The Buffalo Bills are retaining one of their key offensive players ahead of 2026 NFL free agency.
Buffalo is re-signing center Connor McGovern to a four-year contract, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter. It will be worth a maximum value of $52 million with $32 million guaranteed.
McGovern, 28, spent the first three years of his career with the Dallas Cowboys before joining the Bills ahead of the 2023 NFL season. He instantly became a starter in Buffalo, spending the 2023 campaign at left guard before moving to center full-time in 2024.
Since shifting to center, McGovern has generally thrived. The 6-5, 318-pound blocker made the Pro Bowl in 2024 and ranked fifth among interior offensive linemen in ESPN’s pass blocking win rate metric during the 2025 season while allowing just 14 total pressures across 16 starts.
McGovern was considered by many to be the second-best center available in free agency behind only Baltimore Ravens star Tyler Linderbaum.
Retaining McGovern will guarantee the Bills will return at least four of the offensive line starters in front of Josh Allen for the 2026 NFL season. The lone exception will be left guard David Edwards, who is expected to test free agency after McGovern’s extension.
Here’s more to know about McGovern’s contract with the Bills:
Connor McGovern contract details
McGovern is signing a four-year deal with the Bills that will pay him a total of $52 million. Here’s a look at the full terms of his contract, per Schefter:
- Term: 4 years
- Total contract value: $52 million
- Average annual value (AAV): $13 million
- Guaranteed money: $32 million
McGovern’s $13 million AAV ranks third-highest among NFL centers, per OverTheCap.com. Only Creed Humphrey of the Kansas City Chiefs ($18 million) and Cam Jurgens of the Philadelphia Eagles ($17 million) are presently making more annually than McGovern.