Buccaneers signed DT Gerald McCoy to a seven-year, $98 million extension through 2021.
The deal includes $51.5 million guaranteed, and makes McCoy the highest paid defensive tackle in NFL history
So is Dareus gonna ask for more than that? That's an insane amount of money.
Hughes is gonna want a big payday too. Can he get Michael Johnson money? (5 year - $44 million)
You would have to think Dareus is going to want a very similar deal to the one McCoy just signed.
McCoy is 26 years old with 138 tackles and 21.5 career sacks in 57 games.
Dareus is 24 years old with 126 tackles and 25.5 sacks in 56 games. He is currently on pace to finish with 14 sacks which would blow McCoy's career high 9.5 sack season out of the water.
The Bills picked up his 5th year option so he is locked up through next season but they need to get him extended ASAP. His price will only increase the longer they wait. He might also decide to test FA out ala Byrd if he makes it into next season without an extension.
He is the key piece of this entire defense. I would keep him at all costs and have no problem giving him a deal similar to McCoy's to make sure he stays a Buffalo Bill. He has become an elite DT that can take over games. He constantly eats up double teams which allows his line mates to make plays. He has also shown the ability to beat those double teams and get to the QB consistently throughout his career. 7 sacks is a great season for a 340lb DT like Dareus; he's done that in 8 games. He's never had less then 5.5 sacks in a season.
Kyle Williams isn't getting any younger at 31. With Stevie's 10+ million and Fitz's 7+ million in dead money coming off the books next season, there is no reason they can't get a deal done with Dareus.
Call me crazy, but I also think you can't let Jerry Hughes go either. He is a pending FA and only 26 years old. He has 5.5 sacks this year and 15.5 since becoming a Bill. He reminds me a lot of Dwight Freeney with his speed off the edge & is just a force off the edge. Hughes needs to stay a BIll for a very long time. I have no problem at all with him getting a Micheal Johnson type deal (5 years / 44 million).
The dead money from Stevie and Fitz should cover those 2 new contracts and keep the best defensive line in football together for a very long time. If there is any unit I will invest top dollar in, it is my defensive line. These guys have proven they are elite & they make everyone else around them better. It also fits with keeping Orton around at QB- keep this dominant defense together & Orton is good enough to get this team into the playoffs.