The Buffalo Bills announced Monday that the team has extended contract offers to restricted free agents Chad Rinehart and Kraig Urbik. The duo made a combined 25 starts on the interior of Buffalo's offensive line in 2011, and were the only potential RFAs following the re-signing of Garrison Sanborn.
By extending qualifying offers to the two players, the Bills now have the right to match any contract offered to either player - and in the event that they choose not to match that offer, the team would receive compensation from the signing team. Both Urbik and Rinehart were third round picks, so the Bills would receive the signing's team's third round pick if the players were tendered at the lowest level. There are also second- and first-round level tenders.
Urbik was the team's starting right guard in 2011, and should continue in that role in 2012. He also started five games at center in place of Eric Wood. Rinehart was the top reserve on the unit, and assumed Andy Levitre's left guard spot when Levitre filled in at left tackle. He also slid in at right guard when Urbik moved to center.
With that bit of business taken care of, the Bills now have to make decisions on Bryan Scott and Demetrius Bell before free agency begins Tuesday afternoon. They can choose to re-sign either or both players, or let them test the free agent market. Teams can begin signing free agents at 4PM tomorrow.