Buffalo Bills Pro Bowl center Connor McGovern says Buffalo hasn't contacted him once as his contract expires. Here's why the offensive line anchor appears headed for 2026 NFL free agency.
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While the Bills aim for a 2026 Super Bowl run, one of Josh Allen's biggest protectors might be hitting the market.
Connor McGovern has been a big boost for Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills, but the front office might not be interested in an offseason reunion. The Buffalo Bills Pro Bowl center’s contract is expiring, and the offensive line anchor is heading toward 2026 NFL free agency. There should be mounting outside interest from other NFL teams, and there’s wild Bills’ roster speculation already making the rounds, which makes the Bills’ free agent plans a lot more complicated.
The Buffalo Bills signed McGovern to a three-year, $22.35 million deal in March 2023, and he started all but two regular-season games during his tenure — sitting only the finales with Buffalo resting for the playoffs, as Tim Graham of The Athletic reported.
Now, Graham reported that McGovern said he hasn’t heard a word from the organization during the 2026 NFL offseason about playing for the Bills again.
Bills’ Free Agent Connor McGovern Likely Out of Buffalo
That’s not speculation — that’s McGovern’s own read on the situation. Graham reported that McGovern said by phone from his offseason home in Florida, “They haven’t contacted me once. In my gut, that says it’s over and done.”
That’s a pretty definitive statement from a guy who just made his first career Pro Bowl after the 2024 season and posted a 97.2% pass block win rate that tied for second among qualifying centers, per SI. It’s not even about chasing a massive payday, either.
Graham reported that McGovern said, “Do I need all the money in the world? No, but there’s a respect factor involved, too. There’s a certain number in my head that I would have no problem accepting, and then I don’t need to go to free agency. If they come to the number that me and my wife are comfortable with, I would gladly say yes and not talk to anybody else.”
The door was open — Buffalo just never knocked.
A Hidden Injury McGovern Played Through
Here’s the part that makes this sting even more. Graham reported that McGovern “mangled his right snapping hand” during the Week 5 loss to the Patriots and never missed a game because of it. McGovern told Graham, “I tore a couple ligaments and broke my knuckle. Always fun. No bad snaps, though! So no one knew.”
The man was getting needles in his hand daily just to suit up. Graham reported that McGovern said, “We tried taping it for a few weeks, but it didn’t really do anything. I just had to deal with it. My physical therapist was every day putting needles in it to help with the swelling, different laser treatments, manual therapy, extra work on it.” A center with torn ligaments and a broken knuckle in his snapping hand — that’s a true gridiron warrior.
What This Means for the Buffalo Bills in 2026
The Buffalo Bills are already roughly $7.9 million over the salary cap heading into 2026, per Spotrac. First-year head coach Joe Brady is inheriting a roster in serious flux, and losing your Pro Bowl center — the guy protecting the most important player on the franchise — would be a blow to Josh Allen’s offensive line.
Other teams are paying attention, too. SI reported that McGovern was named aDetroit Lions” aria-label=”Bills Center Named ‘Perfect’ target for the Detroit Lions, and Yahoo Sports noted that even the Patriots could pursue the Bills’ starter. If Brandon Beane doesn’t pick up the phone soon, somebody else will — and Josh Allen will be looking at a brand-new face over center come September.