Patrick DiMarco, Bills Reportedly Agree to 4-Year Contract

Patrick DiMarco has established himself as one of the NFL's premier fullbacks, and that served him well in free agency, as he reportedly agreed to a four-year contract with the Buffalo Bills on Wednesday.

According to ESPN.com's Vaughn McClure, the deal is for four years, worth more than $2 million per year and includes a $2 million signing bonus.

After spending one season with the Kansas City Chiefs, DiMarco joined the Atlanta Falcons in 2013 and quickly developed into a major asset for their offense.

He was named to his first Pro Bowl in 2015 when he set career highs with 13 receptions for 110 yards and two touchdowns, while also paving the way for Devonta Freeman to top 1,000 yards and rush for 11 touchdowns.

Although DiMarco didn't return to the Pro Bowl in 2016, he made seven grabs for 52 yards and one score, but most importantly he contributed to the NFL's No. 5 rushing offense led by Freeman and Tevin Coleman.

His performance elicited a major endorsement from Andy Benoit of Sports Illustrated:

DiMarco has just one rushing attempt in his entire career, but his value lies in the fact that he can run block like an offensive lineman and also contributes on special teams.

The 27-year-old veteran was an underrated factor in Atlanta winning the NFC championship and reaching the Super Bowl with three receptions for 43 yards in the playoffs as well.

Due to his strong fit within the NFL's top-ranked offense, DiMarco expressed his desire to return to Atlanta, but also acknowledged that other factors were at work, according to McClure:

"

I'm kind of unsure of what's going to happen. The Falcons are going to be good here for a while, and I would love to be a part of it. But it's a business. Essentially I've got to do what’s best for my family and my career. Hopefully the numbers can work out and we can get a deal because Atlanta is a special place. But it's a business.

"

Fullbacks generally don't make for the sexiest signings in free agency, but since there are so few great ones, DiMarco was operating from a position of power.

Even though passing the ball is en vogue, many of the NFL's best teams employ dangerous rushing attacks, and DiMarco is a weapon in that area.

Atlanta has an offense stacked with skill and star power, but losing DiMarco could be more significant than it seems on the surface.

In the same vein, DiMarco is a big acquisition for the Bills, and his arrival should go a long way toward keeping them near the top of the league in rushing.

Buffalo led the NFL with 164.4 rushing yards per game in 2016, and DiMarco should open up plenty of holes for LeSean McCoy.

New Bills head coach Sean McDermott is familiar with going up against DiMarco from his time as defensive coordinator of the Carolina Panthers, but now he has an underrated weapon at his disposal.