Meet the Buffalo Bills’ new offensive line, same as the old offensive line.
At the first open-to-the-media workout of the offseason (Tuesday), there was left tackle Dion Dawkins, left guard David Edwards, center Connor McGovern, right guard O’Cyrus Torrence and right tackle Spencer Brown.
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The Bills offensive line – right tackle Spencer Brown, right guard O'Cyrus Torrence, center Connor McGovern, left guard David Edwards and left tackle Dion Dawkins – is back for 2025. Harry Scull Jr., Buffalo News
The Bills are believed to join Cleveland, Pittsburgh, Indianapolis, Denver, Philadelphia, the New York Giants, Tampa Bay, Carolina, Atlanta, Arizona and San Francisco as teams that will return their 2024 line intact.
At least five teams – New England, Houston, Jacksonville, Minnesota and Chicago – could have as many as three new starters.
This is the first time quarterback Josh Allen’s starting offensive line has returned intact – at the same position – since he entered the NFL. What a nod to every level of the Bills' organization, from the college scouts who identified Dawkins, Brown and Torrence (none in the first round), the pro personnel side who recommended Edwards and McGovern and offensive line coach Aaron Kromer for developing the group.
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Only Dawkins has been here since Allen debuted during the 2018 season opener. Brown was drafted in 2021. McGovern (as the left guard), Torrence and Edwards (as a backup) in 2023.
So what is the by-product of the Bills returning their line?
“It’s just consistency,” Dawkins said. “We know what we’re going to get and what we’re not and having the same voices (this) year is a privilege and an honor.”
Said Edwards: “I think the offseason is huge for building your camaraderie and team chemistry and getting a good foundation on our schemes and techniques and how to hit things. It’s, ‘Let’s not worry about the result, let’s worry about the process.’”
Continuity is earned, not awarded. If they were ineffective, they would be on the bench. The Bills allowed 14 sacks in last year’s regular season, eight fewer than the next-closest team (Green Bay, 22). Yes, Allen makes off-schedule plays, but more often than not, the pocket has held up. The Bills also led the league in 2023 in fewest sacks allowed (24).
The Bills will have some decisions to make up front after the season, particularly if the group plays well. Torrence is eligible for a contract extension after the season and Edwards and McGovern are scheduled for free agency.
Until then, though, members of the Bills’ line will try and pick up where they left off last year.
“Having the same voices in the huddle and on the offensive line, it’s a good thing,” Dawkins said.
Quick kicks
1. Andrews’ comments. It took more than four months, but Baltimore Ravens tight end Mark Andrews got around to discussing his lost fumble and dropped two-point conversion in the Bills’ AFC divisional round win.
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Linebacker Terrel Bernard forced the open-field fumble (and recovered it) with 8:41 remaining; the Bills turned that into a 21-yard Tyler Bass field goal to make it 27-19 with 3:29 remaining. The Ravens drove for a touchdown, but Andrews was unable to collect quarterback Lamar Jackson’s two-point pass with 1:33 left. The Bills won, 27-25.
“It wasn’t the way that I had planned it, but that’s all part of the story,” Andrews told reporters. “I’ve been using it (as motivation) and I’ve had an incredible offseason and I’m excited just to show what I can continue to do and continue to prove myself and step up in big moments.”
2. Miller update. Defensive end Von Miller, released by the Bills in March, was in the Denver suburbs on Wednesday to promote his “Von’s Vision” charity event. Miller remains unsigned but wants to play this year.
About his three years with the Bills, Miller told reporters: “I couldn’t really just get going. Buffalo fans were great. I loved my time there. They were all incredible. They all accepted me in. They were all onboard with everything I needed to do to help them win.”
Miller got going early, but couldn’t stay going. In 2022, he had eight sacks in 11 games, but tore his right ACL on Nov. 22. In 2023, he debuted in October, but had no sacks in 14 regular season/playoff games. Last year, he was a situational player who had six sacks in 16 regular season/playoff games. (He was suspended four games for violating the personal conduct policy.)
“I’m going to play this coming season – I just have to find a team to play on,” Miller said.
3. Patullo in charge. Quarterback Jalen Hurts’ sixth Philadelphia play-caller in as many seasons is Kevin Patullo, promoted to offensive coordinator when Kellen Moore left for the big whistle in New Orleans.
Patullo has a Bills connection. He worked with Chan Gailey on the Kansas City staff in 2008, and when Gailey became the Bills coach in 2010, he hired Patullo as quality control/assistant receivers coach.
“Obviously (Eagles coach) Nick (Sirianni) has been huge for me currently, but prior to that, my biggest influence was Chan Gailey,” Patullo told reporters. “In 2008 (with the Chiefs), we lost a couple of quarterbacks and ended up having Tyler Thigpen come in and I’ll never forget, we get into a staff room and the walls were all white – there’s nothing on there. (Gailey) goes, ‘All, we got to figure out a new offense for this week.’ He was willing to do anything and try anything to be successful.”
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