The Buffalo Bills managed to keep their starting linebacker Matt Milano from hitting the free-agent market next week.
The team announced on Thursday that Milano agreed to an extension that will keep him in Buffalo for the next four years. The team didn’t disclose the financial terms of the agreement, but the 26-year-old player will reportedly earn $44 million with $24 million of it guaranteed.
Milano’s extension comes as a bit of a surprise as previous reports indicated that Buffalo was ready to let the player test free agency. The Bills had troubles with salary cap space and believed they couldn’t afford to pay his market value.
The opportunity to keep Milano around came after the front office made a number of moves in recent days to create additional space. They agreed to restructure contracts with several players, including defensive tackle Vernon Butler, while also releasing defensive end Quinton Jefferson and wideout John Brown.
Matt Milano, who was a fifth-round pick in 2017, has been a reliable piece of Buffalo’s defense in recent years. He played 54 games in NFL, showing an impressive ability in tight end coverage while also being a capable run stopper.
Milano totaled 273 tackles, 6 sacks, 25 QB hits, 21 pass deflections, and five interceptions as a pro.
