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The Buffalo Bills have kept a key piece of their defense around for the foreseeable future… a player many expected to test free agency.
According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the Bills and Milano reached a four-year deal worth $44 million on Thursday. Of that, $24M is guaranteed.
Milano, 26, was set to become a free agent next week.
Recent reports suggested he would test the market. Free agency is set to open on March 17 but the 2017 fifth-round pick returns. Milano joins offensive lineman Dion Dawkins and cornerback Tre’Davious White as 2017 draft picks that have agreed to extensions with the Bills.
Per Schefter’s report, Milano was “willing to forego free agency for another run at the Super Bowl” with the Bills.
At his end of season press conference, Bills general manager Brandon Beane didn’t sounds super confident about re-signing the defender. He mentioned that the two sides would have to find a middle ground because of Milano’s recent injury history.
“Matt is a very good player, what a great job he’s done since he’s come in here,” Beane said. “His biggest thing is being able to play 16 games.”
As a rookie, Milano finished an entire season healthy but has failed to do so since. He only appeared in 10 games in 2020, a career-low, after dealing with a couple of issues, including a pectoral injury.
But when healthy, Milano has proven to be a key factor in Sean McDermott’s nickel-based defense. That scheme typically calls for only two linebackers on the field for the entire game and one would expect Buffalo to want to lock up middle linebacker Tremaine Edmunds for the long term as well.
According to Pro Football Focus, Milano is the 28th best linebacker in the NFL since 2017.
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