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Spencer Brown lines up before a snap in a preseason game against the Chicago Bears.
The Buffalo Bills made a series of moves to clear salary cap space this offseason and now could use some of that to lock down an offensive lineman who was considered a “question mark” in the past.
The Athletic’s Tim Graham predicted that the Bills could look to extend tackle Spencer Brown before he has the chance to hit free agency next year. Graham noted that Brown struggled a bit after his rookie season but came back strong in 2023, cementing his spot on the offensive line.
“One of the few question marks heading into last season was whether the 2021 third-round pick could fulfill his promise after a rocky sophomore campaign,” Graham wrote. “Brown answered with authority, playing every single one of Buffalo’s 1,305 snaps. Pro Football Focus charted him for only two more pressures than Pro Bowl left tackle Dion Dawkins.”
With the questions surrounding his play put to rest, Graham believes Brown could be the next player in line for a significant contract extension.
Bills ‘Can Save a Lot’ With New Deal
Graham noted that the Bills spent the offseason shaving money off their salary cap, releasing a number of veteran players and trading top wide receiver Stefon Diggs. With Brown entering the final year of his rookie contract, the Bills could now start to spend some of their money, