Bills agree to sign OL McGovern; re-sign Martin, Matakevich

Buffalo Bills
FILE - Buffalo Bills punter Sam Martin (8) looks on during an NFL football game against the Green Bay Packers, Sunday, Oct. 30, 2022, in Orchard Park, N.Y. The Buffalo Bills reached agreements on Monday, March 13, 2023, to re-sign punter Sam Martin and linebacker Tyler Matakevich before they were eligible to become unrestricted free agents this week. Photo credit (AP Photo/Bryan Bennett, File)

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (WBEN/AP) — The Buffalo Bills reached an agreement to sign Dallas Cowboys guard Connor McGovern to a three-year contract, a person with direct knowledge of the deal told The Associated Press on Monday.

Live On-Air
Ask Your Smart Speaker to Play News Radio 9 30 W B E N
WBEN
Listen Now
Now Playing
Now Playing

McGovern was selected by the Cowboys in the third round of the 2019 draft, and had 29 starts in 45 games with the team over the past three years after spending his rookie season on injured reserve with a torn pectoral muscle. The 25-year-old addresses a pending need for Buffalo, with starting left guard Rodger Saffold and his backup, Bobby Hart, both pending unrestricted free agents.

In other moves, the Bills announced reaching agreements to re-sign punter Sam Martin and linebacker Tyler Matakevich and backup defensive back Cam Lewis before they were eligible to hit the free agent market.

Martin agreed to a three-year contract following his first season in Buffalo, in which his 47.7 average yards per punt ranked third on the team’s single-season list. The 10-year veteran was signed by the Bills in September after the team abruptly released rookie Matt Araiza, who was accused in a civil lawsuit of being involved in the gang rape of a 17-year-old girl while at San Diego State.

The 33-year-old Martin spent his first seven NFL seasons in Detroit and two in Denver.

Buffalo Bills
Buffalo Bills linebacker Tyler Matakevich (44) is shown during the second half of an NFL football game against the Cleveland Browns, Sunday, Nov. 20, 2022, in Detroit. The Buffalo Bills reached agreements on Monday, March 13, 2023, to re-sign punter Sam Martin and linebacker Tyler Matakevich before they were eligible to become unrestricted free agents this week. Photo credit (AP Photo/Duane Burleson, File)

Matakevich is set to return for a fourth season in Buffalo after agreeing to a one-year contract. The seventh-year player, who spent his first four seasons in Pittsburgh, has spent a majority of his career being used in special team roles.

Lewis agreed to a one-year contract. The undrafted free agent out of the University at Buffalo, returns to the Bills for a fourth season, where he's filled in at cornerback and safety, and appeared in a career-best 13 games last season.

Featured Image Photo Credit: (AP Photo/Bryan Bennett, File)