BUFFALO, N.Y. -- An influx of youth in the NFL draft and an expensive contract combined to make veteran cornerback Drayton Florence the odd man out with the Buffalo Bills.

Florence was released by the team on Friday in what was regarded as a mild surprise after Buffalo spent much of the offseason improving what has been a porous defense. Florence is a nine-year NFL veteran who had 45 starts in 46 games during a three-year stint with the Bills.

He had two years left on his contract and was scheduled to make a base salary of $4 million this season.