The day has finally arrived for NFL teams to start reaching agreements with players, but nothing can become official until the new league year kicks off on Wednesday.
Several Buffalo Bills players have already agreed to deals, including backup quarterback Mitchell Trubisky, who has agreed to a two-year deal with the Tennessee Titans. Additionally, fullback Reggie Gilliam has reached a three-year agreement with the New England Patriots.
Bills Set to Lose David Edwards to Saints
However, the biggest Bills player to agree to a new team on Monday is guard David Edwards, who agreed to a four-year, $61 million deal with the New Orleans Saints, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
“Former Bills guard David Edwards is signing a 4-year, $61 million deal with the Saints, per source,” Schefter wrote on X.
Edwards has been part of the Bills since 2023, appearing in 50 games over three seasons. He began his career with the Los Angeles Rams, where he played in 53 games and was a critical factor in the Rams’ Super Bowl victory during the 2021-22 season.
The 28-year-old guard had a solid season last year, and Pro Football Focus ranked him as the 19th best out of 81 guards, placing him 23rd in run blocking and 14th in pass blocking.
Bills Already Agreed to Terms With Connor McGovern
It may seem surprising that the Bills allowed Edwards to leave, but they dropped a hint on Saturday during their major move, indicating they wouldn’t be bringing him back.
The Bills reached an agreement with center Connor McGovern over the weekend that will pay him $52 million over four seasons. Both McGovern and Edwards were set to enter the free agent market this offseason, and there wasn’t much of a chance that both would return to Buffalo for the next season.
Buffalo clearly valued the center position over the guard spot, which makes sense since the center is responsible for making line calls. Additionally, there should be a handful of guards available on the open market at reasonable prices that the Bills can take advantage of.
The Bills are entering a critical season after already making a significant coaching change by parting ways with Sean McDermott after nine seasons and promoting Joe Brady from offensive coordinator to head coach.
Buffalo decided to part ways with McDermott after failing to reach the Super Bowl, and now all the pressure is on Brady in his first season as a head coach, despite having no prior experience in that role.
The Bills need to bring in a guard who is ready to play a vital role in helping Buffalo reach the Super Bowl. Since Edwards already had that experience, finding a suitable replacement won’t be easy. It’s essential to ensure the offensive line can protect Josh Allen. Ideally, the Bills should sign a free-agent guard to start, rather than relying on the draft — unless it’s for a first-round pick.
Buffalo will not have the opportunity to face Edwards this season, as it won’t be facing the NFC South after playing through the entire division last season.
Bills Reportedly Lose $61 Million Star For Josh Allen After Reaching Agreement With Saints