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Buffalo Bills sign Michael Buchanan, release Spencer Roth

The third-year pro is a versatile athlete with special teams experience, and offers upside as a reserve pass rusher in Buffalo.

Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

The Buffalo Bills' spring roster tinkering continues, with the team announcing the signing of free agent edge defender Michael Buchanan on Tuesday morning. Rookie punter Spencer Roth was released to make room for Buchanan on the 90-man roster.

Buchanan, 24, was a 2013 seventh-round pick out of Illinois that played a limited number of snaps for Bill Belichick in his rookie season, recording two sacks along the way. He also carved out a fairly significant role for himself on special teams. He may have been in line for an even larger role in 2014, but ultimately landed on injured reserve instead. The 6'5", 255-pound end-linebacker 'tweener has experience rushing the passer and dropping into coverage, and brings some unique versatility to Buffalo's edge defender depth.

Competing with the likes of Manny Lawson and Randell Johnson for package-specific playing time behind the Bills' star edge rushers, Mario Williams and Jerry Hughes, Buchanan has a legitimate chance to make Buffalo's 53-man roster this fall.