Bills make Mario Williams best-paid defender in NFL history
The Bills' courtship of DE-OLB Mario Williams has paid off -- for both parties.
The former Texans pass rusher, the most coveted defensive player on the free agent market, signed a six-year deal in Buffalo worth up to $100 million with $50 million guaranteed -- the richest haul ever for an NFL defensive player -- per Williams' agent, Ben Dogra.
ESPN and NFL Network first reported the development.
DT Albert Haynesworth previously held the record for a defender: seven years, $100 million ($41 million guaranteed) from the Redskins in 2009.
The Bills can only hope their investment pays off better than Washington's did.
The No. 1 pick of the 2006 draft -- he was famously selected ahead of Reggie Bush -- Williams had 53 sacks in six years with Houston but missed the final 11 regular-season games of 2011 and the playoffs with a torn pectoral muscle. Factor in a hernia in 2010, and he's missed 14 games over the past two years.
Williams had made a successful transition from 4-3 defensive end to 3-4 outside linebacker with five sacks in five games last year. However the emergence of OLBs Connor Barwin and Brooks Reed in Williams' absence leaves Houston in good shape defensively. The Texans can now focus on re-signing starting C Chris Myers and G Mike Brisiel.
Williams should supercharge a Buffalo pass rush that hasn't gotten much from oft-injured OLB Shawne Merriman or anyone else lately. The Bills garnered 29 sacks in 2011, though 10 came in one game vs. the Redskins.
Now things could get tougher for Patriots QB Tom Brady, the Jets' Mark Sanchez, and whoever is taking snaps in Miami.
Other NFL quarterbacks are breathing a little easier. Lions QB Matthew Stafford re-tweeted this from Packers counterpart Aaron Rodgers:
"@AaronRodgers12: Congrats to Mario Williams signing in buffalo... far away from the NFC north, thanks big guy" Ditto
Williams has been in Buffalo since free agency began Tuesday, talking to the team and later touring the region with his fiancee.
He would almost surely return to defensive end for the Bills, who are reverting to a 4-3 alignment under newly promoted DC Dave Wannstedt. Williams would headline a front four that includes Pro Bowl DT Kyle Williams and DT Marcell Dareus, the No. 3 overall pick of the 2011 draft.
This article was written by Nate Davis and appeared in USA Today. 
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