BUFFALO, N.Y. — High-priced left guard Derrick Dockery and veteran tight end Robert Royal expect to be released by the Buffalo Bills on Thursday as part of the team's plan to free up salary-cap space.

Though the Bills declined comment, agents for both Dockery and Royal told The Associated Press that they expect their clients to be released before the end of the day. The pending moves come a day before the start of NFL free agency and are an indication that the Bills plan to be active in hopes of revamping a team coming off three consecutive 7-9 finishes.

The moves would free up a total of about $8 million in salary cap space for a team that has missed the playoffs for nine consecutive years, the worst streak in franchise history.

Dockery's agent, Todd France, said he was informed by the Bills that they wanted to go in a different direction. He added that Dockery didn't fit the offensive line scheme under assistant Sean Kugler, who took over last year after Jim McNally retired.

Dockery was scheduled to make $21.75 million over the final five years of his contract, not including incentives. The Bills signed him to a seven-year $49 million deal on the first day of free agency in March 2007 as part of major offensive line overhaul, which included the addition of right tackle Langston Walker.

Listed at 6-foot-6 and 335 pounds, Dockery started all 32 games in Buffalo and was part of one of the NFL's largest offensive lines in terms of height and weight. But the line struggled last season, allowing 38 sacks, 12 more than the previous team, and the offense finished 25th in the NFL in total yards.

Dockery was expected to be the Bills' stalwart at left guard after the team went through eight changes at the position after Pro Bowler Ruben Brown was released following the 2003 season.

Royal's agent, Rick Smith, said the Bills were going to cut his client on Thursday.

Signed by the Bills in free agency in 2006, Royal was scheduled to make just under $3 million over the final two years of his contract.

Despite being nagged by injuries last season, the seven-year NFL veteran finished with career-highs in catches (33) and yards receiving (351) and scored one touchdown in 15 games, including seven starts.