Buffalo Bills unable to keep their O-Line together in 2026 NFL free agency as latest departure heads to the NFC South
Not a surprising move as free agency begins.
The Buffalo Bills are saying goodbye to another important piece of their offense in 2025.
Ahead of free agency, Buffalo agreed to terms on a new deal with center Connor McGovern. McGovern was one of two pieces of the offensive line that were set to hit free agency, but general manager Brandon Beane got a deal done before it even began. That’s not the same as the other piece: David Edwards.
The starting left guard found a new home with the New Orleans Saints in the early stages of the free agency period. It’s a massive payday, and a deserving one, for Edwards, whose deal is worth upwards of $15 million per year. It’s a four-year, $61 million contract.
David Edwards’ departure from Buffalo wasn’t a surprise
It wasn’t surprising to see Edwards get a massive payday from another team, with Buffalo’s cap situation and a serviceable backup most likely waiting in the wings in Alec Anderson, it was a no-brainer for Buffalo to walk away from contract talks. Especially considering McGovern’s surprising and massive payday, there just wasn’t enough money in the banana stand.
The team brought back Anderson on a one-year, $3 million deal, which is much cheaper than bringing back Edwards on a long-term deal. There are still some question marks with the offensive line room, and Buffalo might not be done adding to the mix there. For now, it’s Anderson’s position to lose.
In my predictions article for the free agency period, my first note was that the team would not be bringing back Edwards on a new deal, and it only took hours for that to come to fruition.
Buffalo had some cap issues, and a bunch of teams were looking for interior offensive linemen, making the move much less surprising for fans and critics alike. Edwards’ market evaluation was sitting at nearly $20 million, so it’s a bit lower than some were anticipating.
Buffalo simply wasn’t going to, and perhaps wasn’t able to, compete with that kind of market. The Saints were an easy landing spot for the veteran guard as free agency opened. Another farewell to a player who provided so much on the field. It never gets easier.
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Get it done, Brandon Beane.
