Oct 2, 2008 - 7:13 PM
0 shoutsORCHARD PARK, New York (Ticker) -- The Buffalo Bills signed wide receiver Lee Evans to a contract extension on Thursday that will lock him up through 2012.
Though the team did not officially disclose terms of the deal, the Buffalo News reports that it is worth $37.25 million over four years, including $18.25 million guaranteed.
Since being selected by the club 13th overall out of Wisconsin in 2004, Evans gradually has emerged as the focal point of Buffalo's passing game.
Evans is second in the AFC with 332 receiving yards and his 23.7 yards-per-catch average is second in the league behind only Chris Chambers (24.5) of the San Diego Chargers.
Evans caught a pivotal 39-yard touchdown pass in the fourth quarter of Sunday's game against the St. Louis Rams, giving the Bills a two-touchdown advantage en route to a 31-14 victory.
The 5-10, 210-pound speedster broke out in 2006 with 82 catches for 1,292 yards - the seventh-highest single-season total in team history.
Over the last two seasons, he has helped second-year quarterback Trent Edwards make a smooth transition from college to the NFL, as the Bills (4-0) have emerged as a legitimate AFC threat.
"I've been very impressed ever since I've stepped foot in Buffalo, and I've seen him play in person, and it's just great as a quarterback to have a guy like that, a weapon like that to throw to," Edwards said. "I feel like he is a weapon and that's a great way to describe Lee. And he's smart, he can read coverages, he can see blitzes, he doesn't run the wrong route, he catches everything and that's really all you want out of a receiver."
Evans is in the last year of his five-year rookie contract, which pays him $2.25 million this year. In four-plus NFL seasons, he has 247 catches for 4,059 yards and 30 touchdowns.
