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Bills sign Tolbert, agree with DiMarco, Ducasse

A flurry of Bills activity on Wednesday
Bills sign Tolbert, agree with DiMarco, Ducasse
Posted at 10:43 PM, Mar 08, 2017
and last updated 2017-03-08 22:43:51-05

The new league year in the National Football League hasn't even started, and the Buffalo Bills have already been involved in a flurry of activity on the free agent market.

First, the successes.

The Bills have successfully agreed to a contract with soon-to-be free agent fullback Patrick DiMarco, according to NFL.com. The report says the contract is originally slated as a four-year deal worth $8.5 million.

DiMarco, turning 28 in April, is a five-year NFL veteran and has spent the last four seasons with the Atlanta Falcons. DiMarco, over his five years in the league, has only one rushing attempt to his name but has accrued 37 receptions for 273 yards and four touchdowns.

The 6-foot-1, 234-pound fullback takes the role of impending free agent Jerome Felton. The Bills haven't officially announced the signing, only because DiMarco is technically not a free agent just yet.

The Bills could officially sign free agent running back and fullback Mike Tolbert, which according to The Charlotte Observer, is a one-year deal worth $1 million.

Tolbert, 31, has served as a reserve running back and special teams contributor over his nine-year NFL career. He's spent the past five seasons with the Carolina Panthers, and in 2015, averaged 4.1 yards per carry on 62 attempts.

Though he's listed as a fullback by the Bills, he'll likely be fighting to be the third running back on the depth chart.

Coming in late Wednesday, Jason LaCanfora of CBS Sports reported that the Bills have come to an agreement with free agent offensive lineman Vladimir Ducasse. Formerly with the Ravens, Bears, and Jets, Ducasse has mostly played inside at guard but does have some experience at tackle as well.

Ducasse worked with Bills offensive line coach Juan Castillo last year in Baltimore and could even be a candidate to play right tackle for Buffalo in 2017. The Bills have yet to announce that move, either.

The Bills were also reported to be interested in a high profile name that doesn't have a home just yet: tight end Martellus Bennett. According to CBS Sports reporter Jason LaCanfora, the Bills -- in addition to some other teams -- are "in" on the pass catching tight end and former New England Patriot.

The Bills were also linked to some other names throughout the day, including wide receiver Brandon LaFell, right tackle Ricky Wagner, and fullback/tight end Kyle Juszczyk. All three are now reportedly off the market, with LaFell choosing to stay in Cincinnati, Wagner heading to Detroit, and Juszczyk becomes the highest-paid fullback in the NFL with San Francisco.

The Bills also re-signed punter Colton Schmidt and released wide receiver Marcus Easley on Wednesday.

Twitter: @JoeBuscaglia