Pause Unmute Loaded: 0% Remaining Time --:- Picture-in-Picture Fullscreen
Conversations flow differently nowadays inside the Buffalo Bills' offensive line room.
David Edwards, their starting left guard for two seasons, is gone. He's no longer around to lead the discussion with center Connor McGovern. Aaron Kromer, widely regarded as one of the NFL's best offensive line coaches, retired this offseason.
Day Five of Buffalo Bills Training Camp (copy)
Buffalo Bills offensive line coach Pat Meyer was part of the Pittsburgh Steelers' staff for the past four seasons.
The verbiage is different. The ways the message is delivered differs. The objective and philosophies, however, remain the same. Pat Meyer, the Bills' new offensive line coach, is compared to Kromer because the two worked together in Buffalo during the 2015 and 2016 seasons. The techniques taught by both are relatively the same, creating continuity for a group that's paid to protect the team's most valuable asset.
"Pat brings a new energy in," said Spencer Brown, the Bills' starting right tackle. "Krom was obviously one of the best teachers I’ve ever had and Pat is right up there with him. They have different ways to teach and install. Krom was more hands-on approach. Pat is more technical. He can teach you while showing you on video. Both were good for me. I love Pat."
Meyer is entrusted with one of the most important position groups on the roster. Under Kromer's leadership, the Bills' offensive line became one of the NFL's best and most reliable. Four of the five starters received lucrative contract extensions in recent years. Over the past two seasons, they blocked for the league's MVP, superstar quarterback Josh Allen, and the league's leading rusher, James Cook. Buffalo ranked third in EPA per play in each of the past three seasons, according to Next Gen Stats.
Over the past three seasons, starters on the Bills' offensive line missed a combined five games. The same five starters returned in 2025. Despite Edwards' departure, none of their returning linemen view this as a seismic change or transition. Alec Anderson, their replacement for Edwards, is entering his fifth season in Buffalo. Meyer coached a Steelers offensive line last season that ranked first in pressure rate allowed. He has brought some subtle changes, but he's not overhauling their scheme or approach.
Jim Leonhard was the Broncos' fixer. Inside his impact and why it matters for the Bills
Jim Leonhard was the Broncos' fixer. Inside his impact and why it matters for the Bills
As the Broncos' pass game coordinator, Jim Leonhard helped transform their defense into one of the NFL's best. Here's how it prepared Leonhard to do the same for the Bills.
"You’ve gotta earn their trust and they’ve gotta earn your trust," Meyer told The Buffalo News. "They get it. Be who you are. That’s really my philosophy. I’m me. The coach you had before, a good friend of mine, I’m different than Krom. ... 'You guys were very good at this, but let’s be elite. How can we do that?' Showing them little differences with the approach to the block or maybe a certain scheme of doing something different than what they had in the past.
"You show them on film, you go out on the field to work it, and they see the results. I’m here for them. I’m a servant of them. That’s what coaching is. You guys have to perform and I’m here to help you get to where you want to be and continue to get better and better."
The offensive line will be a focal point for the Bills, beginning next Sunday with their season-opening game against the vicious defense of the Houston Texans in NRG Stadium. Last November, Allen got sacked eight times in Houston. He was sacked a career-high 44 times between the regular season and playoffs. It's one reason why first-year head coach Joe Brady challenged his offensive line. Seven months on the job, Meyer shared with The News his impressions and a scouting report on each of his five starters entering Week 1:
Buffalo Bills vs Carolina Panthers
Buffalo Bills offensive linemen Dion Dawkins, right, and Alec Anderson stand in the tunnel on Aug. 15 at Highmark Stadium.
Dion Dawkins
Left tackle
Season: 10th.
Career starts: 153.
Acquired: Second round, 2017 draft.
As he turned 32 years old this offseason, Dawkins worked off the field to lose weight.
The decision came after a season in which Dawkins ranked first among all NFL offensive tackles in ESPN's pass-block win rate metric. He missed just one game due to injury in 2025, and he has played at least 94% of the Bills' snaps on offense in each of the past nine seasons.
"Dion has done a good job leaning down his body," Meyer noted. "At 31 or 32 years old, you’re starting to get to that age in the NFL and him taking weight off has been awesome for him. He’s looking way better and moving way better."
You see the off-the-field persona Dawkins has crafted. The sunglasses. The funny viral videos. The colorful remarks during press conferences. The five-time Pro Bowl selection developed into one of the best tackles in the NFL. But it's not a coincidence that he performs on Sundays.
Of all Dawkins' attributes, his practice habits impressed Meyer the most. It's not only in team drills, either. Each repetition in practice matters to Dawkins. The work ethic is what makes him great, serving as a role model for the young offensive linemen on the roster.
"Dion is a big, powerful man," said Meyer. "The thing that impressed me the most about Dion is his practice habits. The guy practices hard. He’s as hard of a practice player as an offensive lineman in terms of individual reps. He practices hard, which is a credit to him, the way he’s brought up, how he loves the game. He does that extremely, extremely well and that obviously translated to him becoming an elite player for us in the NFL."
Buffalo Bills vs Carolina Panthers
Buffalo Bills offensive lineman Alec Anderson, right, works against Carolina Panthers linebacker Bam Martin-Scott during a preseason game at Highmark Stadium on Aug. 15.
Alec Anderson
Left guard
Season: Fifth.
