SUNDAY, 11:41am: ESPN’s Adam Schefter tweets that McCoy and the Bills have agreed on a new five-year deal worth $40MM. McCoy will receive $26.5MM guaranteed and will earn $16MM in 2015. The deal will be finalized when the trade is made official on Tuesday.
SATURDAY, 12:21pm: Following reports that LeSean McCoy wasn’t thrilled about being traded to the Bills, the All-Pro running back may now have a reason to smile. Fox Sports’ Mike Garafolo reports (via Twitter) that the two sides are “close” on a new contract, which is expected to be finalized prior to the trade becoming official on Tuesday.
The 26-year-old was acquired by Buffalo earlier in the week in exchange for linebacker Kiko Alonso. The running back still had two years left on his contract (worth $6.9MM and $7.6MM), and he was estimated to count for $10.25MM against the team’s cap in 2015. While details on a new contract haven’t been reported, it can be assumed McCoy didn’t take too drastic (if any) of a pay cut. His sudden willingness to stick around Buffalo for the foreseeable future indicates that the veteran doesn’t have any qualms about his new deal, which also means the Bills probably paid him handsomely. NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport previously reported that the two sides would try to negotiate a new contract, with the intention of giving McCoy some guaranteed money beyond next season.
Following a career season in 2013, McCoy followed that up with a solid 2014 campaign. The running back finished the season with 1,319 rushing yards and five touchdowns, while also adding 28 receptions for 155 yards (both career-lows). Pro Football Focus’ advanced metrics (subscription required) weren’t as impressed with McCoy’s production this past season, as they ranked him as the third-lowest running back in the NFL (right in front of Knile Davis and Matt Asiata).