Free agent defensive end Mario Williams and the Buffalo Bills have agreed on a six-year contract, according to a report from Adam Schefter of ESPN, so now the Chicago Bears will be forced to look elsewhere for Julius Peppers' next running mate. The Bills have scheduled a 1:30 p.m. ET press conference announce the deal, and although the financial terms have not officially been disclosed at this point, Jay Glazer is saying Williams will get $50M in guaranteed money. The young DE's agent will no doubt negotiate a figure that rivals the largest contracts for a defensive end in NFL history, but NFL contracts are often complicated matters that involved plenty of opt-outs and termination clauses for the team.
The guaranteed money is always the most important figure to look at, and the $50M figure has not been declared as the fully guaranteed amount yet, but this is clearly a blockbuster signing well out of the Bears' price range. Chicago is looking for a pass rusher, but if the price tag for Williams inflated to this level, it was not a realistic option for the team. That means the big addition in the 2012 offseason remains the gutsy trade for WR Brandon Marshall. For a great look at the impact of that move, make sure to check out this feature story by SB Nation's Ricky O'Donnell - Brandon Marshall Brings Talent And Baggage To Chicago Bears' Offense.
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