Now that the 2026 NFL Draft is officially behind us, it’s time for the Buffalo Bills to evaluate which areas still need improvement before the season kicks off. According to ESPN’s Aaron Schatz, the biggest area of concern for Buffalo is the left guard position.
“After David Edwards left for the Saints in free agency, the Bills have a few options at the position but no clear starter. One possibility is veteran Austin Corbett, who dealt with injuries in 2023 and 2024 but started 11 games for Carolina last season,” Schatz wrote on Thursday. “Another possibility is third-year lineman Alec Anderson, who played the role of extra tight end in six-lineman sets for the past two seasons.”
However, if Corbett or Anderson can’t secure the left guard position, Schatz believes the Bills should consider pursuing former Cleveland Browns guard Joel Bitonio.
“The Bills also used a fourth-round pick on Jude Bowry, and some are projecting that he’ll switch from tackle to guard in the pros,” Schatz added. “If the Bills want to add one more veteran free agent who can play left guard, a great option would be Joel Bitonio, who spent his entire career in Cleveland and might be willing to sign for less money with an opportunity to pursue a Super Bowl title in Buffalo.”
The Bills Would be Wise to Add Bitonio
Bitonio has spent his entire 12-year NFL career with the Browns. Now 34 years old, the guard is a seven-time Pro Bowler, with his most recent nomination coming in 2024.
There’s still a possibility that Bitonio might decide to retire, which could explain why he hasn’t yet committed to a deal with any team this offseason. However, if he’s planning to give it one more shot in the NFL, signing with the Bills could be his best move.
Bitonio has reached the playoffs twice with the Browns, in 2020 and 2023, and has advanced to the divisional round just once in his career. This will be his first opportunity to play with a true Super Bowl contender.
Pro Football Focus ranked Bitonio as the 23rd-best guard out of 81 last season, ranking 38th in run blocking and eighth in pass blocking.
Bitonio often served as the sole anchor for Cleveland’s offensive line last season, which faced challenges at nearly every position.
Bitonio Likley Won’t be Heading Back to The Browns
If Bitonio is going to return for another season, he probably won’t be heading back to the Browns, who have made several changes to their offensive line this year.
Cleveland signed former Los Angeles Chargers guard Zion Johnson to a three-year, $49.5 million deal. Additionally, it secured former Green Bay Packers guard/center Elgton Jenkins with a two-year, $24 million contract.
Johnson is expected to play left guard this season, which likely means that Bitonio has little chance of returning to the Browns. Unless they decide to move Johnson to right guard, play Jenkins at center, and then bring Bitonio back to play left guard for another season, his future with the team looks uncertain.
If the Browns were planning to bring back Bitonio, it likely would have happened in the early part of the offseason.
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