According to the report from the Buffalo Bills announced they’ve re-signed defensive end Jerry Hughes, who broke out last season with 54 tackles, 13 for loss, 18 quarterback hits, 10.5 sacks and three forced fumbles. At the new deal Hughes, 26, got a five-year deal worth $45 million, including $22 million guaranteed. The Bills are banking that Jerry Hughes’ efficiency as a pass-rusher makes him deserving of his new deal.
In an announcement Hughes has agreed to a five-year contract worth more than $45 million to re-sign with the Buffalo Bills before being eligible to become a free agent.
At the same time if the Bills want to keep Hughes in Buffalo, they are likely going to need to pay him somewhere between $8 million and $10 million per year to do it. And once he hits the open market, that price will likely fall on the higher end. Pass rushers are at a premium in the NFL, and Hughes is likely more valuable to another team than he is to the Bills, who will still have three Pro Bowl defensive linemen if Hughes leaves.
In his career the 26-year old Hughes one of the top defense spent the past two seasons in Buffalo after playing three years with Indianapolis. Last season’s the Bills defense was one of the best in the league last season and Ryan thinks they can be even better this year. He started 16 games for the first time in his career last season and finished with 10 sacks and 53 tackles. And the defense finished fourth in the NFL in yards allowed and led the league with 54 sacks, the second consecutive season the unit topped 50.
His agreement extension means the Bills will be bringing back all four key pieces from their defensive front, which gives Ryan a lot of talent to work with on his preferred side of the ball in his first season in Buffalo.
According to the new 5 years deal Hughes also wanted to be loyal to the Bills after his career blossomed in Buffalo over the past two seasons since being acquired in a trade with Indianapolis. The 2010 first-round draft pick had 10 sacks in each of the past two years after combining for five in his first three seasons with the Colts.