The Bills have locked up one of their key free agents ahead of the official start of the 2022 offseason, announcing Wednesday a three-year extension for cornerback Siran Neal. A fifth-round pick of the team in 2018, Neal has missed just one game in four years for Buffalo, emerging as a special teams standout in recent seasons. His new deal is worth up to $10.9 million, according to Pro Football Network's Aaron Wilson, making him the highest-paid special teams player in the NFL.
The Bills enter free agency projected to be over the 2022 cap, but Neal was considered a priority alongside veteran starters Jerry Hughes and Levi Wallace, who are still set to hit the open market in March. The Jacksonville State product logged a career-high 12 special teams tackles in 2021, helping lead a unit that ranked in the top 10, per Rick Gosselin's annual special teams rankings. Neal was also part of two special-teams takeaways during his contract year, forcing a fumble and recovering another.
The veteran has also seen time on defense, including during the Bills' recent playoff runs. He logged a career-high 36 tackles, including two tackles for loss and a forced fumble, in 2019. He's also notched a sack and two QB hits during his career in a reserve, rotational role.
