The Buffalo Bills already got a blunt reminder last season of how fragile things can get when both Dion Dawkins and Spencer Brown are out of the lineup. That reality is hanging over the start of training camp again, even with both starting tackles expected to be healthy when camp opens.
Brown, the right tackle, is coming off knee surgery this offseason, while Dawkins is entering his age-31 season after being signed through 2028. Brown is 26 and signed through 2026. Together, they remain the anchors on the edge for an offense that clearly benefits when both are on the field.
That’s the good news. The concern is what comes next.
The Bills’ top two tackles are set, but the depth behind them is still unsettled, and that matters. Dawkins and Brown have missed only a combined seven games over the past three seasons, which is a strong sign for a line that has been one of the offense’s biggest strengths.
But the team also knows how quickly that can change. Brown has dealt with a few minor injuries that have kept him out of the lineup, and he has also had back surgery during his career.
Dawkins, meanwhile, has rarely missed meaningful action.
There is at least some optimism on Brown’s side. The veteran right tackle recently said a minor issue during the spring was nothing serious, and he expects to be ready for the start of training camp.
Still, the Bills are not treating his situation lightly. Given how important the offense is to keeping both players healthy, the team will want to do everything possible to avoid asking too much of either one.
That’s where the rest of the tackle room comes in, and where the questions begin.
The biggest battle in camp is at left guard, but tackle depth is a separate issue the Bills have to sort through. Van Demark, 26, was signed through 2026 after appearing in 12 games over the past three seasons, with six starts, following a rookie free-agent path that brought him to Buffalo after being waived by Indianapolis at the end of training camp in 2022.
He has mostly worked as the swing tackle behind Dawkins and Brown in recent seasons. The past two years, he primarily filled that role on game days.
The Bills would have preferred to match Van Demark’s offer sheet, but ultimately decided the price for a reserve player was too high. It was a nice payday for him, though, and one he earned by working hard to carve out his spot in the NFL and fitting well in the locker room.
Now the bigger question is whether he can do more. Brown’s health gives the Bills a chance to see whether Van Demark can develop into a steadier contributor, even if that is not in a starting role right away.
Grable, a sixth-round pick in 2024, is another name to watch. He worked his way into the rotation at swing tackle as a rookie, but a concussion late in the summer landed him on injured reserve.
He did not get activated until the Week 13 game against the Jets. Grable was a healthy inactive during the playoffs.
Buffalo has high hopes he can develop into a dependable contributor, even if that is not necessarily in a starting role right away.
Versatility helps, and that is part of why the Bills will keep looking at all their options. If Brown can stay on the field throughout camp, the team could consider carrying nine or even 10 offensive linemen on the 53-man roster. But that always comes with risk, because offensive line spots are scarce around the league.
For now, the Bills can at least breathe a little easier knowing their starting tackles are expected to be ready when camp begins. The deeper issue is whether they have enough behind them if something changes.
In Other News...
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 Best Offseason Move Was Keeping Connor McGovern Home
The Bills spent part of their offseason reworking the roster after coaching changes, but one of Brandon Beanes quietest wins was keeping Connor McGovern in Buffalo. The center was rewarded with a four-year, $52 million deal with $32 million guaranteed, a move that locked in a player who had become a stabilizing presence in the middle of the offensive line and earned a Pro Bowl invite in 2024.
What makes the deal stand out is that McGovern could have chased a richer market elsewhere, yet chose to stay put on a hometown-friendly number. For a team trying to maintain continuity up front while reshaping other parts of the roster, that kind of commitment matters, and it gives Buffalo a little more certainty at a spot where stability is never a bad thing. [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 🡒]