The Buffalo Bills officially announced signings of safety Taylor Rapp and tight end Quintin Morris Friday.
Rapp re-signed on a three-year contract worth $10.625 million, with $4.85 million guaranteed and a $2 million signing bonus. He joined the Bills on a one-year deal last season, making 50 tackles in 16 games and four starts.
After playing fewer than 10 defensive snaps — none in two games — over the first seven games, Rapp started playing frequently on passing downs with the Bills moving Jordan Poyer to linebacker in those situations. Rapp at least 20 snaps six times before the end of his season was marred by a calf injury making a AFC East-clinching interception against the Dolphins in Week 18.
With the departures of Micah Hyde and Poyer, Rapp is expected to compete for a starting spot next season. He started 48 games in four years with the Los Angeles Rams.
“This past year with Buffalo looked a little different in terms of playing time and my usage compared to the rest of my career with the Rams,” Rapp said. “Any opportunity I got to see the field, I tried to make the most of it. … I felt like it was the best move to come back here and play the next few years here.”
Morris returns on a one-year deal after being an exclusive-rights free agent. In his second season with the Bills, Morris was the No. 3 tight end, playing 18% of the offensive snaps and 82% of special teams snaps in 15 games. Morris caught two passes all season, but one was the game-winning touchdown against the Giants in Week 6.
The NFL also released compensatory picks for the NFL draft, with the Bills receiving the 34th pick in the fourth round and 133rd overall from losing linebacker Tremaine Edmunds to the Bears in free agency last season. Bills general manager Brandon Beane felt they would receive a third-round pick.
Compensatory picks are determined by a formula developed by the NFL Management Council.