ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. -- Defensive tackle Alan Branch saw enough potential in the Buffalo Bills' rebuilding process to sign a three-year contract extension on Monday.
"I feel like I was part of the building process somewhat in Seattle, and I see a lot of similar things," Branch said shortly after his new deal was announced. "I feel like the sky's the limit."
Branch is a seventh-year player, who spent the previous two seasons in Seattle before signing a one-year deal with Buffalo in free agency in April. He has already matched a career-best 35 tackles while playing in 15 games, including 12 starts.
Listed at 6-foot-6 and 325 pounds, Branch is part of a big-bodied and attacking defense that has a league-leading and franchise-best 56 sacks. Branch expressed a desire to stay with the Bills a few weeks ago, and was pleased to get a deal completed before the end of the season.
He has enjoyed living in Buffalo, and is particularly comfortable after finding a niche in a defense installed by new coordinator Mike Pettine.
"I like the scheme and I like the players here. And I wanted to stay here," Branch said. "So when my agent and the team got everything settled, that was an easy decision for me."
The Bills (6-9) close at New England (11-4) on Sunday.
Copyright 2013 by The Associated Press