Trending Now - Bills Lock in Center Connor Mcgovern With $52M Four-year Deal
WHO:
Buffalo Bills
Connor McGovern, center
Adam Schefter, ESPN reporter
Tim Graham, writer for The Athletic and The New York Times
Brandon Beane, Bills football boss
Connor McGovern, center for the Buffalo Bills
Buffalo Bills, NFL team
Adam Schefter, ESPN reporter
Tim Graham, reporter for The Athletic
Creed Humphrey, center for the Kansas City Chiefs
WHAT:
The Buffalo Bills and Connor McGovern have agreed on a four-year, $52 million deal.
The contract includes $32 million guaranteed.
McGovern was fifth in the NFL in pass block win rate (97.2%) in 2025.
McGovern had six sacks attributed to him in 2025.
The $13 million annual average of McGovern's contract ranks him fourth among all centers.
The top of the market for centers is $18 million annually, set by Chiefs center Creed Humphrey.
McGovern was ranked No. 30 on the PFT list of top 100 free agents.
McGovern was the second-best center and ranked No. 22 overall on The Athletic’s free agent list.
The Bills had been about $13.6 million over the salary cap before McGovern re-signed.
Connor McGovern signed a four-year contract worth $52 million with the Buffalo Bills.
The contract includes $32 million guaranteed.
McGovern's annual average salary is $13 million, ranking him fourth among all NFL centers.
In 2025, McGovern had a pass block win rate of 97.2% and was attributed with six sacks.
WHERE:
Buffalo, New York
Buffalo, New York (home city of the Buffalo Bills)
Dallas, Texas (where McGovern was previously with the Cowboys)
WHEN:
The deal was reported on Saturday, March 7, 2026.
McGovern joined the Bills in 2023.
McGovern transitioned to center in 2024 after Mitch Morse was released.
The Bills must be salary cap compliant by 4 p.m. on March 11, 2026.
The deal was reached on Saturday, March 7, 2026.
McGovern was drafted in the third round of the 2019 NFL Draft.
McGovern signed with the Bills in 2023 and transitioned to center in 2024.
WHY:
McGovern expressed skepticism about returning to the Bills, stating, “They haven’t contacted me once. In my gut, that says it’s over and done.”
The Bills prioritized keeping McGovern to maintain consistency along the offensive line.
The retirement of Chicago Bears center Drew Dalman increased the demand for centers.
The Bills prioritized retaining McGovern to maintain consistency along the offensive line.
McGovern expressed skepticism about re-signing, stating, “They haven’t contacted me once. In my gut, that says it’s over and done.”
HOW:
The Bills negotiated a contract with McGovern before the free agency window opened on March 9, 2026.
The agreement was reached before the opening of the free agency negotiating window on March 9, 2026.
(UPDATED March 8, 2026 01:22 UTC)
The Buffalo Bills have secured center Connor McGovern with a four-year contract worth $52 million, which includes $32 million guaranteed. This deal, reported on Saturday, March 7, comes as the Bills were looking to maintain consistency on their offensive line, especially after McGovern expressed doubts about returning to the team. With McGovern's impressive performance last season, ranking fifth in the NFL in pass block win rate, the Bills acted quickly to finalize the agreement before the free agency window opened.
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(UPDATED March 7, 2026 23:01 UTC)
In a significant move for the Buffalo Bills, Connor McGovern has signed a four-year contract worth $52 million, with $32 million guaranteed, making him one of the highest-paid centers in the NFL. The deal was finalized on Saturday, March 7, 2026, just ahead of the free agency negotiating window, as the Bills aimed to maintain stability on their offensive line after McGovern's impressive performance last season. Previously with the Dallas Cowboys, McGovern expressed doubts about re-signing, but now he will continue his career in Buffalo, where he transitioned to center in 2024.