The Bills have a number of important decisions to make this offseason as they look to maintain as much of their core as possible. Atop their priority list is a deal allowing them to keep linebacker Tremaine Edmunds.
The 24-year-old is scheduled to hit the open market for the first time in his career after he played on the fifth-year option in 2022. This past season saw Edmunds continue his production both against the run and the pass, with 102 tackles and seven pass breakups. Those numbers have him positioned to headline this offseason’s free-agent linebacker market.
A franchise tag is a possibility, as general manager Brandon Beane alluded to last month. However, given the two-time Pro Bowler’s age and consistent production, he represents a logical candidate for a long-term deal. Inking Edmunds to a multiyear pact would, on the other hand, give the Bills a highly expensive LB corps given Matt Milano‘s $13M-plus cap hits for the next two years. Extending Edmunds would also likely leave Buffalo in a situation where All-Pro safety Jordan Poyer would be heading elsewhere in March.
Given reports that Edmunds is Buffalo’s priority between the two, though, much attention will be paid to the Virginia Tech alum in the coming days and weeks.
In an examination of his situation, Mark Gaughan of the Buffalo News writes that Buffalo is expected to have to pay “at least” $15M per season on a new Edmunds contract. He adds that an outside team driving the price towards $17M in annual average value would come as little surprise, provided he hits the open market.
A deal of that value would put Edmunds near the top of the pecking order in terms of off-ball linebacker compensation. Roquan Smith became the league’s first $20M-per-year player at the position when he signed a massive extension not long after being acquired midseason by the Ravens. Four other linebackers (Shaquille Leonard, Fred Warner, C.J. Mosley and Foyesade Oluokun) are currently at or above $15M per season on average.
With middle linebackers and edge rushers grouped together for the purposes of franchise tag figures, Edmunds would cost the Bills nearly $21M if they chose to go that route. That would provide them with further incentive to work out a long-term deal, but doing so would complicate their efforts to get under the cap ceiling in time for the start of the new league year and put Edmunds near the top of the list in terms of LB compensation.
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