Bobby Hart returns to the Buffalo Bills on a new one-year deal

For the fourth time in just over one calendar year, the Buffalo Bills have signed offensive tackle Bobby Hart. The backup offensive lineman originally joined the team at the end of March last year on a one-year deal.

He would be released right before the start of the season but return to the team as a member of the practice squad a few weeks into the season. The Titans would then sign Hart off the Bills’ practice squad in October of last year to their active roster.

The Buffalo Bills would return the favor in November and sign Hart to their active roster off the Titans practice squad. A few weeks after that he would be waived and once he cleared waivers, the Buffalo Bills added him back to their practice squad.

Last season, Hart appeared in four games with three as a member of the Tennessee Titans, including one start, and one with the Buffalo Bills. Prior to joining the Bills last offseason, Hart was a starting right tackle for the Bengals from 2018 to 2020.

Bobby Hart adds depth at the offensive tackle position for the Buffalo Bills

After his performance in the preseason last year, fans wouldn’t be overly excited about the prospect of Bobby Hart playing extended snaps. However, the move does help address a need as the depth at offensive tackle could have been an issue this coming season.

The Bills are set with their starters with Dion Dawkins on the left side and Spencer Brown, who played well as a rookie, at right tackle. However, after those two the Bills really only have last year’s fifth round pick Tommy Doyle as the backup.

As evident in the Carolina Panthers game last season, if Dawkins is forced to miss time it could result in significant shuffling as Brown was the player who started in place of Dawkins which creates a need at right tackle.

However, Bobby Hart does have starting experience at both left and right tackle. If there was an injury at either spot, Hart theoretically could step in. Also after being with the franchise on and off for most of last season, he knows this scheme.

In the end, Bobby Hart just gives the Buffalo Bills more options as it might not necessarily dissuade them from drafting a player at the position or even signing another free agent but does give them an experienced veteran to be the backup if nothing else presents itself.