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Bills, Von Miller Agree To Deal

March 16th, 2022 at 5:44pm CST by Sam Robinson

A surprise team emerged victorious in the Von Miller sweepstakes. The decorated edge rusher is set to sign with the Bills, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. The Bills have announced the signing.

Linked to the Cowboys, Rams and Browns as the legal tampering period wound down, Miller is set to provide a big boost to the Bills’ edge-rushing corps next season. The Bills convinced the future Hall of Famer with a monster offer. Miller is heading to Buffalo on a six-year deal worth $120MM, Rapoport adds (on Twitter).

This contract is not a true $20MM-per-year accord, with Rapoport noting the deal averages $17.5MM across its first four seasons (Twitter link). That said, Buffalo will still pay up to land one of the top pass rushers in NFL history. It includes $51.5MM fully guaranteed (including $45MM at signing), Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets, and Aaron Wilson of ProFootballNetwork.com notes (on Twitter) it will pay $53MM by 2023.

The edge rusher market began to move Tuesday, when the Broncos poached Randy Gregory from the Cowboys. Gregory’s last-minute switch took away one of Miller’s options, after the 11-year Bronco teased a reunion. The Rams and Cowboys continued to pursue Miller, with Rapoport adding Sean McVay spent Wednesday attempting to convince him to stay in L.A. (Twitter link). But the Bills spent Wednesday wooing Miller as well. As a result, the Bills secured one of the biggest free agency victories in franchise history.

Miller, 33 next week, missed the entire 2020 season and suffered a midseason injury to close out his Broncos tenure last year. But he bolstered his value considerably with the Rams, recording nine sacks across the team’s final eight games — including two in Super Bowl LVI — alongside Aaron Donald and Leonard Floyd. The Rams were viewed as the favorites earlier Wednesday, and it will be interesting to learn how far they were willing to go to keep Miller.

Los Angeles will likely pick up a 2023 compensatory pick for losing Miller, for whom they sent second- and third-rounders ahead of last year’s trade deadline. The rental worked out, but the Bills giving Miller his second $100MM-plus contract weakens Los Angeles’ pass rush. Miller is the first defensive player in NFL history to sign two $100MM pacts, Field Yates of ESPN.com tweets, with this following up the six-year, $114.1MM Broncos extension he inked months after winning Super Bowl 50 MVP honors in 2016.

Although Miller is going into his 12th season, he has said he wants to play several more years. He has mentioned Bruce Smith‘s sack record as a goal. While that figure (200) will be difficult for the former No. 2 overall pick to reach, Miller (115.5) will chase it in the same city Smith played. He stands to help a Bills team that has struggled to assemble a consistent edge rush in recent years. The Bills will pair Miller with recent high draft choices Gregory Rousseau, Boogie Basham and A.J. Epenesa. Veterans Jerry Hughes and Mario Addison hit free agency today.

This also marks yet another NFC-to-AFC transaction on the edge rusher circuit. Gregory, Miller, Chandler Jones, Za’Darius Smith and Khalil Mack are now in the AFC, which features some oft-discussed quarterbacks as well. The Bills will fit Miller’s contract onto a payroll that includes Josh Allen‘s $43MM-per-year pact. A Stefon Diggs extension figures to be on the radar in 2022 as well.

RFA/ERFA Tender Decisions: 3/16/22

March 16th, 2022 at 2:39pm CST by Zachary Links

Here’s a look at the latest tender decisions from around the NFL:

RFAs

Tendered:

Non-tendered:

ERFAs

Tendered:

J.D. McKissic Returning To Washington?

March 16th, 2022 at 12:30pm CST by Adam La Rose

J.D. McKissic is changing course. After agreeing to join the Bills, he is instead re-signing with the Commanders for the same price (Twitter link via ESPN’s Adam Schefter). 

The 28-year-old was reported to be be signing with the Bills earlier this week, on a two-year, $7MM deal. The contract also includes $1MM in incentives. As Schefter notes, the Commanders didn’t need to eclipse that figure – simply match it, as it turns out – to convince him to stay in the nation’s capital.

A former UDFA, McKissic started his career in Seattle, where he registered one start in three years. He then played in Detroit for one campaign, totalling 438 scrimmage yards. He has found much more success in his two seasons in Washington, though.

In 27 games in Landover, McKissic has started 10 of those contests. He’s totalled 133 carries for 577 yards and three touchdowns. In the passing game, he’s added 123 receptions for 986 yards and another four majors. That versatility has made him a valuable piece of Washington’s offense, paired with lead back Antonio Gibson.

