Here's what it would cost the Buffalo Bills to extend cornerback Rasul Douglas

Rasul Douglas caused social media unrest this offseason with his activity on Twitter/X. Around the start of the new league year, Douglas’ contract was restructured to free up approximately $2.5 million on the Bills’ cap sheet. Rasul sent multiple fan bases in a frenzy by then posting “Decisions decisions,” which many took to mean he was either contemplating an extension with the Bills or was potentially trying to work his way out of Buffalo amid their defensive overhaul.

This wild defensive rebuild makes it entirely plausible that they could see him as a trade-chip to help bring in some young talent via the draft. However, should the Bills decide to keep him as a veteran leader to ease through their transition, the price may be relatively manageable given the impact he brings.

For starters, although Douglas has been a top-level performer across his last three seasons, he doesn’t have the first-round pedigree required to hit the upper-echelons of the cornerback market. If there was any question as to whether a glass ceiling exists for Day Two (or Three) cornerbacks, look no further than the Jaylon Johnson contract, a relative bargain for a lockdown corner at $19 million APY.

Douglas has a takeaway ability that nearly rivals Trevon Diggs, while keeping his yards per coverage rep even lower than Jayon Johnson. He lacks the true shutdown season that Johnson displayed in 2023, but has remained remarkably consistent since signing with the Packers in 2021 and eventually being traded to the Bills at the 2023 deadline.