The Bills have agreed to a four-year, $50 million extension with LB Terrel Bernard. The deal includes $25.2 million in guarantees, according to NFL Network. Bernard was heading into the final (fourth) year of his rookie contract, so Buffalo didn't need to extend him yet to keep him through the coming season.
Bernard had to beat Tyrel Dodson for the starting job ahead of 2023 but has served a full-time role when healthy since then.
This contract -- coming six months before what would have been the final season of his rookie deal -- says the Bills want to lock him in through at least the next two to three years.
Bernard lost four games to a pectoral injury early last season and saw his fantasy production drop off when healthy. But the primary culprit was a dip in sacks (6.5 to 1.0), and Bernard should rebound there.
His pass-rushing role in 2024 proved a near exact match vs. 2023, with Bernard rushing on 7.2% of his total snaps each season. His Pro Football Focus pass-rushing grade says he didn't perform as well in that area last year. But a lot of luck also plays into the sack totals.
Bernard remains a solid-to-strong LB1-level bet for IDP leagues because of his cross-category upside.
According to Spotrac, Buffalo's tacking this extension onto Bernard's existing contract. That would lock him in through 2029, his age-30 season.
We rarely know a player's chances of actually completing any NFL contract the moment it's signed, of course. But Bernard should remain a quality IDP asset through at least the next few seasons.
LB Dorian Williams is the clear loser here. He took advantage of LB Matt Milano's early-season absence (injury recovery) to post big tackle numbers in 2024 but fell back to a reserve role once Milano returned.
Williams remains under contract through 2026. So does Milano, with a deal that doesn't look cuttable this offseason.
Barring some change with Milano's status, Williams looks buried on the depth chart until the next injury.
Don't make the mistake of drafting Williams in 2025 for his 2024 point total.
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