Buffalo Bills center Fernando Velasco was the sixth free agent to sign with the team in the 2016 NFL offseason, and the fifth to do so on veteran-minimum terms. However, because he's a seventh-year veteran, his deal is a bit more expensive than the other four veteran-minimum deals we've seen thus far this offseason.
Fernando Velasco Bills deal; $965,000, $885,000 salary, $80,000 signing bonus, $453,000 preseason split
— Aaron Wilson (@AaronWilson_NFL) April 8, 2016
Even though Velasco's salary is higher than those of tight end Jim Dray, cornerbacks Sterling Moore and Corey White, and safety Robert Blanton - who will all make $760,000 in base salary with an $80,000 signing bonus - his cap hit will remain the same due to the benefit. All five players have cap hits of $680,000 this season.
As for that "preseason split" reported by Aaron Wilson, that's simply the salary figure that will come into play if Velasco lands on injured reserve prior to the start of the 2016 regular season. That money is not guaranteed to him.
We are considering Velasco the spiritual successor to Kraig Urbik, who spent the past two seasons as the Bills' veteran guard-center that served as the top reserve at all three interior line spots. That job will be open for competition this summer, but Velasco has a strong chance of claiming that role barring another addition.