Updated

The Buffalo Bills have signed free-agent offensive guard Chris Williams to a four-year contract.

The team announced the move Wednesday, a day after the NFL's signing period opened and a few hours after Williams visited the Bills' facility.

Williams has six years of NFL experience after going to Chicago with the 14th pick in the 2008 draft. Williams spent three-plus seasons with the Bears before being cut, and the past year and a half with the St. Louis Rams.

Overall, he's had 54 starts in 69 games.

Williams is expected to compete for the starting left guard spot to fill what had been an unsettled position last year.

Colin Brown opened the season as the starter, before being cut and replaced by Doug Legursky.

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AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org