Schefter adds that the Commanders initially didn’t offer McKissic a new deal (Twitter link). It was only after the agreement between him and the Bills that the team expressed an interest in retaining him. McKissic’s preference was clearly to stay put, however, and it now appears that he will do just that.

Bills To Sign J.D. McKissic

March 15th, 2022 at 11:51am CST by Zachary Links

The Bills are set to sign J.D. McKissic (Twitter link via Adam Schefter of ESPN.com). Once finalized on Wednesday, it’ll be a two-year, $7MM deal for the former Washington running back. 

McKissic can also earn an extra $1MM in incentives, according to Schefter, which would boost the total value to $8MM. That’s a solid haul for the 28-year-old (29 in August), considering the ups and downs of his early career.

McKissic enjoyed a breakout season in 2017, when he compiled 187 rushing yards and one touchdown on 46 carries for the Seahawks. He also added another 34 receptions for 266 yards and two scores for good measure. After that, he lost much of his 2018 to injury.

The former undrafted free agent out of Arkansas State has rebounded well in recent years. After a productive 2019 with the Lions, he’s posted averages over 4.3 yards per carry in two D.C. seasons. Now, he’ll look to bring more of the same to the AFC East.

Bills To Sign DL DaQuan Jones

March 14th, 2022 at 7:47pm CST by Ben Levine

DaQuan Jones is heading to the AFC. The former Panthers defensive tackle is signing with the Bills, reports ESPN’s Dianna Russini (via Twitter).

After spending seven seasons with the Titans, Jones joined the Panthers on a one-year deal last offseason. He ended up starting all 17 games for his new squad, compiling 38 tackles, one sack, and six QB hits.

During his stint in Tennessee, Jones started 93 of his 99 appearances, collecting 273 tackles and 10 sacks. He also saw time in four playoff games, collecting another nine tackles and 1.5 sacks.

The Bills have also been busy adding to their defensive line today, as they signed Tim Settle to help stabilize their defensive line.

Vikings, DT Harrison Phillips Agree To Deal

March 14th, 2022 at 7:38pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Bills have signed Tim Settle and DaQuan Jones, and one of their previous defensive tackle contributors is heading elsewhere. The Vikings are signing Harrison Phillips, Mike Garafolo of NFL.com tweets.

Buffalo wanted to bring Phillips back, but the four-year veteran moved out of the AFC East champions’ price range, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com tweets. The former third-round pick will score a nice payday in Minnesota, signing for three years and $19.5MM.

Phillips worked as a starter and rotational player in Buffalo; he will collect a big raise to likely play a more prominent role in Minnesota. Phillips will join Dalvin Tomlinson in Minnesota, which has Sheldon Richardson on track for free agency and Michael Pierce uncertain to return.

After getting off to a strong start in 2019, Harrison saw that momentum blunted by an ACL tear. He made modest contributions in 2020 but enjoyed a better season last year, making a career-high 51 tackles (four for loss) and posting six quarterback hits. The Bills used Phillips as a starter in eight games last season.

Phillips, 26, joins a Vikings team that plans to address Pierce’s contract, Chris Tomasson of the St. Paul Pioneer Press tweets. The veteran defensive tackle is tied to a $10.2MM 2022 cap number. Since Pierce’s contract tolled after he opted out in 2020, his deal runs through 2023.

Bills To Sign DT Tim Settle

March 14th, 2022 at 5:16pm CST by Ben Levine

Tim Settle is heading north. The defensive tackle is signing with the Bills, reports ESPN’s Adam Schefter (via Twitter).

It’s a two-year deal for Settle. NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo tweets that the deal is worth $9MM and a max of $10.6MM. The deal contains $7MM in guaranteed money, according to Aaron Wilson of ProFootballNetwork.com (on Twitter).

The 2018 fifth-round pick out of Virginia Tech had spent his entire career with Washington, missing only a pair of games. Used mostly in a platoon role (only two starts), Settle collected seven sacks during his four season with Washington. The six-foot-three, 308-pound defensive lineman also collected 12 QB hits and 12 tackle for loss.

Following a 2020 season where he finished with a career-high five sacks, Settle was unable to compile a single sack in 2021. He still managed to collect 13 tackles while getting into 20 percent of his team’s defensive snaps.

