Buffalo Bills
Bills urged to sign left guard Joel Bitonio
The Buffalo Bills have a hole at left guard after David Edwards signed a four-year, $61 million deal with the New Orleans Saints.
Buffalo offered to re-sign center Connor McGovern and let Edwards walk, as the Bills could only afford one of them. With Edwards gone, Buffalo could very well use Alec Anderson as their starting left guard in 2026, but the team could also look at free agency.
NFL insider Bill Barnwell of ESPN urged the Bills to try to sign former Cleveland Browns guard Joel Bitonio.
“The Bills should be looking in the veteran guard market, and while it might cost them the compensatory fifth-rounder they project to land for Edwards, getting a solution locked in place before the better options join other teams might be prudent,” Barnwell wrote.
“It’s unclear whether Joel Bitonio plans on retiring or if he would be willing to leave Cleveland, but heading to Buffalo would obviously give the veteran lineman a better chance of winning a Super Bowl. If Bitonio’s not an option, the best veteran guard left on the market is Kevin Zeitler. Zeitler’s still a competent interior lineman, but he’s 36 years old and has spent his career at right guard.”
Bitonio is a future Hall of Famer who has hinted at a possible retirement. Yet, he also could sign a one-year deal with a contending team to try and win, which the Bills are. Bitonio, meanwhile, would bolster the offensive line and help give Josh Allen more time in the pocket.
Bitonio Contemplating Future
Whether or not Buffalo will be able to land Bitonio could very well come down to whether or not he will retire.
Bitonio is a free agent as he’s spent his entire career with the Browns, yet he could play for a contender in 2026. However, Browns general manager Andrew Berry said Bitonio is taking his time with his decision.
“Joel’s still working through that,” Berry said at the NFL combine. “At this point in his career, this point in his life, he deserves the time and space to do that, stay in regular communications and we’ll work through that at the appropriate time.”
Cleveland did sign Zion Johnson to replace Bitonio, but the team is keeping the door open to re-sign him. However, Bitonio could easily fit in nicely with the Bills. He would also chase a Super Bowl in what could be his final NFL season.
Bitonio is a seven-time Pro Bowler.
Bills Have Decision to Make on O-Lineman
Buffalo could lose another offensive lineman as swing tackle Ryan Van Demark got an offer sheet from the Minnesota Vikings.
The Vikings gave Van Demark a one-year, $4.2 million deal, and the Bills now have five days to match. Given that Buffalo tendered the swing tackle an original round tender, the Bills wouldn’t get any compensation if they don’t match it, as he was undrafted.
Buffalo does have some depth tackle options in Travis Clayton, Tylan Grable, and Chase Lundt. So, whether or not the Bills will match the offer is to be seen.