While high-profile trades and draft picks grabbed headlines, Brandon Beane’s savviest maneuver involved a hometown discount to secure a Pro Bowl anchor for Buffalo’s offensive line.
Training camp is two weeks away, and that means the offseason is finally close to being over.
The Buffalo Bills enter 2026 with a lot of questions after replacing Sean McDermott as head coach with Joe Brady. But it's not just the coaching staff that saw changes. General manager Brandon Beane was busy working to retool the roster in a way that could hopefully get them over the hump and to a Super Bowl.
Whether it be through free agency or the draft, Beane brought in new defensive backs, wide receivers, edge rushers, and more. And while each new addition, like DJ Moore, Bradley Chubb, and C.J. Gardner-Johnson, brings something to the table, the best move the team made didn't involve anyone new.
Instead, it was retaining one of their own.
When free agency began in March, many expected Buffalo to lose both of their top free agent linemen, guard David Edwards and center Connor McGovern.
Edwards quickly signed a four-year, $61 million contract to join the New Orleans Saints. For McGovern, there was the belief he was set to leave too, especially after saying that he hadn't heard from the team since the end of the season.
That changed quickly, however, just days before free agency was set to open. The Bills and McGovern came to an agreement on a four-year, $52 million contract with $32 million guaranteed.
Before signing the deal, it was projected that McGovern could get anywhere from $16-$17 million per year on the open market. Instead, McGovern took a discount to return to the team he wanted to play for.
For the Bills, not only was it a fantastic value, but it kept one of the more reliable centers in the NFL with the team.
In three seasons with Buffalo, McGovern has started 49 of a possible 51 games, including seven playoff games. In 2024, he earned a Pro Bowl invite. In 2025, he gave up zero sacks, just 14 pressures, and allowed only two quarterback hits.
Center is a difficult position to replace at an elite level. When you have a good one, keeping them for your quarterback is imperative. Being able to not only keep McGovern, but do so at a deal that will look like a bigger steal as the years pass can only be viewed as a win for Beane and the Bills.
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