Considering his familiarity with the organization, Washington was keeping tabs on the free agent, per ESPN’s John Keim (on Twitter). Ultimately, Settle decided to take his talents up north.

Jaguars To Sign TE Evan Engram

March 14th, 2022 at 4:47pm CST by Ben Levine

The Jaguars continue to add to their offense. Jacksonville is signing tight end Evan Engram, reports ESPN’s Adam Schefter (via Twitter).

[RELATED: Jaguars To Sign Christian Kirk]

It’s a one-year deal worth $9MM, and the contract could be worth up to $10MM with incentives. PFF’s Doug Kyed tweets that the deal contains $8.25MM in guaranteed money, which includes a $3MM signing bonus and $5.25MM base salary. The tight end has $800K worth of reception and receiving yard incentives.

A first-round pick by the Giants in 2018, Engram had an inconsistent five years in New York. After missing 13 combined games between 2018 and 2019, Engram earned a Pro Bowl nod in 2020 after finishing with 63 receptions for 654 yards and one touchdown. However, his numbers took a step back in 2021, with the tight end finishing with 46 receptions for a career-low 408 receiving yards.

Still, those numbers would represent an upgrade at the position for the Jaguars. The team’s top receiving TE in 2021 was Dan Arnold, who finished with 28 receptions for 324 yards. Engram will join a tight ends depth chart that already includes Arnold, James O’Shaughnessy, Chris Manhertz, and Luke Farrell.

However, there’s a chance Engram doesn’t even line up as TE for his new squad. There were recent reports that teams were looking into Engram as a wide receiver, with the player’s combination of speed, agility, and size making him a potential matchup nightmare. We’ll see if that ends up being the case in Jacksonville. According to Ryan Dunleavy of the New York Post (on Twitter), the Colts, 49ers, and Bills were among the teams to express interest in Engram before he landed in Jacksonville.

The Jaguars have been busy adding to their offense this afternoon. After agreeing to a deal with offensive lineman Brandon Scherff, the organization inked receiver Christian Kirk to a lucrative deal.

Bills To Sign Rodger Saffold

March 14th, 2022 at 1:43pm CST by Zachary Links

Rodger Saffold is joining up with the Bills (Twitter link via Adam Schefter of ESPN.com). On Monday, the former Titans guard agreed to a brand new deal with Buffalo. It is a two-year deal in name only, with Saffold indicating (via CBS Sports’ Josina Anderson, on Twitter) the second year is a void year for cap purposes.

The 33-year-old had one year to go on his Titans contract, with a scheduled cap hit of $12.8MM. If he had still been on the roster five days after the beginning of free agency next week, he would have received a $1MM roster bonus. Instead, the Titans elected for $10.4MM in cap room with a more modest $2.375MM dead money hit.

After nine years spent with the Rams, the former second rounder inked a four-year, $44MM deal to come to Nashville in 2019. He missed a total of three games in three campaigns with the Titans, and even earned his first career Pro Bowl nod in 2021. On the other hand, PFF assigned him an underwhelming grade of 68.8.

Despite his age, Saffold profiled as one of the top LGs on the open market. Now, he’ll help to protect star quarterback Josh Allen and work alongside middle man Mitch Morse, who agreed to a fresh two-year deal this week.

Bills Extend C Mitch Morse

March 14th, 2022 at 10:28am CST by Adam La Rose

The Bills continue to make moves along their offensive line. According to NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo, the team is extending center Mitch Morse on a two-year, $19.5MM deal (Twitter link). Of that figure, $12MM is guaranteed. 

[RELATED: Bills To Release Daryl Williams]

As a result of the new pact, Morse is now under contract for three more seasons. Garafolo adds that his 2022 compensation will increase from $8.5MM to $11.25MM, though the deal will also lower his cap number (which was also slated to be $11.25MM prior to this news) to $9MM.

Morse, who will be 30 at the start of next season, signed with the Bills in 2019. With the four-year deal being worth over $11MM per year on average, it made him the league’s highest-paid center. However, he took a pay cut two years later to remain with the team.

2021 saw the former second rounder play 1,167 snaps as he played in all 17 games. That continues a career-long trend of durability for him, as he has played (and started) in 96 of a possible 113 contests. According to PFF, the veteran earned an overall grade of 63.4, with five penalties committed and two sacks allowed. That is on par with his metrics in recent years.

With a consistent piece of their offensive line in place for the foreseeable future, the Bills have another important piece of business done in the build-up to free agency.

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