Bills trade Peters to Eagles for three draft picks
Buffalo receives 28th overall selection; also signs free agent RB Rhodes
The Buffalo Bills have decided to part ways with disgruntled left tackle Jason Peters.
The Bills and Philadelphia Eagles reached an agreement Friday that sends the two-time Pro Bowler to Philadelphia in exchange for three draft picks, including a late first-rounder.
The Bills obtained the second of the Eagles' two first-round selections (28th overall) and one of their two fourth-round selections. The Bills will also receive an additional pick in 2010, believed to be a sixth-rounder.
The trade was made official when Peters and the Eagles agreed to a four-year contract extension worth $53 million in new money, according to a league source. Counting the two years Peters had left on his Bills contract, he will make $60 million over six years, with a little less than $25 million in guaranteed money.
The total package rivals the contract signed this offseason by Carolina left tackle Jordan Gross, who received a six-year, $60 million deal with $30.5 million guaranteed in the first three years.
"Jason Peters is the best left tackle in football," Eagles head coach Andy Reid said on the team's Web site. "He is a powerful and athletic tackle and I have admired his play over the last few years on film. I have always believed that success in the National Football League is derived from the strong play of the offensive and defensive lines. This offseason we have added two young, top-flight offensive linemen in Jason and Stacy Andrews."
Although the Bills lose their best offensive lineman and possibly their most talented player, they rid themselves of their biggest offseason headache.
Both sides had tried to reach an agreement on an extension, but were never close during negotiations. It is believed Peters wanted something in the neighborhood of the $11.5 million- per-year deal signed by Miami's Jake Long, who was the first pick in the draft last year. The four-year average of Peters' extension is $13.25 million.
Peters held out throughout the offseason and didn't report until a day before the 2008 opener. Realizing there was no end to the impasse and fearing another holdout, the Bills decided a trade was the best option.
The trade makes sense for the Eagles, who lost starting left tackle Tra Thomas in free agency to Jacksonville. They still own 10 draft picks this year, including the 21st overall selection. They also had plenty of salary cap space to accommodate a large contract for Peters.
As for the Bills, the trade gives them three of the first 42 picks in next week's draft, including the 11th overall selection.
Despite Peters' departure, look for defense to remain the Bills' top priority in the draft. They are expected to get a defensive end or outside linebacker with their first pick.
Taking a defensive end would create a logjam at the position, but the Bills have floated Chris Kelsay's name as a trade possibility, according to a league source.
Peters' replacement is currently on the roster, as Walker will likely move to the left side. The 28th pick obtained from Philadelphia could be used on the best available right tackle (perhaps Oklahoma's Phil Loadholt).
The Bills' offensive line is in a state of transition after the release of left guard Derrick Dockery and departures of free agent centers Duke Preston and Melvin Fowler.
Buffalo filled the center position by signing free agent Geoff Hangartner and added journeyman center/guard Seth McKinney to bolster the interior offensive line depth. Backup tackle Kirk Chambers is the leading candidate to start at left guard.
No matter who the Bills put on the field this season, it remains to be seen if the offensive line will be better without Peters, whose departure ends one of the great success stories in the club's 50-year history.
Signed in 2004 as an undrafted free agent tight end out of Arkansas, he was converted into an offensive lineman during his second year and started 10 games at right tackle in 2005. He moved to left tackle midway through the following season.
The 6-foot-4, 328-pounder established himself as one of the NFL's premier left tackles in 2007, earning first-team, All-Pro honors and was voted to the first of two straight Pro Bowl appearances. Injuries prevented him from playing both times.
In another move Friday, the Bills agreed to a two-year contract with free agent running back Dominic Rhodes.
Finding a veteran backup was a high priority for the Bills this offseason, especially now that starter Marshawn Lynch is facing a three-game suspension for violating the NFL's personal conduct policy. Rhodes provides needed experience behind Fred Jackson, who is unhappy with his contract situation but is expected to start while Lynch is out.
Unproven Xavier Omon and Bruce Hall are the only other backs on the depth chart.
Rhodes, an eight-year veteran, spent his first six years with the Indianapolis Colts before signing with the Oakland Raiders as a free agent in 2007. He was cut by Oakland and returned to Indianapolis.
Sharing the backfield with Joseph Addai, Rhodes rushed for 538 yards and six touchdowns on 152 carries and added 45 catches for 302 yards and three more scores last season.
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