Brandon Beane Eyes Pro Bowl Kicker with $22.5M Pedigree to Replace Tyler Bass

Brandon Beane, the Buffalo Bills’ shrewd general manager, is reportedly considering a bold move to replace kicker Tyler Bass with Matt Gay, a former Pro Bowl kicker recently released by the Indianapolis Colts. The decision comes as Bass’s inconsistency raises concerns for a team eyeing a Super Bowl run.

Gay, 31, was cut by the Colts on April 10, 2025, two years into a record-setting four-year, $22.5 million deal. Despite a stellar 2021 Pro Bowl season with the Los Angeles Rams (93.8% field goal rate), Gay struggled in Indy, converting just 82.1% of his field goals, including a dismal 50% from 50+ yards.

“Gay’s leg strength is elite when healthy,” said NFL Network’s Bucky Brooks. “Beane sees a chance to stabilize Buffalo’s kicking game with a proven veteran.”

Bass, a 2020 sixth-round pick, signed a four-year, $20.4 million extension in 2023 but faltered in 2024, hitting 24 of 29 field goals (82.8%) and missing three extra points. His 44-yard miss in the 2024 playoffs against the Kansas City Chiefs and subsequent struggles prompted Beane to sign Lucas Havrisik to the practice squad.

“We need consistency at kicker,” Beane told reporters. “Bass knows it’s a production business, and we’re exploring all options.”

The Bills, with $5.3 million in cap space, could sign Gay to a one-year, $3-4 million deal, leveraging his experience (84.5% career field goal rate) to bolster Sean McDermott’s special teams. Gay’s 2023 game against the Ravens, where he set an NFL record with four 50+ yard field goals, highlights his potential.

Beane’s offseason moves, including Justin Simmons, Tre’Davious White, and Treylon Burks, reflect a focus on reliability. Cutting Bass would incur a $7.4 million dead cap hit in 2025, but Gay’s proven clutch performance could outweigh the cost.

As the Bills prepare for the 2025 NFL Draft, targeting prospects like Maxwell Hairston, Beane’s pursuit of Gay signals urgency to perfect Josh Allen’s supporting cast.