It has been interesting offseason for general manager Doug Whaley and the Buffalo Bills. It traded linebacker Kiko Alonzo for Philadelphia Eagles’ running back LeSean McCoy, and parted ways with head coach Doug Marrone to acquire Rex Ryan.
Florida State University was a staple in Buffalo’s 2015 NFL Draft, as it selected Karlos Williams, Ronald Darby and Nick O’Leary. A new contract for defensive tackle Marcell Dareus is the next thing on Buffalo’s list. The former Alabama star enters the final year of his rookie contract.
Dareus, 25, has seen his production increase in all four seasons with the Bills. He’s coming off a solid year in 2014, in which he totaled 48 tackles, 10 sacks and a forced fumble. Dareus chimes with 201 tackles, 28.5 sacks and two forced fumbles in four seasons.
He’s been voted twice to the Pro Bowl (2013, 2014), and was named first-team All-Pro in 2014. His 43 combined tackles and 5.5 sacks in 2011, earned him a spot on the All-Rookie Team by the Pro Football Writers of America Association.
Buffalo selected Dareus in the first round (third overall pick) of the 2011 NFL Draft. His deal was worth four years, $20.4 million, but the Bills’ look to generate a new contract for Dareus before the 2015 season. Ndamukong Suh, former defensive lineman for the Detroit Lions, tested free agency this offseason and walked away with a pay day.
The Miami Dolphins made him a happy man, dealing out a six-year, $114 million contract with $59.955 million guaranteed.
The numbers for Dareus’s new deal could be $15.5 million per season with $36.47 million guaranteed, according to some Sporatic projections. Dareus, who will enter his fifth season this fall, has told reporters that he and his agent “will wait and see what the Bills do.”
Stephen M. Smith is a staff writer and columnist for Touchdown Alabama Magazine, Pick Six Previews and SB Nation. You can “like” him on Facebook and follow him on Twitter, via @ESPN_Future.
