The Buffalo Bills made plenty of splashy moves this offseason, but their smartest one came without much noise at all.
While additions like DJ Moore, Bradley Chubb and C.J. Gardner-Johnson drew attention, Brandon Beane’s best work was keeping a key piece in place. The move that stands out most for Buffalo was the decision to retain center Connor McGovern on a deal that came in well below what he could have commanded elsewhere.
That mattered because McGovern looked like a likely departure when March arrived. The Bills also faced the possibility of losing guard David Edwards, and that part of the plan played out quickly when Edwards landed a four-year, $61 million deal with the New Orleans Saints. McGovern’s future seemed even murkier after he said he hadn’t heard from the team since the season ended.
Then Buffalo moved fast. Just days before free agency opened, the Bills and McGovern agreed to a four-year, $52 million contract with $32 million guaranteed.
The value is hard to miss. McGovern had been projected to land somewhere in the $16-$17 million per year range on the open market, but he chose to take less to stay with the team he wanted to play for.
For Buffalo, that meant keeping one of the league’s more dependable centers in the building. McGovern has started 49 of a possible 51 games over three seasons with the Bills, including seven playoff games. He earned a Pro Bowl nod in 2024, then followed it up in 2025 by allowing zero sacks, 14 pressures and just two quarterback hits.
That kind of stability is gold at center, especially for a quarterback. Buffalo didn’t just avoid a hole on the offensive line - it locked down a high-level starter at a price that should age well.
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Bills Rookie Suddenly Feels Important In Buffalos New Defense
The Bills are in the middle of a defensive reset under coordinator Jim Leonhard, moving from an even-front look to an odd-front scheme, and that kind of change tends to create opportunity for young players who can process quickly. One of the early names to emerge is rookie linebacker Kaleb Elarms-Orr, a fourth-round pick in 2026 who has already drawn notice in offseason work for the way he handles the mental side of the game and moves around the field.
Elarms-Orr is still fighting for his place in a crowded linebacker room, with roster spots and snaps far from settled as Buffalo sorts out its new front. But the path is there if he keeps stacking good days, especially with the Bills needing answers behind the established options and a rookie who can absorb the scheme quickly suddenly looking a lot more relevant than a typical late-spring depth piece. [Read more 🡒]
Bills Linked To Veteran Fix For Lingering Run Defense Problem
Buffalos run defense was a sore spot last season, and the offseason did not bring a major overhaul up front even with the switch to a 3-4 look. The Bills did make some limited additions along the defensive line, but the middle of the defense still looks like an area where more help could make sense as the team tries to firm up a problem that lingered for too long.
One idea floated in a recent trade proposal would send a veteran defensive lineman from Baltimore to Buffalo, giving the Bills another body with experience in the middle and some insurance as Deone Walker settles into the nose tackle role in his second season. The suggested move would not be a blockbuster, but it would give Buffalo a sturdier run-defense option and a little more flexibility if the current plan needs reinforcement. [Read more 🡒]