Tag: Daryl Williams

Details for OL Daryl Williams’ new Bills contract

Contract details for Buffalo Bills OL Daryl Williams in 3-year extension.

More details on the new contract signed by offensive lineman Daryl Williams have been released.

On Friday, the 28-year-old was re-signed by the team via a three-year extension. New information on the deal reflects a bit like the contract linebacker Matt Milano signed with the team.

Williams’ annual average value on the deal is $8 million per season. The total contract is worth $24M, according to Sportrac. In terms of bonuses and further breakdowns, here’s that via ESPN’s Field Yates:

The way Williams’ deal is setup like Milano’s is via the salary cap hits. It’s the smallest in the first year and increases in the next two years.

Here’s the cap hit breakdowns for Williams:

  • 2021: $6.2M ($9.4M dead cap)
  • 2022: $8.93M ($3.6M)
  • 2023: $8.93M ($1.8M)

The reasoning for spacing out the dead caps in such a manner is the salary cap dropping in 2021. Last season the cap was set at $198.2M, but dropped to $182.5M due to COVID-19 keeping fans out of stadiums.

With the way Williams’ deal sets up with the declining dead cap hits, if the Bills want to keep him around, he could be in line for a contract restructuring as early as next offseason. With most expecting the salary cap to go back up after 2021, that wouldn’t be a problem.

[lawrence-related id=79508,79483,79430,79465]

Former Oklahoma OT Daryl Williams signs three-year contract with Buffalo Bills

Former Oklahoma offensive tackle Daryl Williams signed a fresh three-year deal to remain with the Buffalo Bills on Friday.

One of the more underrated former Oklahoma players in the NFL inked a new deal on Friday as former Sooners offensive tackle Daryl Williams signed a three-year deal to remain with the Buffalo Bills.

Williams played his first five professional seasons with the Carolina Panthers after they selected him in the fourth round of the 2015 NFL Draft. He then signed a one-year deal with the Bills last April and started all 16 games to help Buffalo win the AFC East and reach the postseason. He now signs a three-year contract to stay in Buffalo and help protect rising star quarterback Josh Allen.

At still just 28 years old, this deal allows Williams to be on a contender through the prime of his career while still allowing him to hit the market again at a good age in just a few years. The Bills’ offensive line ranked as the tenth best in the league at year’s end by Pro Football Focus a year ago, so keeping one of their best pieces of that unit intact was surely a priority for the front office.

Buffalo doesn’t pick until the No. 30 slot in the upcoming NFL Draft, so that added some extra incentive as well to ensure they have a strong player like Williams for the years ahead to give them the flexibility to use their pick on other areas as opposed to offensive line if they so choose.

Instant analysis: Bills re-sign OL Daryl Williams

Breaking down the Buffalo Bills re-signing of OL Daryl Williams.

If we’ve learned one thing about the Buffalo Bills this offseason, it’s never say never.

After re-signing the “likely to depart” linebacker in Matt Milano, bringing back offensive lineman Daryl Williams seemed like a ship that had sailed. Instead, another returns.

On Friday, the Bills announced that the 28-year-old re-signed with the team via a three-year deal. Like Milano, Williams is another importance piece back on Buffalo’s roster in 2021.

However, Williams returning gives us a bit more insight into the Bills’ thinking.

In bringing Williams back, Buffalo general manager Brandon Beane fills a clear hole that team the no longer has to worry about in the coming weeks.

Beyond that, Williams returning likely means the Bills will again work an offense next season that relies heavily on quarterback Josh Allen’s arm. Buffalo was certainly a pass-heavy offense in 2020 and the key to allowing your quarterback to work is to, first and foremost, keep him off the ground.

Left tackle Dion Dawkins cemented his place on the O-line with a long-term extension he signed last offseason. Williams will now lock down the other tackle spot across from him for the foreseeable future.

Signing these two shows the Bills know their future will depend upon keeping Allen standing upright.

Worth noting might also be the Kansas City Chiefs. The same week the Chiefs cut their starting tackles? Buffalo locks theirs up. Patrick Mahomes envies Allen right now.

Back to the Bills, the decision on Williams signals even more about the inside of the Bills’ offensive line than anything.

First, Cody Ford will be back. At the end of the season, Beane essentially guaranteed Ford a starting spot on the offensive line. With Williams previously a pending free agent, we just didn’t know if that meant Ford would play guard or tackle.

