superheng Terrell Bernard agrees to a four-year, $50 million deal with the Buffalo Bills, succeeding 25-year-old wide receiver Khalil Shakir. superheng

The Buffalo Bills have agreed to terms with Terrell Bernard on a four-year, $50 million deal with $25.2 million guaranteed, ESPN reports. ( superheng )

Bernard, a 25-year-old linebacker, is the Bills’ 2022 class member who signed a long-term deal with wide receiver Khalil Shakir, who signed a four-year, $60.2 million deal with $32 million guaranteed. 

“To have a C on your chest when you’ve only got two guys out and you’re in your third season as a pro, I think it says a lot about him and how his teammates view him,” Bills head coach Sean McDermott said of Bernard, who he sees as having room to improve in the future.

‘We talked about it after the season, didn’t we, saying, ‘Hey, there are different kinds of leadership, but first you’ve got to be your own leader. ‘ And he had good intentions all year long. He just said, ‘Hey, let me understand the role of captain. ‘ And now my game is starting to come back, and I think we saw that towards the end of the year, especially against Baltimore, which was outstanding. ‘ 

Bernard was one of two Bills captains last season along with quarterback Josh Allen after the 25-year-old linebacker emerged as the starter following Tremaine Edmonds, who signed with the Chicago Bears in the 2023 offseason.