Career starts: Six.
Acquired: Undrafted free agent, 2022.
Another development success story, Anderson won the left guard job in a competition with veteran Austin Corbett during training camp.
Anderson is big (listed at 6-foot-5, 305 pounds), athletic and he gained approximately 10 pounds this offseason to prepare for a full-time move to guard. He began to contribute in 2024 as the sixth offensive lineman in the Bills' jumbo package and emerged last season as an invaluable depth player who could fill in at every position on the line.
In Week 13 last season, Anderson started at right tackle for the first time since he played at UCLA. He allowed just one quarterback hurry, according to Pro Football Focus, and helped the Bills rush for 249 yards. Anderson understands where he must improve at left guard. He does not have as much experience or knowledge of defenses as the team's starter the past two seasons, David Edwards, who signed with New Orleans in March. Diagnosing the defense is an important part of the job for a guard. They need to be another set of eyes for the center and quarterback.
"Alec, energetic," Meyer said. "He's eager. He wants to learn schemes, different techniques, how to approach blocks. He’s always talking and asking questions. He’s done a nice job with his body, too, putting on good mass. He's a strong kid, and he's inexperienced, but he's played in big games, too."
Buffalo Bills practice
Buffalo Bills center Connor McGovern has earned Josh Allen's trust by starting 37 games over the past two seasons.
Connor McGovern
Center
Season: Seventh.
Career starts: 86.
Acquired: Free agency, March 2023.
There was a time this offseason when Brady mentally prepared for the possibility that Buffalo may lose McGovern and Edwards in free agency. A deal shortly before the market opened ensured Josh Allen would not lose his starting center. McGovern received a four-year contract worth up to $52.4 million.
McGovern ranked fifth among NFL interior offensive linemen in ESPN's pass-block win rate last season. His performance was exceptional when you consider the injuries that he played through. An injury kept him off the field for the final three weeks of training camp last month, but he's expected to be ready to start in Houston.
McGovern, like most starting centers, is the leader of his offensive line room. He's also their leader on the field and earned Allen's trust by starting 37 games as his center over the past two seasons. Among the 32 starting interior offensive line trios in the NFL, Buffalo's is the third heaviest, according to Brandon Thorn, an analyst of offensive and defensive line play.
"Connor is the glue in terms of being the center, getting everything going, understanding the schemes," said Meyer. "Cerebrally, taking charge and wanting to know why. He’s the quarterback of the O-line. This is a big line. … Connor is a big, heavy guy. He’s a guy out there wrestling bears. That’s what he is. I’ve been impressed with his knowledge, studying the game, relaying the information to other guys and being a very good center for us."
Return of the Blue and Red
Bills right guard O'Cyrus Torrence has started 57 of 58 games over the past three seasons.
O'Cyrus Torrence
Right guard
Season: Fourth.
Career starts: 57.
Acquired: Third round, 2023 draft.
After starting 57 of 58 games over the past three seasons, Torrence received a contract extension last month that will pay him up to $76.4 million across four four years. According to PFF, Torrence has allowed just three sacks since the beginning of his rookie season.
For the contract to age well, Torrence needs to continue to improve. His 59.8 overall PFF grade in 2025 ranked 44th among 81 qualified offensive guards. The Bills paid Torrence because he's durable, reliable and, at 26 years old, he is still developing. His focus in Year 4 is to better understand the entire defense's plan before and after the snap.
"Cybo, he’s built like a guard," said Meyer. "He’s heavy-footed in a good way, like grounded. He plays sturdy. Very smart. Understands the game. Understands the opponent that he’s going against. Understands angles. Understands what he can do and what he can’t do being a big man. Understanding what are my strengths and weaknesses, hiding your deficiencies. People don’t realize that offensive linemen have to understand themselves first, then how to approach the game. How do I approach it on every play?"
Buffalo Bills vs Carolina Panthers
Buffalo Bills right tackle Spencer Brown has developed into a top-tier starter, ranking 10th among NFL offensive tackles last season in ESPN's pass-block win rate.
Spencer Brown
Right tackle
Season: Sixth.
Career starts: 80.
Acquired: Third round, 2021 draft.
Surgery in each of the past two offseasons did not slow Brown. He has developed into a top-tier starter, ranking 10th among NFL offensive tackles last season in ESPN's pass-block win rate. Brown has started 69 regular season and 11 playoff games.
The Bills have relied on their offensive tackles more than most teams. In past seasons, Brady preferred to use five-man protections because it meant more pass catchers for Allen. If a tackle got beat, then Allen needed to make the right decision or play. It's a game plan that would not work with lesser tackles. Brown allowed just two sacks in 578 pass-block snaps last season, according to PFF. His worst game, a Week 12 loss at Houston, happened in large part because he played through a shoulder injury.
"Spencer, long, lean, quick," said Meyer. "He’s quick-handed. He’s working on little things, playing grounded and getting back to his sets to be Spencer Brown. He’s another veteran guy. You have two parent tackles that are leaders who need to lead and block the guys off the edge. That’s what the NFL is. The guys on the edge get paid a lot of money on the other side of the ball. Another guy who, when asked or called upon, he’ll explain his technique and tell the young guys what to do and why to approach it that way. It’s been great to work with him."
Read more coverage from reporter Lance Lysowski
Read more coverage from reporter Lance Lysowski