Buffalo Bills GM: Marcell Dareus contract extension top priority this offseason

Re-signing star defensive tackle Marcell Dareus to a long-term contract is the Bills top priority this offseason, as it should be.

Buffalo Bills defensive tackle Marcell Dareus is already one of the best defensive lineman in the NFL, and is just entering the prime of his career at 25-years old. The two-time Pro Bowler is entering the final year of his rookie contract, and is due for a major payday next offseason.

The Bills organization is hoping the situation never gets that far, and they have made re-signing Dareus to a contract extension their most important goal of the 2015 offseason.

"“He will be priority No. 1 once the dust settles post-draft,” Bills General Manager Doug Whaley said via The Buffalo News. “Maybe even before then, just to get the ball rolling.”"

After trading a rising star and defensive anchor in 24-year-old linebacker Kiki Alonso for 2013 rushing yards champ LeSean McCoy last month, locking up Dareus long-term is more vital than ever.

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The biggest issue will be creating the salary cap space necessary. After high-profile additions like McCoy and wide receiver Percy Harvin, as well as re-signing several of their own, the Bills lead the league in offseason spending at $148 million and have left themselves with only $5.28 million in cap space.

The most logical way to retain Dareus long-term without committing cap room suicide would be to restructure defensive end Mario Williams’ massive contract, which would cost the Bills $55.8 million over the next three seasons. Whaley hopes to use the restructuring as an extension that would keep Williams in Buffalo long-term.

"“He could free up the most and make it the most logical, because what we would do is not only restructure, but extend him similar to (Kyle Williams),” Whaley said. “We want to set a precedent that we retain our own and we have them retire as Buffalo Bills.”"

If they can clear up the space to keep Dareus in Buffalo long-term, the Bills will be an interesting team to keep an eye on for the next few seasons. They have brought in an array of new talent to add to the mix, but having Dareus anchor an elite defensive line would give opposing offenses nightmares for years to come.

6-foot-3, 331-pound defensive linemen with a freakish combination of strength and athleticism like him do not come along every day. The Bills better pull out all the stops to lock him up in Buffalo for the prime of his career.

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