Latest On Bills LB Tremaine Edmunds

The Bills have a number of important decisions to make this offseason as they try to preserve as much of their core as possible. At the top of their priority list is a deal that will allow them to keep linebackers Tremaine Edmunds.

The 24-year-old is set to go on the open market for the first time in his career after playing with the fifth-year option in 2022. Last season, Edmunds continued his production against both the run and the pass, with 102 tackles and seven pass breakups. Those numbers have put him in a position to lead the free agent linebacker market this offseason.

A franchise tag is one way as a general manager Brandon Beane aud to last month. However, given the two-time Pro Bowler’s age and consistent production, he’s a logical candidate for a long-term contract. Putting Edmunds on a multi-year pact, on the other hand, would give the Bills a very expensive LB corps Matt MilanThe $13 million+ cap is for the next two years. Extending Edmunds would also likely leave Buffalo in an All-Pro certainty situation Jordan Poyer would go elsewhere in March.

However, amid reports that Edmunds is Buffalo’s priority between the two, the Virginia Tech graduate will be getting a lot of attention in the days and weeks to come. In an investigation into his situation, Buffalo News’ Mark Gaughan writes that Buffalo is expected to pay “at least” $15 million per season for a new Edmunds contract. He adds that an outside team pushing the price toward an annual average of $17 million would come as little surprise, assuming it goes public.

A deal of that value would put Edmunds at the top of the pecking order in terms of off-ball linebacker compensation. Roquan Smith became the league’s first $20 million-a-year player at the position when he signed a massive overtime shortly after being acquired by the Ravens. Four more linebackers (Shaquille Leonard, Fred Warner, CJ Mosley And Foyesade Oluokun) are currently averaging at or above $15M per season.

With middle linebackers and edge rushers combined for the purposes of franchise tag numbers, Edmunds would cost the Bills nearly $21 million if they chose to go that route. That would give them further incentive to work out a long-term deal, but it would complicate their efforts to get below the cap in time for the start of the new league year, and put Edmunds at the top of the list in terms of LB compensation.