Floyd reunited with Miller after agreeing to 1-year deal with Bills, AP source says

Updated Jun. 6, 2023 12:00 a.m. ET

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ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) — The Buffalo Bills have reached an agreement to sign linebacker Leonard Floyd to a one-year contract in reuniting the player with fellow edge rusher, Von Miller, a person with direct knowledge of the agreement told The Associated Press on Monday.

The person spoke on the condition of anonymity because the contract has not been signed. The NFL Network first reported the agreement.

The 30-year-old Floyd is entering his eighth NFL season after spending the past three with the Los Angeles Rams, where he won a Super Bowl two years ago while playing on the opposite side of the line as Miller — the NFL's active leader in sacks. In 104 games, all starts, Floyd has 47 1/2 sacks since being selected by Chicago in the first round of the 2016 draft.

Floyd’s presence should immediately upgrade Buffalo’s pass rush even though his on-field reunion with Miller is likely going to have to wait. Miller had surgery on his right knee in December and his timetable to return is not clear, with the possibility of the player missing the start of the season.

Later in the day, Miller told The AP that while he's still aiming to be ready for the season opener, Floyd's addition relieves some of the urgency to rush back into action.

“It takes some of the expectations off. I could just take my time and do whatever it takes, and I can come back when I'm absolutely 100%,” Miller said. “We got guys that are going to be ready to go even if I'm not.”

Buffalo’s defense struggled in generating pressure after Miller was sidelined in late November. If he's not available, Miller envisioned a defensive line bookended by a pair of tall ends with Floyd listed at 6-foot-5 and a 6-foot-6 Greg Rousseau.

In welcoming Floyd to Buffalo, Miller said he pitched the idea of his former teammate signing with the Bills by comparing the three-time defending AFC champions' culture as being similar to that of the Rams in 2021. And Floyd joins three other former Rams — cornerback Taylor Rapp, linebacker Travin Howard and offensive guard David Edwards — who have signed with Buffalo this offseason.

“Shoot, all we need is Aaron Donald, man,” Miller said with a laugh, referring to the three-time NFL defensive player of the year . “Ed Oliver and him, they would go crazy.”

Floyd’s agreement comes the same day as the Bills announced the signing of defensive tackle Ed Oliver to a four-year $68 million contract, two days after the sides reached an agreement. In negotiating the contract extension, which runs through the 2027 season, the person said the Bills restructured the final year of Oliver’s existing deal to free up space under the salary cap for this season.

Oliver was guaranteed to make $10.7 million this season after the Bills picked up the fifth-year option on his rookie contract a year ago.

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AP Pro Football Writer Rob Maaddi contributed.

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AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl and https://twitter.com/AP_NFL

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