That answer? Guard… and that’s a good thing. In his first two oft-injured seasons in the NFL, Ford has struggled. But he played better at guard as opposed to right tackle.

Speaking of guard, we want to say this might spell the end of Jon Feliciano’s time in Buffalo. He is also a pending free agent and has expressed a desire to return… but that remains to be seen. After locking up Milano and Williams, do the Bills possibly have space or enough desire themselves to do so?

Again… we’ve learned to never say never with this team and free agents, so stay tuned, but as of now, it seems less likely.

[lawrence-related id=79283,79444,79446,79447]

Bills re-sign OL Daryl Williams to three-year extension

OL Daryl Williams signs a three-year extension with the Buffalo Bills.

Another day, another player back in 2021.

After linebacker Matt Milano signed a four-year extension with the Buffalo Bills on Thursday, offensive lineman Daryl Williams followed suit on Friday. Per ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, the 28-year-old right tackle has signed a three-year deal with the team.

Williams signed with the Bills last offseason via a one-year “prove it” type of contract. After starting his career with the Carolina Panthers, he was a known commodity for Bills general manager Brandon Beane.

Early in his career, Williams was off to a good start in the pros. Injuries then got in the way which led him to only a one-year free agent deal last offseason.

But in that first season in Buffalo, Williams more than impressed. Pro Football Focus graded him a 79.2 overall in 2020, only slightly behind left tackle Dion Dawkins’ grade of 80.6.

Williams’ grade was the football analytics outlet’s 21st best tackle grade in the league last year.

Perhaps most importantly, Williams also proved he’s healthy. He did not miss a game in 2020 and played in 96 percent of Buffalo’s snaps on offense.

[lawrence-related id=79446,79447,79434,79425]

Ranking the Bills’ offseason needs after pre-free agency moves

An updated look at the Buffalo Bills’ needs prior to free agency after cuts and Matt Milano re-signs.

We’re now in the thick of the Buffalo Bills offseason as we near the end of this week.

The Bills and general manager Brandon Beane did a ton of off-field lift the past few days as free agency looms on March 17.

Buffalo restructured the contracts of center Mitch Morse and defensive tackle Vernon Butler. Wide receiver John Brown and defensive lineman Quinton Jefferson were released.

But in the opposite direction, the Bills then added to their salary cap as well. Linebacker Matt Milano was re-signed by the team to a four-year deal.

There was a lot to unpack and with some of the dust settling on all of this, let’s refresh.

Here’s an updated list of offseason needs for the Bills following their pre-free agency moves made throughout this week:

Ranking the Bills’ offseason needs after pre-free agency moves

An updated look at the Buffalo Bills’ needs prior to free agency after cuts and Matt Milano re-signs.

We’re now in the thick of the Buffalo Bills offseason as we near the end of this week.

The Bills and general manager Brandon Beane did a ton of off-field lift the past few days as free agency looms on March 17.

Buffalo restructured the contracts of center Mitch Morse and defensive tackle Vernon Butler. Wide receiver John Brown and defensive lineman Quinton Jefferson were released.

But in the opposite direction, the Bills then added to their salary cap as well. Linebacker Matt Milano was re-signed by the team to a four-year deal.

There was a lot to unpack and with some of the dust settling on all of this, let’s refresh.

Here’s an updated list of offseason needs for the Bills following their pre-free agency moves made throughout this week:

2021 NFL draft: Panthers awarded 2 sixth-round compensatory picks

The Carolina Panthers will be getting two compensatory picks in this year’s NFL draft, both coming in the sixth round. 

The Carolina Panthers will be getting two compensatory picks in this year’s NFL draft, both coming in the sixth round.

The league just made it official. Here is a look at each 2021 comp pick, per Michael Signora.

These two extra sixth-round picks account for Carolina losing defensive tackle Vernon Butler and offensive lineman Daryl Williams in free agency last year. Both signed with the Bills and had relatively strong 2020 seasons.

Keeping Curtis Samuel around is still our preferred choice, but if he does walk the Panthers should at least be in line for a pretty solid comp pick next year.

[lawrence-related id=634611]

[vertical-gallery id=634601]

4-round 2021 mock draft focuses on Bills’ O-line

NFL.com four-round 2021 NFL Draft mock for the Buffalo Bills including Jalen Mayfield, Jabril Cox.

