James is a seven-year NFL veteran who spent the last two seasons with the Eagles, after changing his name from Will Peterson.

He is expected to bolster a depleted Bills secondary and to compete with Jabari Greer for a starting job opposite Terrence McGee.

James' agent, Ronald Slavin, confirmed the deal. The Bills, by policy, don't announce player moves until a contract is signed.

Earlier in the day, the Bills re-signed safety Bryan Scott, a five-year veteran who starred for Central Bucks East and Penn State.

James was chosen by the New York Giants in the third round of the 2001 draft. He spent five seasons with New York before joining the Eagles.

Ryan debuts for scouts. The NFL got its chance to see Matt Ryan throw, and the Boston College quarterback did not do anything that would keep him from being picked early in the draft.

Ryan, a Penn Charter graduate, worked out in Boston, throwing to former teammates for a mini-combine of 42 scouts, coaches and other personnel evaluators from 22 NFL teams. He completed 48 of 52 passes - three drops, one overthrown - from three-, five- and seven-step drops, from the pocket and on the run, throwing to both sides of the field.

"I made every throw you need to make in the NFL," said Ryan, who skipped the Senior Bowl and ran but did not throw at last month's Scouting Combine in Indianapolis. "I thought it went well. It was the first opportunity I've had to throw in front of the scouts live."

Falcons-Raiders trade. Cornerback DeAngelo Hall said he would finalize a contract with Oakland, but the trade that would move him from Atlanta was not complete.

ESPN.com said Hall's contract was for seven years and $70 million, but the Web site said the teams were discussing compensation beyond a second-round draft pick for the all-pro.

Steelers. Restricted free-agent offensive linemen Chris Kemoeatu and Trai Essex accepted their one-year tender offers and will stay with Pittsburgh. Kemoeatu will make $1,417,000; Essex will make $927,000.

Elsewhere: Free-agent defensive end Marques Douglas signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. . . . The Tennessee Titans agreed to terms with free-agent tight end Dwayne Blakley.