Bills sign Williams: The Bills have reportedly sealed the deal on the biggest free-agent acquisition in franchise history with Thursday's signing of linebacker Mario Williams, who signed a six-year deal with the team, according to ESPN. FOXSports.com reports the deal includes $50 million in guarantees. The Bills had Williams in on Tuesday shortly after free agency began and haven't let him leave. Wednesday was spent selling him on the organization (along with the requisite sight-seeing), he remained in town overnight, and on Thursday the deal was apparently done to make him the NFL's highest paid defender. (Updated 03/15/2012)
Injury Report
Pectoral - Probable for start of 2012 training camp (Updated - 2/17/12)
Fantasy Analysis
Williams was the first-overall pick in 2006, when then-Texans general manager Charley Casserly took Williams over Reggie Bush. It proved to be the right move even though it was criticized at the time. Williams leaves Houston after six seasons, 241 tackles, 11 forced fumbles and 53 sacks. Williams will likely move back to defensive end in Buffalo's 4-3 alignment, which should allow him to play his natural position again. This increases his value in IDP leagues, and he should be drafted with a mid-round selection in all formats. (Updated 03/15/2012).
05/21/2012 17:02 When comes to pass rush, left side is less left out now
The conventional wisdom had a bulkier end anchoring the left side of the defense with the pass-rush star on the right. Len Pasquarelli says Mario Williams' request to man the left side in Buffalo shows changing times.
The Bills put up some big cash to lure Mario Williams to come to Buffalo, and it's there where he'll return to work as a defensive lineman after playing outside linebacker with the Texans last year. Williams has missed 14 games over the last two seasons, so he's no lock for 16 games, but he's been very productive over his career when he's lined up as a defensive lineman (48 sacks in 77 games there). Williams has double-digit sack production potential and should get some decent tackle totals with it, but that's pretty much it. We wouldn't invest as much in Williams as the Bills did -- consider him a low-end No. 2 Fantasy defensive lineman with a middle- to late-round pick. He's nowhere near the safe pick he once was. (Updated 4/23/12)
