On March 6, the Buffalo Bills cut their roster to create a younger, more cap-compliant team. Several of the cuts were difficult, albeit understandable, but Mitch Morse’s release was a huge surprise.
Morse had one season remaining on his $19.5 million contract. Since 2019, the former Buffalo Bills team captain has anchored the offensive line for quarterback Josh Allen. Last season, the Morse-led offensive line allowed the fewest sacks (24) in Allen’s career. At 31, he showed no signs of slowing down, playing in all 18 games.
While Morse sent a goodbye message the day he was released, the center’s wife, Caitlin Morse, did not comment on their departure until nearly a month later.
Caitlin sent a heartfelt letter to the place she has called home for the past five years. She wrote on Instagram, “Dear Bills Mafia & WNY, I’m not good with words or good byes so I’m gonna get right to the point. I’d like to thank you for welcoming Mitch (and our family) with open arms.
“We are so grateful for our time in Buffalo and for all of the wonderful memories, love, and support from you all. You will always have a very special place in our hearts. Until we cross paths again. God bless, ❤️💙.”
The veteran center and his wife welcomed two children while living in Buffalo. Their daughter, Kennedy Marie, was born during the 2020 offseason, but preparation for their son, Deacon, was more complicated.
Caitlin’s due date coincided with the Bills’ final regular-season game, a pivotal matchup against the New York Jets on January 9, 2021. With the AFC East division title on the line, Morse revealed they planned for Caitlin to be induced the following Monday.
Bills QB Josh Allen ‘Loved’ Mitch Morse ‘With Every Ounce of My Being’
With a cap hit of $11.47 million for the 2024 campaign, Morse had the ninth-highest on the team. With a $3 million cap hit, the team saved $8.47 million by cutting Morse. The starting center’s unemployment was brief. The Jacksonville Jaguars and the Pro Bowler agreed to a two-year, $10.5 million contract.
For the first time, Allen discussed the departure of one of his longest-serving teammates with reporters on April 18.
Allen declared, “I genuinely love Mitch with all of my heart.” “I really do think he’s one of the best guys on the planet.” And everyone else you speak with would say the same thing. There was much wisdom in him. I’m hoping for the best for him in Jacksonville.
This offseason, the 27-year-old quarterback disclosed that he spent time with Morse. “I will definitely miss him,” Allen said. “Losing someone you’ve been playing with for a long time is never going to be easy. We knew each other pretty well, almost like old friends. in the true sense. There were chuckles when I said, “I kind of felt him on the back of my hand almost every snap.”
During his first press conference in Jacksonville last month, Morse talked candidly about his sudden release from the Bills.
“I really think that the teams that prioritize football and foster a family atmosphere are the best ones; it’s imperative,” he remarked. However, keep in mind that this is a business by nature. Thus, while the business aspect of it makes sense, the personal side of it hurts.
Josh Allen stated that it takes “a while” to get used to a new center for the Bills.
The Bills intend to move Connor McGovern to center, which seems risky, in the absence of Ryan Bates and Morse. “In our season-long film review, McGovern was solid but also the lowest-graded starter of the bunch,” said Joe Buscaglia of The Athletic. Having played center in just five seasons overall, he also lacks significant NFL experience.
At Penn State, McGovern did play a lot of center court, but that was a long time ago and at the collegiate level. There’s a chance he could do the work well, but it’s still a risk. The loss of Morse, the anchor of their offensive line, might result in a decline in output from the starting five as a whole. At some point during the draft, the Bills may choose to select a young center prospect.
It will take time to “find a comfortable position” with a new center, according to Allen. “It’s not simple… It simply takes time to get to know someone and their breaking point. It requires patience and practice. It resembles tossing a route while using a receiver. That’s a fair comparison, in my opinion.
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