The Buffalo Bills won’t have to search high and low for a new starting center once free agency begins early new week. ESPN senior NFL Insider Adam Schefter reports that center Connor McGovern has “reached agreement on a four-year, $52 million deal that includes $32 million guaranteed. The move prevents McGovern from reaching free agency, thus retaining a key starter for years to come in front of quarterback Josh Allen.
Alongside starting left guard David Edwards, McGovern’s future with the Bills was cloudy thanks to the likelihood of cashing as a free agent following a productive starting tenure. President of football operations/general manager Brandon Beane made McGovern a top priority, likely due to his relationship at center with Allen, and also his consistent high level of play.
Short of the full details of McGovern’s deal, the timing of this agreement is perhaps the most interesting thing at the moment. That’s simply because we don’t yet know if Buffalo’s front office and McGovern managed to push back the February 16 void date within the terms of his prior contract.
If the Bills and McGovern had managed to get something worked out just a few weeks ago, then Buffalo’s front office would have avoided a $4.8 million dead-cap hit that matures on top of this new deal.