Bills Trade 3rd & 5th Rounders to Jags For DT Stroud, Sign Spencer Johnson

The Buffalo Bills are looking to improve a run defense that ranked 25th in the NFL in 2007, and have started to do so by acquiring a pair of defensive tackles. Buffalo has nabbed 3-time All-Pro and Pro Bowl defensive tackle Marcus Stroud from the Jacksonville Jaguars, in exchange for 3rd and 5th round picks in the upcoming 2008 NFL Draft. The Bills have also signed former Minnesota Vikings defensive tackle Spencer Johnson to a 5-year contract for an undisclosed amount.

Stroud was drafted by Jacksonville out of Georgia with the 13th overall pick in the 1st round in 2001, and was elected to both the Pro Bowl and NFL All-Pro teams in 2003 through 2005. Teaming with John Henderson inside, Stroud helped the Jags run defense consistently be one of the top run stuffing units in the league the past few years. He was suspended for 4 games in 2007 for violating the NFL's substance abuse policy related to steroids, but Stroud contended that he was given an over-the counter supplement by an Atlanta physician to help recover from off-season ankle surgery, and that is what ultimately triggered the positive test. Stroud is still under contract for the next 3 years at $16.5 million total, which seems like a pretty good deal in today's market for top shelf defensive tackles.

Spencer Johnson has been a backup defensive tackle in the rotation in Minnesota, and comes Buffalo seeking more playing time, and will probably also be part of a rotation that will include the newly acquired Stroud, as well as 2005 1st round pick John McCargo and second year starter Kyle Williams. The Bills ranked 31st in the league defensively in 2007, so the moves can only help to improve the team.