Spencer Brown’s Year 3 could be huge for the Buffalo Bills
Spencer Brown is the most obvious candidate to take a major step forward in terms of production. The third year right tackle started 14 games in 2022, allowing 42 pressures and 4 sacks. At times he looked dominant, while at other times he looked overmatched. However, it is fair to expect 2023 to be a year of massive improvements for him.
Brown was drafted in the third round of the 2021 NFL Draft out of Northern Iowa. He was a tight end in high school and then missed the 2020 season due to the Covid-19 pandemic. He earned a starting spot for the Bills as a rookie in 2021, but injured his back and missed the entire offseason and most of the 2022 preseason while rehabbing. In context, he has about the same experience as an Offensive Lineman as a typical collegiate junior or senior. Still just 25 years old, he still shows the tools and elite athleticism that made him a desirable pick in 2021.
The Buffalo Bills love to draft and develop gifted athletes and have shown an ability to do so. Head coach Sean McDermott has talked about how important year three is in a player’s development, and Brown may be the best example of that. Brown’s athleticism and physical build are unique and he has earned the opportunity to grow on the field.
While the Buffalo Bills may add additional depth pieces and competition around him through a late pick in the draft, look for Brown to develop into one of the elite offensive tackles in the NFL this season.