Jets take linebacker David Harris off market, sign him to big deal

David Harris of the New York Jets looked like the top inside linebacker in this year's free-agency class, and you can be pretty sure that Buffalo Bills and their new coach Rex Ryan were ready to pounce.

Ryan won't get the chance to reunite with Harris. The Jets re-signed him just a few days before free agency starts.

Harris got a three-year, $21.5 million deal with $15 million guaranteed, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. Like running back, inside linebackers have been devalued a bit in recent years, but Harris earned that deal.

[Check out Shutdown Corner's full 2015 free agent rankings – click here for offensive players, and click here for defensive players and specialists]

Harris hasn't missed a game since 2008, and has had either 123 or 124 tackles each of the last three seasons. He's consistent and can play three downs, which has a lot of value.

The Bills just agreed to trade linebacker Kiko Alonso to the Philadelphia Eagles. It seemed clear, given Ryan's history with Harris and Harris' impending free agency, that Harris to the Bills was an obvious fit. Now the Bills will have to look elsewhere if they want to add a veteran inside linebacker.

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Frank Schwab is the editor of Shutdown Corner on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at shutdowncorner@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter! Follow @YahooSchwab

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