Gilmore as well as on new deals for quarterback Tyrod Taylor and left tackle Cordy Glenn, who signed a five-year deal earlier this month. Nothing’s happened with Gilmore to this point and this offseason has seen Josh Norman and Janoris Jenkins each land deals that have raised the bar on long-term deals for cornerbacks.
The OTAs are voluntary, so Gilmore isn’t running afoul of any obligations unless he skips June’s mandatory minicamp.