NFL.com recently took on a big undertaking. Analyst Chad Reuter released a massive four-round mock ahead of the 2021 NFL Draft.

For the Bills, the task was a bit easier though.

Thanks to Buffalo’s trade for Stefon Diggs a year ago, the Bills don’t have a fourth-round pick. That went to the Minnesota Vikings in the deal, so Buffalo only has picks in the first three rounds. With those, NFL.com’s use two of those selections on the Bills’ offensive line.

Here’s a full breakdown of the Bills’ picks in the new four-round mock draft via NFL.com:

Bills’ Matt Milano is NFL.com’s best free agent LB

Buffalo Bills LB Matt Milano, OL Daryl Williams on NFL.com free agent rankings list.

[jwplayer Sm4vLauz-ThvAeFxT]

NFL.com is higher on Buffalo Bills linebacker Matt Milano than most.

Throughout the offseason, various outlets have ranked football’s upcoming free agents side-by-side, regardless of position. This week, the league’s official website did so and in it, Milano slots in higher than he usually has.

Our friends over at the NFL Wire had Milano finish near the middle of the pack at No. 50. That’s usually been status quo until now as NFL.com has Milano at No. 22 overall.

In addition, Buffalo offensive lineman Daryl Williams finished at No. 37. Here are both breakdowns:

22. LB Matt Milano

Milano isn’t quite a young Lavonte David, but he’s close enough. There aren’t many off-ball linebackers left who can be an asset on all three downs, tracking down runners while holding up in coverage.

37. OL Daryl Williams

A dislocated kneecap a few years ago ruined Williams’ previous chance to cash in following a second-team All-Pro season. Now fully recovered, Williams proved in Buffalo he can still play right tackle at a high level.

The latest news on Milano suggests that he is going to test the free agent market. That had long seemed likely because of the Bills’ salary cap situation. If the 2021 cap falls between the reported $180-185 million reported area, Buffalo lands right between those two numbers.

That alone would make it hard for the Bills to re-sign Milano, but so does such rankings. Milano is the highest-ranked linebacker among all pending free agents on NFL.com’s list, even edging out the Bucs’ Lavonte David (No. 36). That could create a big-time bidding war for him, one which Buffalo is unlikely to be relevant in.

[lawrence-related id=78951,78954,78931,78925]

PFF changes tune, predicts LB Matt Milano will leave Bills

Pro Football Focus now predicts Buffalo Bills will lose LB Matt Milano in free agency.

Bad news for those who trust Pro Football Focus and are hopeful the Bills retain linebacker Matt Milano this offseason.

Earlier this month, the football analytics outlet pegged two Bills players among their top-50 pending free agents. Those were Milano (38) and offensive lineman Daryl Williams (41). In doing so, PFF predicted both would stay in Buffalo in 2021 as well.

In an updated piece, PFF now predicts that Milano will depart for the Detroit Lions instead.

PFF took their knowledge to the salary cap in the explanation, explaining it could simply be financially tough for Buffalo to keep Milano because of that:

Buffalo has some tough decisions to make this offseason, and one of them could be letting Milano walk in free agency. Detroit doesn’t have much cap space, but it wouldn’t be a surprise to see the team do everything in its power to create room for a Golladay tag and an upgrade at off-ball linebacker. The Lions’ linebacker room outside of Jamie Collins Sr. struggled mightily in 2020, with Reggie Ragland and Jahlani Tavai each posting 35.7 coverage grades.

Along with their prediction, PFF estimates a four-year, $45M deal for Milano with $20M guaranteed for him with the Lions. Interestingly, PFF previously predicted that Milano would re-sign with the Bills for that exact same contract.

The biggest thing that has changed since the two guesses might be JJ Watt. The former Texans defensive end is now a free agent and if the Bills do land both him (as Buffalo & Watt reportedly have mutual interest), it would be that much tougher to keep Milano. PFF does not speculate the Bills will get Watt, but that could be a factor at play.

However, even without Watt, Buffalo could still lose Milano because the 2021 salary cap will reportedly land between $180-$185M. The Bills currently sit in between those two numbers in terms of their salary cap, so regardless, there’s limited room for general manager Brandon Beane to work with currently.

For what it’s worth, PFF’s updated prediction suggest the Bills do keep Williams, at least.

[lawrence-related id=78634,78585,78609,78604]