Michael Smith and Len Pasquarelli 17y

McGahee traded to Ravens, signs long-term deal

NFL, Baltimore Ravens, Buffalo Bills

The Ravens and Bills agreed to a trade Thursday that will send running back Willis McGahee to Baltimore in exchange for the team's third and seventh-round picks in this year's draft, along with the Ravens' third-round pick in 2008.

Hours after the trade was announced Thursday afternoon, ESPN.com learned McGahee will sign a new seven-year contract with Baltimore, the last two seasons of which are options years, that can be worth a total of $40.12 million. In terms of so-called "new money," the contract places McGahee among the NFL's five highest-paid running backs.

McGahee will receive an initial signing bonus of $7.5 million and subsequent option bonuses of $6 million after the 2007 season and $1.5 million following the 2008 season, for a total of $15 million. The base salaries are $595,000 (2007), $605,000 ('08), $620,000 ('09), $3.6 million ('10), $6 million ('11), $6.5 million ('12) and $7.2 million ('13).

Even without the option years at the end of the contract, the deal is worth $26.42 million over five years.

Buffalo dealt McGahee in anticipation of difficulty re-signing him.

For the Ravens, it's the second year in a row they pulled off a trade for a marquee veteran. Last year they dealt for Tennessee Titans quarteback Steve McNair, who led the Ravens to the AFC North title.


"This is a runner who can make people miss and has the
explosion and speed to take it the distance," Ravens general
manager Ozzie Newsome said. "He also has the power and size to run
inside. He's a viable receiver out of the backfield and is a good
pass blocker, not something every back can do.

"He also plays physical and with toughness, which are things we
pride ourselves on here."

Ravens coach Brian Billick was also pleased with the deal.

"We're getting a dynamic back who has the potential to
diversify our running game," Billick said.
"Getting a player as good as Willis is another example of how
Ozzie and his department size up the market and use our resources
well."

The Titans were also reportedly interested in dealing for McGahee.

The Bills, whose remaining running backs are Daimon Shelton and Shaud Williams, are now in the market for multiple backs. They have shown interest in the Colts' Dominic Rhodes and the Titans' Chris Brown, and both have visited the team. Former Patriots running back Corey Dillon has not visited Orchard Park, but the Bills are said to be interested.

Buffalo's first-round pick out of Miami in 2003, McGahee is
coming off a down season in which he finished with a career-low 990
yards rushing, but led the team with six rushing touchdowns in 14
starts.

In 2005, he had 1,247 yards rushing and five touchdowns in 15
starts. He established himself as the Bills starter in 2004 with
1,128 yards rushing and 13 touchdowns in 11 starts. That
performance led the team to trade former starter Travis Henry to
Tennessee the following summer.

McGahee sat out his rookie season recovering from major knee
surgery.

Bills coach Dick Jauron sidestepped questions why the team
decided to trade McGahee, especially considering Buffalo does not
have an immediate replacement for him on its roster.

Jauron simply said the deal was too good to pass up and that it
benefited both teams.

Asked if McGahee had requested a trade, Jauron replied: "That's
a good question for you to ask him."

The Bills have been disappointed in McGahee for conducting most
of his offseason workouts in his native Miami, rather than
traveling to the team's Orchard Park headquarters. McGahee also
created a stir when he was quoted in a magazine article
suggesting the NFL consider moving the Bills to Toronto, a comment he later said was taken out of context.

Michael Smith and Len Pasquarelli are senior writers for ESPN.com. The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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