Buffalo, N.Y. (WGR 550) - As the Buffalo Bills look towards free agency and the NFL Draft, my 2023 "State of the Bills" position-by-position series continues.
Let's examine the offensive line:
Under contract:
- Dion Dawkins
- Mitch Morse
- Spencer Brown
- Ryan Bates
- Tommy Doyle
- Alec Anderson
- Ryan Van Demark
- Greg Mancz
Pending Free Agents:
- Rodger Saffold
- David Quessenberry
- Ike Boettger
- Greg Van Roten
- Bobby Hart
State of the position:
This position has been very hotly debated heading into the offseason. General manager Brandon Beane and head coach Sean McDermott keep giving clues that they are going to want to upgrade, but which spots? At what level of investment?
Four of last year's starters are under contract for 2023.
Dawkins didn’t have his best season at left tackle, but is solidified in his spot.
Brown took most of the entire 2022 offseason to recover from back surgery. There were even questions if he would be ready for Week 1, but he was and started at right tackle.
He did miss two games later in the season, and his play was inconsistent at times. However, Beane has continually said very positive things about Brown and his future, citing the back injury, coupled with coming from a small school (Northern Iowa) as reasons why they still fully believe in his growth going forward.
The Bills are just one year removed from matching the four-year, $17 million offer sheet the Chicago Bears gave to Bates. They retained him by matching it, then restructured the deal.
Bates started 15 games for the team last season with mixed results. He wasn't outstanding, but not in glaring need of replacement, either. There's an argument to be made for upgrading from him at right guard, but the financials of his contract assure he’ll be on the team next season.
So if he didn't start, he would be a backup counting close to $5 million against the salary cap. Bates is also very valuable, because he can play center, and has even played some tackle in training camp and the preseason.
When it comes to Morse, his future may be tied into his health and the multiple concussions he’s suffered throughout his eight-year NFL career already. But there's been no indication that Morse isn't coming back in 2023, so he should be the starting center once again.
The team can save $5.3 million in cap space by releasing him, but it would also come with a $6 million dead cap hit. He was the best and most consistent lineman on the team last year, and is a steady, veteran pivot-man upfront.
As long as Morse wants to keep playing, there's no reason that shouldn't happen. He's is still only 31-years-old, and has two years remaining on a contract that will cost the Bills over $11 million on the salary cap each of those two years.
Saffold is the one starter from last season at left guard who is not under contract for 2023.
The Bills did not get the kind of play most were hoping for when they signed the, then, 34-year-old as a free agent last offseason. Saffold especially struggled down the stretch, and his poor play in the playoff loss to the Cincinnati Bengals really stands out in fans’ minds.
It's an obvious spot for the Bills to search for a replacement either via free agency or the draft, but I wouldn't rule out Saffold returning to try and re-gain some of his old form and compete for his job again, since it shouldn't cost much to be able to do that.
It's a shame Doyle tore his ACL in Week 3 against the Miami Dolphins. It was looking like he was going to become a very serviceable backup who can play both tackle and guard. He should be able to return to fight for that role in training camp.
Quessenberry, Boettger, Van Roten, and Hart are all scheduled to become unrestricted free agents. The Bills are going to have to add several players at offensive line to compete for spots and depth. All of them will be candidates to come back since if it isn't these players, the team will sign others just like them, anyway.
It's valuable that they've been in their system and already working with offensive coordinator Ken Dorsey and offensive line coach Aaron Kromer.
Quessenberry can play both outside and inside, and Van Roten can play both guard and center, which is important for both of them and to the team.
The Bills re-signed Boettger last offseason even knowing he wasn't going to play almost the whole year due to surgery recovery for a torn Achilles. That's an indication they wanted to keep him around and bring him back again this year.
Many fans couldn't understand why the team brought Hart back after he struggled so much the previous year and was on and off the roster. But he was a very useful extra offensive lineman all year, and can probably serve in the same role again in 2023.
Anderson, Van Demark, and Mancz are all under contract for 2023 for less than $1 million each.
The Bills haven't drafted an offensive lineman in the first round since taking Eric Wood 28th overall in the 2009 NFL Draft. That could change this year, given indications by both Beane and McDermott that they want to protect Josh Allen better and control the line of scrimmage more consistently.
It's also a very good draft class when it comes to interior offensive linemen.
Whether it's the early rounds of the draft or through free agency, I expect them to make additions and some sort of investment into the top part of the group this offseason.
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