The Buffalo Bills reworked Tyler Bass' contract after a lost 2025 season, guaranteeing $1M with a chance to earn up to $3.5M through incentives and escalators.
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The Bills announced a big $3.5M decision on their kicker who missed the entire 2025 season.
The Buffalo Bills have had a busy 2026 NFL offseason. After a blockbuster trade for DJ Moore, re-signing Connor McGovern, and snagging Dee Alford when free agency opened on Monday, the Bills made another critical roster decision — reworking kicker Tyler Bass’ contract after a season-ending injury wiped out his entire 2025 campaign.
Buffalo Bills Announce Tyler Bass Contract Agreement
The Buffalo Bills didn’t cut their kicker. They gave him a second chance to prove it.
Tom Pelissero
The Bills and kicker Tyler Bass agreed to a revised contract that includes $1 million guaranteed and a chance to earn up to $3.5M in 2026.
Bass missed the 2025 season because of injury, so a pay cut was inevitable. But he can earn it all back though incentives and an escalator.
Bass’s restructured deal gives him a path to earn up to $3.5 million in 2026. The Buffalo Bills are guaranteeing Bass $1 million on the revised deal while cutting $1.5 million from his base salary, per Over The Cap’s Jason Fitzgerald. Bass can earn back every penny through incentives and an escalator built into the new structure — a fair arrangement for both sides.
Buffalo Bills Tyler Bass Contract: What Changed
Bass was originally signed to a four-year, $21 million extension in April 2023 that included over $12 million in guarantees. His 2026 base salary was set at $3.85 million plus a $100K workout bonus, but after missing the entire 2025 season, a pay cut was inevitable.
The reworked deal now carries cap hits of $3.05 million in 2026 and $5.57 million in 2027, freeing up $1.92 million in cap space for Buffalo. It’s a smart financial move that keeps Bass in the building without handcuffing the roster.
This is the Bills threading the needle perfectly.
Tyler Bass’ 2025 Injury and What Went Wrong
Bass suffered a hip and groin injury during training camp that ultimately cost him the entire season. He underwent pelvic surgery in late November 2025.
Veteran Matt Prater stepped in and handled kicking duties admirably, going 17-of-19 on field goals and 34-of-37 on extra points. Prater kept the operation steady, but Bass is the long-term answer if healthy — and the Bills clearly believe he will be.
Bass was fully cleared to return in late January, which gave Buffalo the confidence to keep him on the books rather than move on entirely.
What This Means for the Buffalo Bills in 2026
When healthy, Bass has been one of the more reliable kickers in the NFL. The former sixth-round pick out of Georgia Southern has connected on 131-of-155 career field goals and scored 657 points in his career. In 2024, he set a franchise record 61-yard field goal against the Miami Dolphins — a reminder of just how much leg talent there is.
At a maximum of $3.5 million, this is a low-risk, high-reward play by GM Brandon Beane. If Bass returns to form, the Bills get a proven kicker at a bargain. If he doesn’t, they’ve protected themselves with the reduced guarantees.