Could the Buffalo Bills lose two important stalwarts on their strong and cohesive offensive line this upcoming season? Center Connor McGovern and guard David Edwards will become unrestricted free agents, who are both in limbo to resign due to salary cap restraints.
The Bills will face some tough decisions, and the reality of possibly losing both talented players. The team may have to draft some rookies on entry-level contracts to fill their void. Not knowing who the starting five on the line will be for 2026, let's take a look at how the current o-line shakes out.
What can the offensive line look like next season?
Bills' offensive line stats
The Bills' offensive line was graded the number five unit in the league after the 2024 NFL season. It helped that opposing defenses sacked quarterback Josh Allen only 14 times.
Of those 14 sacks, four of them were by the offensive lineman. They also paved the way for a strong rushing attack.
The team was also ranked 11th in rushing yards per carry (4.5), and running back James Cook averaged 4.9 yards per carry.
The Bills were graded sixth in their offensive line rankings in 2025. This is despite defenses sacking Allen 40 times and attributing 17 of them to the line.
The Bills can attribute this ranking to even greater ascendancy in the run game, as Cook won the rushing title with 1,621 yards on the ground. The Bills finished on top at 159.6 yards per game and second at 5.0 yards per attempt.
McGovern and Edwards' financial numbers
Bills head coach Joe Brady considers McGovern a leader on the team. McGovern is rated 13th out of the 21 centers who played no less than 900 snaps.
The steady center was also graded third in pass blocking. He was just five of 21 centers who didn't allow a sack, just like he didn't give up one in 2024.
Spotrac (a sports contract site) forecasts McGovern at a market value of $16 million per year.
As for Edwards, considered the most underrated of the bunch, he graded 13th, amid 36 players who played no less than 900 snaps. Spotrac estimates his market value at around $20 million per year.
Bills' in-house choices and wish list
If the Bills decide to cut salary cap space by releasing McGovern and/or Edwards, they could replace them with players already on the roster. At center would be 2024 draft pick Sedrick Van Pran-Granger, who could fill in and play out the rest of his rookie contract.
At guard, swing lineman Alec Anderson can plug in for Edwards, and just like Van Pran-Granger, he would be playing on a cheap, low-risk deal. Plus, he feeds on positive energy, which matches Brady's energy level, too.
Besides that, general manager and president of operations, Brandon Beane, can go out and scout for other players, either in free agency or in the draft, and let them compete for the job. Nevertheless, the Bills' interior o-line may look different, but at least they will create more cap space needed to resign O'Cyrus Torrance when his contract is up in 2027.
New O-Line coach Pat Meyer
Outgoing offensive line coach Aaron Kromer recently retired, and he will be missed. New coach Pat Meyer recently joined from the Pittsburgh Steelers and coached the offensive line in Carolina when Joe Brady was the offensive coordinator. He will now oversee one of the best lines in the league that may not have the same continuity with the starting five as it has had since the 2023 season.
With Kromer heading into retirement, new offensive coordinator Pete Carmichael will now be responsible for the run game, and they may have to adjust on the fly if McGovern and/or Edwards are no longer in Orchard Park.