Report: Terrel Bernard, Bills Agree to $50M Contract Extension Ahead of Free Agency

The Buffalo Bills have locked in a key young member of their defense by giving Terrel Bernard a contract extension.

Per NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, Tom Pelissero and Kyle Brandt, Bernard has agreed to terms on a four-year, $50 million deal that includes $25.2 million in guaranteed money.

The Bills are not wasting time in extending their players on rookie contracts who are eligible for extensions for the first time this offseason.

Khalil Shakir agreed to a four-year deal worth up to $60.2 million on Feb. 25. The contract was widely praised as a great one for the team, given where the receiver market is and how well Shakir has played over the past two seasons.

Bernard's extension is on the higher end for linebackers, but it's not breaking the bank. His $12.5 million average annual salary is tied with Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah of the Cleveland Browns for sixth-highest among linebackers.

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Both Bernard and Shakir were members of Buffalo's 2022 draft class. Bernard was a third-round pick, while Shakir was taken in the fifth round. They were both rotation players as rookies before taking on much larger roles in their second seasons.

The Bills made Bernard a full-time starter at the start of 2023. He responded with a terrific season that saw him rack up 143 combined tackles, 10 tackles for loss and 6.5 sacks in 17 games.

Injuries limited Bernard to 13 games during the 2024 campaign. He still finished second on the team with 104 combined tackles and tied for fourth with five tackles for loss.

With rumblings that Josh Allen could be in line for a new contract this offseason, the Bills being able to lock in two of their best young players on affordable contracts is a good piece of business as the organization looks to remain one of the premiere teams in the AFC going forward.