Defensive tackle Marcell Dareus and the Buffalo Bills have come to terms on a six-year, $108 million contract extension, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. The deal includes $60 million guaranteed. Dareus also gets a $25 million signing bonus, according to CBS Sports' Jason La Canfora.
Marcell Dareus agrees to new $108 million deal with Bills
The defensive tackle is a key part of one of the league’s best pass-rushing teams.
Kevin Hoffman-USA TODAY Sports
“Marcell Dareus is a tremendous player and we feel he has a great opportunity to reach his potential as a player and leader here with the Buffalo Bills,” general manager Doug Whaley said in a statement released by the team. “Throughout this process, we wanted Marcell to remain a Buffalo Bill for the long-term and he made it clear to us that he wanted to continue his career in Buffalo.”
Dareus, who was set to play this season on his fifth-year option, is coming off the best season of his career. He earned first-team All-Pro honors and totaled 10 sacks to help give Buffalo one of the top defenses in the NFL.
With Dareus now locked up for the foreseeable future, the Bills have several of their big-name defenders under contract. Jerry Hughes, Mario Williams and Kyle Williams, who combined with Dareus to put up 40 of the Bills' league-leading 54 sacks last season, have all signed new deals in the past couple of years.
Even though Dareus is suspended for Week 1 against the Indianapolis Colts due to a violation of the league's substance abuse policy, Buffalo made it a priority to work out a contract extension with the two-time Pro Bowler.
The Bills selected Dareus with the third overall pick in the 2011 NFL Draft. The 25-year-old has appeared in 63 games and has recorded 202 tackles, 28.5 sacks and two forced fumbles in his career.
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