Center Mitch Morse is expected to sign a four-year, $44.5 million with the Buffalo Bills once the 2019 league year begins, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter. His new deal will pay him $11 million and subsequently make him the highest-paid center in the NFL. It also contains $26.5 million in guaranteed money. Morse spent the first four seasons of his career with the Kansas City Chiefs.
Former Chiefs center Mitch Morse intends to sign with the Bills, per source.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 11, 2019
Buffalo Bills Expected to Sign Center Mitch Morse
Morse comes into free agency after two injury-plagued seasons. His 2018 season was cut short due to a concussion, and 2017 saw him missing most of the year after being placed on injured reserve with a foot injury. When he’s been on the field, he’s been productive. Known for his pass-blocking, Pro Football Focus gave Morse an 81.2 pass-block grade for the 2018 season which placed him seventh amongst all NFL centers. Also of note as per PFF is that Morse allowed no sacks in 2018 and only allowed five pressures in 534 pass blocking attempts.
Drafted 49th overall in the second round of the 2015 NFL Draft, Morse quickly became an anchor on the Kansas City offensive line. He started 15 games during his rookie campaign and followed that up by starting 16 games in his second season. He quickly made a name for himself, especially when it came to his pass protection. According to PFF, Morse hasn’t given up a sack since his rookie season in 2015, while also grading out at an overall score of 73.3 for his most recent three-year average.
Morse grew up in Austin, TX and attended the University of Missouri. As a redshirt freshman in 2011, Morse played in all 13 games for Missouri and earned first-team Academic All-Big 12 honors. In 2012, he became a full-time starter and saw time at both center and right tackle, and was named to the SEC 2012 Academic Honor Roll. Morse started all 14 games at right tackle for Missouri in 2013, which ran his consecutive starts streak to 25 games. He became a team captain during his redshirt senior season in 2014 and started all 14 games at left tackle.
