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.