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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Friday, August 21, 2009

NFL: Bills sign first-round pick, DE Maybin


By JOHN WAWROW
AP Sports Writer

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — Buffalo Bills rookie first-round draft pick Aaron Maybin has signed a five-year contract.

Capping four weeks of negotiations, the defensive end was at the team's headquarters to sign this afternoon, his agent, Chafie Fields, told The Associated Press. "Aaron's happy to be here and ready to go to work," Fields said.

Financial terms were not immediately available.

Maybin was drafted 11th overall out of Penn State.

He is expected to begin practicing on Monday, the team's first session after it returns home following a preseason game at Green Bay on Saturday. Buffalo has two preseason games left, at Pittsburgh on Aug. 29 and at home against Detroit on Sept. 3.

Through Friday, Maybin missed 24 practices and two preseason games since training camp opened July 25. He has three weeks to prepare for the Bills regular-season opener at New England on Sept. 14.

Listed at 6-foot-4 and 250 pounds, Maybin is a fast and aggressive pass-rushing specialist, who was expected to immediately help a defense that registered 24 sacks, finishing in a tie with Washington for fifth-fewest in the NFL last season. The Bills believe he's versatile enough to eventually play linebacker, too.

After sitting out his first year at Penn State as a redshirt freshman, Maybin entered the draft after two college seasons and without a full season as a starter.

Though he played 13 games last season, Maybin didn't take over as a full-time starter until the fourth week. But he led the Big Ten with 12 sacks and was voted a first team All-American.

Maybin's signing leaves only two first-round draft picks unsigned: Offensive tackle Andre Smith, selected sixth overall by Cincinnati; and receiver Michael Crabtree, who was drafted 10th by San Francisco.