Every offseason is important for NFL teams, but this particular one was extremely crucial for the Buffalo Bills since it was the start of something brand new. While Brandon Beane was kept and promoted, Sean McDermott was shown the door and his eventual replacement ended up being Joe Brady, who has been in the building since 2022.
With a new head coach, an almost new coaching staff was on its way and the roster was bound to change a little bit as well. While new additions were made both in free agency and via trade, the Bills managed to keep one of their most important players that has been the one leading the offensive line since 2024.
Connor McGovern signed with the Bills in 2023 as a free agent, coming over from the Dallas Cowboys and arrived in Buffalo as a guard. In 2024, the Bills released center Mitch Morse and ended up sliding McGovern to center. Since then, McGovern has been one of the best at the position and he was rewarded right before free agency started.
ESPN lists Bills re-signing Connor McGovern as best offseason deal
Bill Barnwell from ESPN has listed Buffalo re-signing Connor McGovern as their best deal that they made this offseason. When it comes to their worst move, Barnwell talked about everything that happened involving the trade for DJ Moore, but the McGovern piece is what really stands out especially when you look at what the Bills offered him, and then what the Las Vegas Raiders offered Tyler Linderbaum in free agency to join the team.
"On a four-year, $52 million pact, McGovern's $13 million average salary is less than half of what [Tyler] Linderbaum will make. And though the Bills had to practically guarantee about 43% of McGovern's third-year compensation to keep their starting center from free agency, that figure doesn't seem burdensome in light of what Linderbaum is making." said Barnwell.
"Even if the Bills decide to move on after two years, they'll pay McGovern only $32.6 million for those prime seasons, or just over $16 million per year. That's going to be good value for a player who made the Pro Bowl in 2024 and whose mobility helps define one of the league's more impactful rushing attacks." said Barnwell.
While McGovern’s average salary is set for $13 million, Linderbaum's is set for $27 million which shows the amazing work by Brandon Beane to get the deal done early.
McGovern has established himself as one of the best pass protectors in the game and it was important for the Bills to bring him back. Since he and David Edwards were on their way out the door, Buffalo needed to bring back one or the other. Bringing back the one who starts the play and helps protect the interior of the offensive line was a huge move.
The Bills have their starting center moving forward and when it comes to giving Josh Allen protection so that he can continue playing as the best quarterback in the league, that’s all that matters in the end.
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