Bills are encouraged to add “good supplementary piece.”

Ballentine suggested the Bills could try linebacker Josh Uche, who was traded from the New England Patriots to the Kansas City Chiefs at this season’s trade deadline. Uche will reach the end of his one-year, $3 million contract after this season and could be a candidate to replace the more expensive Miller.

Ballentine noted that the Bills have already done some cleaning up, parting ways with a number of experienced players last offseason to create more cap space.

“The Bills have successfully moved on from many experienced players this season,” Ballentine wrote. “The safety duo of Jordan Poyer and Micah Hyde as well as Stefon Diggs and Gabe Davis immediately come to mind. They overcame those losses and still managed to be a contender.”

Miller could be next, Ballentine suggested.

“This should give them the confidence to cut Von Miller this offseason,” Ballentine wrote. “You can cut the veteran before June 1 and save $8.5 million against the cap, or wait until June 2 to save $17.5 million.” In either case, the could Bills are looking for a pass rush specialist to fill Miller’s role. Gregory Rousseau is the main contributor to the Bills’ edge rusher group, but Uche would be a good addition.”

Bills continued to rely on Von Miller

The Bills remained solidly behind Miller despite his on-field and off-field issues. He was suspended for four games this season after he was investigated for domestic violence last year.

Bills head coach Sean McDermott praised Miller before the season and said he seemed to be getting back into shape. McDermott also reiterated that Miller was an important part of the team’s defensive rotation when Miller returned from his suspension in October.

“It will be good to have Von back,” McDermott said, via SI.com. “He’s been out for four weeks. I’m not sure what good that does when it comes to staying cultured and well-groomed, but I’m sure he’s worked hard to get back. It will be nice to have him back. Again, it’s never about one person, right? Especially when you’re playing up front, it’s the sum of all the forces that matter, and it’s about four guys competing together, and that’s going to be important for us as we move forward as an overall defense.”