The Buffalo Bills have locked up one of their key defensive players in a long-term contract. Defensive tackle Marcell Dareus has signed a six-year extension with the team worth a reported $108 million, with $60 million. The news was first reported Thursday morning by ESPN's Adam Schefter. Terms of the deal were not announced by the team.
Re-signing Dareus has been a top priority for the Bills organization. He was entering the final year of his contract. Dareus is currently serving a one-game suspension for violating the NFL's substance abuse policy.
The 25-year-old two-time Pro Bowl selection was the third overall pick in the 2011 NFL Draft. With 28.5 quarterback sacks in four seasons with the Bills, the 6'3", 331 lb. Dareus is widely considered to be one of the best defensive linemen in the league. He had 10 sacks in the 2014 campaign.
“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,” said Bills General Manager Doug Whaley, in a statement.
“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.”
