Buffalo Bills: 3 offensive line free agents team should pursue

Justin Pugh, G

Justin Pugh spent the last five seasons in Arizona as one of the Cardinals’ starting guards.  He’s played in 120 career games, starting 19 of them.  He’s a former first-round selection of the New York Giants and has started at right tackle in 37 career games, so he brings some versatility; however, he has not played the tackle position in the last five years.

PFF had Pugh rated at a 61 overall in 2022 but played in only five games before his season was cut sure by injury, which means signing him does not come without risk.  That risk is in the form of a torn ACL.  He was initially placed on IR by the Cardinals on October 17, 2022. So naturally, there are questions of whether he’ll be back in time for the season and do the Bills want to take that risk. The injury would allow a cheaper contract no doubt, but Pugh has also considered retirement in the past, so that could still happen as well.

In an article from CardsWire, Pugh indicated he wants to play for a winning team and isn’t interested in being part of a rebuild, which makes sense for the 32-year-old lineman.

Signing Pugh likely comes at a discount due to the injury but also what about the age, do the Bills want to sign a guy that one, may not be able to suit up in time for Week One, let alone take part in any of the off-season activities and two is likely only a short-term answer?