The Buffalo Bills aim to secure a new contract with offensive lineman (OL) Spencer Brown before he hits free agency next year.
Although Brown faced some career struggles after his rookie season, he came back strong in 2023, cementing his spot on the offensive line. To create the necessary cap space, the Bills made several moves this offseason and now have about $7.5 million available, according to Spotrac. They could use some of this to lock him down.
Brown completes his rookie deal, a four-year, $4.8 million contract, this season. He also has a different look this year. Connor McGovern takes over at center for Mitch Morse, and David Edwards has the inside track to replace McGovern at left guard. After adjusting to the NFL level, Brown put together a solid campaign in 2023.
The Athletic’s Tim Graham highlighted Brown’s progress within the team.
“One of the few question marks heading into last season was whether the 2021 third-round pick could fulfill his promise after a rocky sophomore campaign. Brown answered with authority, playing every single one of Buffalo’s 1,305 snaps. Pro Football Focus charted him for only two more pressures than Pro Bowl left tackle Dion Dawkins.”
Bills’ Plans for Brown’s Contract
Graham noted that the Bills spent the offseason trimming their salary cap by releasing several veteran players and trading top wide receiver Stefon Diggs. With Brown entering the final year of his rookie contract, Graham suggested that the Bills could now begin utilizing some of their freed-up funds.
He wrote, “The Bills will have significant cap space next year after receiver Stefon Diggs’ dead money clears, but they can save a lot by extending Brown in the next few months and not letting him get close enough to free agency to get curious about testing the open market,”
What does this mean for the Bills? If Brown puts together another solid season, he may earn a bigger payday. General manager Brandon Beane must decide whether to let Brown get close to the open market or if extending his contract would be the best financial option for Buffalo.
Buffalo is also taking a smart gamble. If the Bills opt to part ways with Brown, the free agent market provides inflated replacement costs. Acquiring a player through the NFL Draft is another option, but there’s no guarantee that the right player will be available to replace Brown.
The Bills’ depth chart at tackle reveals some possible options. La’el Collins, Travis Clayton, Ryan Van Demark, Tylan Grable, Richard Gouraige, and Tommy Doyle have a season to prove they could be a relevant replacement for Brown. Even so, a significant gap exists between Brown and the available depth options for the Bills.
Long-Term Stability and Continuity
Buffalo wants to secure their tackles to ensure continuity at the position for years to come. Brown started 10 games as a rookie and has been a constant on the line since taking over the job in 2022. Locking him in long-term would solidify the offensive line and provide stability for the team’s future.
Leave a Reply