The Buffalo Bills announced on Tuesday afternoon that they have signed free agent linebacker Lorenzo Alexander and safety Colt Anderson to contracts.
We've agreed to terms with LB Lorenzo Alexander and S Colt Anderson.
— Buffalo Bills (@buffalobills) April 12, 2016
Welcome, fellas! MORE: https://t.co/H7uBPjwcGq pic.twitter.com/CM8fRDnuJs
Alexander and Anderson are veteran special teams contributors, and are being heralded as signings to help offset the losses of players like Boobie Dixon and Ty Powell, who have been integral special teams contributors for the last two-plus seasons.
What have the @buffalobills added with Colt Anderson & Lorenzo Alexander?
— Buffalo Bills PR (@BuffaloBillsPR) April 12, 2016
105 career ST tackles & a Pro Bowl appearance (Alexander, 2012)
Anderson, who turns 31 in October, spent the last two seasons with the Indianapolis Colts after breaking into the league (and then spending his first four seasons) with the Philadelphia Eagles. He's started just seven games in his six pro seasons as a reserve, and has 88 tackles, two forced fumbles, and an interception for his career.
Alexander, meanwhile, will turn 33 at the end of this month, and has been playing in the league since 2007, when he made the Washington Redskins' roster as an undrafted free agent. (He has also spent time with the Arizona Cardinals and, most recently, the Oakland Raiders.) He's had a similar career trajectory to Anderson, making just 16 starts in his nine seasons, but accumulating 126 tackles and three forced fumbles along the way.
The Bills have now signed eight free agents this offseason, and assuming that both Alexander and Anderson agreed to veteran-minimum deals, seven of those eight new players will be playing for said veteran minimum in 2016. Contract details for the two newest Bills, however, have not yet been reported.