BUFFALO, NY — The silence out of One Bills Drive is deafening. With the 2026 NFL free agency window opening on March 11, Pro Bowl center Connor McGovern hasn’t heard a single word from General Manager Brandon Beane. Buffalo faces a brutal salary cap crunch, and the man snapping the ball to Josh Allen appears headed for the exit door.
McGovern anchored the Bills’ offensive line for the last three seasons. He moved from guard to center, earned a Pro Bowl nod in 2024, and posted a staggering 97.2% pass block win rate in 2025. He even played through torn ligaments and a broken knuckle last season without missing a single snap. You could see the sheer grit on his face during those freezing, late-season games at Highmark Stadium.
Despite that warrior mentality, the business of football is harsh. The Bills sit roughly $10 million over the projected 2026 salary cap of $301.2 million. Buffalo simply cannot afford everyone, especially with left guard David Edwards also hitting the open market. Spotrac projects McGovern’s market value at a massive $16.3 million per year, placing him among the elite interior linemen available.
“They haven’t contacted me once. In my gut, that says it’s over and done. It is a business. I’m never going to take it personally. I want to be back in Buffalo, and I know they want me back. But sometimes you’ve got to look in the mirror and be realistic.”
— Connor McGovern, Bills Center (via The Athletic)
Buffalo must make hard choices immediately. Releasing veterans like Dawson Knox or restructuring Josh Allen’s monster contract could create breathing room, but paying top-market money for a center remains a luxury. If the Bills let McGovern walk, they will need a cheap rookie or a bargain veteran to protect their franchise quarterback. Teams with cash to burn, like the Chicago Bears, are already circling to upgrade their interior blocking.
McGovern made it clear he would take a hometown discount if the number met his baseline for respect. But until Beane picks up the phone, the clock ticks closer to March 11. The pressure is squarely on Buffalo’s front office.
