The Buffalo Bills on Monday afternoon bolstered their kicking situation, they hope for the long term, when the Seattle Seahawks declined to match an offer sheet signed last week by restricted free agent Rian Lindell.

The decision by Seattle officials means that Lindell, 26, moves to Buffalo under the terms of the four-year offer sheet. Seattle, which had retained a right of first refusal by making Lindell a qualifying offer of $605,000 last month, does not receive compensation, since the kicker entered the NFL as an undrafted college free agent.

Lindell will earn about $4.2 million on the contract, and the deal includes a signing bonus of $1.2 million.

The former Washington State standout was originally signed by Dallas as a free agent in 2000, but was released during training camp, and subsequently signed with the Seattle on Sept. 26 of that year.

For his career, he has converted 58 of 78 field goal attempts, including an impressive seven of 12 from 50 yards and beyond. Lindell has made all 96 of his extra point tries. His 107 points in 2002 represented a career high. He also has a very strong leg on kickoffs.

Buffalo officials had tried several times since the beginning of the free agent period to re-sign veteran Mike Hollis from the unrestricted pool, but could not come to an agreement with the eight-year veteran. In addition to his physical skills, Lindell appeals to Bills officials because of his age, and his potential to stabilize the kicker position for several years.

The Bills used three different kickers over the past two seasons. Hollis hit 25 of 33 field goal tries and all 40 extra point attempts last year.

The offer sheet to Lindell continues a trend in which teams are increasingly turning to the restricted free agent pool to fill needs. Lindell was targeted, in part, because of the absence of draft choice compensation involved.

Seven restricted free agents have signed offer sheets in the past three weeks. Three players changed teams and three incumbent teams matched the offers and retained the players. The resolution of one offer sheet, signed by Green Bay linebacker Na'il Diggs with Detroit, is still pending.

Len Pasquarelli is a senior writer for ESPN.com.