Mario Williams is a Buffalo Bill; Williams Signs Six-Year Deal Reportedly Worth $96 Million With $50 Million Guaranteed

Welcome to Buffalo, Mr. Williams (Credit: Derick E. Hingle-US PRESSWIRE)

We’ve heard it over and over again: ”Ralph Wilson is too cheap for the Bills to win,” and “Big-name free agents don’t want to come to Buffalo.”

Well, for once those notions are totally wrong.

Mario Williams is coming to Buffalo.

Adam Schefter of ESPN is reporting that Williams to Buffalo is in fact a done deal, and that the team will hold a press conference at 1:30 p.m. to announce the signing. 

Williams has reportedly signed a deal that according to Pro Football Talk has a six-year, $96 million base value, with $25 fully guaranteed on signing and $25 million guaranteed for injury - a figure that will make him the most highly paid defensive player in the league. The deal comes with $50 million in guarantees.

That’s a downright absurd chunk of change, but for a player of his caliber you have to pay a premium. Especially when you’re in an unattractive market and have a team that hasn’t gone to the playoffs in a decade.

Obviously the ramifications for this are huge – this instantly greatly improves the Buffalo defense and perhaps gives Buffalo the league’s best starting defensive line…and there’s still a chance to upgrade at the other DE spot.

Lots and lots to come on this…but man, what an offseason it’s been in Buffalo. Huge props to Mr. Wilson and Bills GM Buddy Nix for getting this done.