The Bills will sign free agent edge rusher Trent Murphy, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link). It’s a three-year, $21MM deal, tweets Adam Schefter of ESPN.com, while the total value can rise to $30MM, per Rapoport (Twitter link).
Murphy, who spent the first four seasons of his career with the Redskins, drew plenty of free agent interest despite missing the entire 2017 campaign with a torn ACL and MCL. Both the Patriots and Buccaneers were reportedly in on Murphy, while Washington had offered him a contract to return to the nation’s capital.
The Bills plan to use Murphy at defensive end, not linebacker, as Joe Buscaglia of WKBW tweets. Buffalo already has two starting defensive ends in Jerry Hughes and Shaq Lawson, but Murphy will offer depth allow the Bills to play their edge rushers in a rotational capacity.
A former second-round pick, Murphy’s best season came in 2016 when he posted nine sacks. That potential was enough to get him a multi-year deal this year, but the 27-year-old certainly comes with risk attached. Not only can a dual ACL/MCL injury be tough to recover from, but Murphy was also suspended four games last season for performance-enhancing drug usage.
The Bills have been active this offseason, not only in trading away offensive starters such as Tyrod Taylor and Cordy Glenn, but in adding defensive talent such as Star Lotulelei and Rafael Bush.
GM Beane has been awesome keeping his strategy close to the vest. Most ppl are only guessing what hell do next? Most likely in the area of QB by end of the week. Like what he has been doing.
QB isn’t coming til the draft
7mil a year for a depth player?
The Eagles showed that having a good rotation on your d-line is important. Murphy will likely line up as a “power-rusher” to compliment Hughes’ “speed-rusher” skillset. Plus in obvious passing downs, they can throw 3 or 4 DEs out there.
Right my thoughts exactly. Like when they describe a first or second rounder as a strong special teamer, no kidding
Would of rather seen E.J back, Gaines that is, not Manuel, oh god no.