It looks as if the core of the Buffalo Bills vaunted pass rush will remain intact.
Defensive end Jerry Hughes, a key component of a unit that helped the Bills lead the league in sacks last season, has re-signed with the team.
The #Bills and Jerry Hughes have agreed to terms on a 5 -year contract, according to an NFL source.
— Vic Carucci (@viccarucci) March 9, 2015
With Justin Houston of the Kansas City Chiefs and Jason Pierre-Paul of the New York Giants given franchise tags by their respective teams on March 2nd, Hughes became the top defensive end on the free agent market.
Hughes was a first round pick, 31st overall, in the 2010 NFL Draft by the Colts, but recorded just five sacks during his three years with the team. The former star of the TCU Horned Frogs was acquired by the Bills in a trade during the 2013 offseason and has really blossomed since. The 26-year-old Hughes has recorded ten sacks in each of the past two seasons. He also made 46 tackles and forced two fumbles in 2013, along with 53 tackles and three fumbles in 2014.
Football Outsiders has stated that Hughes has 90 hurries over the last two years, and a +29.2 Pass-rush Rating.
Critics will question if Hughes explosion came as a result of playing on a line with three stars in Mario Williams, Kyle Williams and Marcell Dareus. Now it will be up to Hughes to show he can continue to produce in a new situation and with a lucrative long-term contract.
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