Bills BREAKING: Ed Oliver to Sign Big Contract Extension with Buffalo
The Buffalo Bills were apparently listening to defensive tackle Ed Oliver's unofficial request to "show him the money."
Per reports Saturday from ESPN, the Bills and Oliver have reached an agreement on a four-year, $68 million contract extension that will keep him in Buffalo for many seasons to come. The deal includes $45 million guaranteed.
Oliver, the No. 9 overall pick in 2019, had been a potential trade candidate to watch this offseason, as he had just one year left on his rookie contract and made it clear that he wanted a new deal.
In March, he let everyone know how he felt about his contract situation on social media before quickly taking things back and deleting (almost) all the evidence.
"Show me the money or (I don't) wanna talk!" Oliver wrote in a now-deleted Instagram post.
The Bills had two options: either giving Oliver the extension he wants or trade him before the season to avoid losing him for nothing next offseason. But the Bills showed they have strong faith in what lies ahead for Oliver, who has yet to truly reach the potential that tends to come attached with players selected in the top 10 of the draft.
Oliver has carved out a solid NFL career for himself, but has yet to reach the star-studded expectations that comes with being a top-10 selection. In four seasons, he's totaled 151 tackles, 14.5 sacks, four forced fumbles and 11 passes defended.
Despite the uncertainty of his future in Buffalo earlier this offseason, Oliver has the vote of confidence from Bills coach Sean McDermott.
"I've seen him develop, on the field, off the field," McDermott said at the NFL Combine. "Last season ... I thought he affected the quarterback maybe more so than his sack production would show."
Now with McDermott set to call the defense this season, he'll have a happy and newly-extended Oliver leading the way up front in the trenches.
You can follow Zach Dimmitt on Twitter at @ZachDimmitt7
Thanks for reading our SI-powered coverage of your Buffalo Bills ... Bills Mafia!
You're a member of Bills Mafia hungry for more Buffalo coverage? Read here.
