Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) - Two signings that were reported, and also confirmed by Buffalo Bills general manager Brandon Beane last week, have now been made official via pen and paper.
The team announced on Monday that they have re-signed restricted free agent offensive lineman Ryan Bates to a new four-year contract, as well as unrestricted running back/special teams stand out Taiwan Jones to a one-year deal.
The Bills actually matched the offer sheet given to Bates by the Chicago Bears, which was reportedly for four years and $17 million. Since Bates was a restricted free agent and the Bills offered him the lowest qualifying tender amount, they had a right to match that offer, but would not have received any compensation if they declined and he left for Chicago.
Instead, they keep a player they've developed for the past three years and played a big role for them down the stretch last season, starting the final three regular season contests and both playoff games at guard.
The 25-year-old has been with the Bills for three years, acquired via trade from the Philadelphia Eagles prior to the 2019 season.
Bates' biggest asset has been his versatility. He can actually play all five offensive line spots, but after settling in at guard and playing as well as he did, that may be the spot for him going forward.
While at the NFL Owner's Meetings last week in Palm Beach, Florida, Beane told reporters he sees Bates competing for a starting spot in 2022.
The Bills also recently signed veteran guard Rodger Saffold, who was an unrestricted free agent. Saffold is expected to start at one of the guard spots.
Jones doesn’t see the field much as a running back, but he has been a core special teams player for the Bills for four of the past five seasons, spending 2019 with the Houston Texans.
He played 71% of the team’s special teams snaps last season, and 61% the year before, despite missing three games.
The 32-year-old originally entered the NFL as a fourth-round pick of the Oakland Raiders out of Eastern Washington in 2011. Jones spent the first six years of his NFL career there before signing with Buffalo for his first stint with the Bills.
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