Marcell Dareus: Buffalo Bills trade talented defensive tackle to Jacksonville Jaguars

The Buffalo Bills parted ways with one of their most talented and highest-paid players on Friday by trading defensive tackle Marcell Dareus to the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Dareus, who had been in and out of the starting lineup under first-year coach Sean McDermott, will be reunited with Jacksonville head coach Doug Marrone, who coached the Bills in 2013 and 2014. Buffalo will reportedly receive a sixth-round draft pick in the deal that could become a fifth-round pick based on performance.

Dareus is a two-time Pro Bowl selection who signed a six-year, $100 million extension with the Bills in 2015, with $60 million guaranteed. Buffalo cut $5.73 million off its 2017 salary cap and $2.375 million off the 2018 number, as well as potential over $14 million each in non-guaranteed years 2019, 2020 and 2021.

The former No. 3 overall pick out of Alabama was suspended for the first game of the 2015 season for violating the NFL's substance abuse policy and sat out the first four games of 2016 for another violation of the same policy.

"I give Marcell a lot of credit," Buffalo general manager Brandon Beane, who was not part of the front office when Dareus signed his extension, told reporters. "I thought he made huge strides as of late. But we thought this was a good move for us going forward. But it is also a fresh start for him."

Dareus owns 35 sacks in 91 career games for the Bills.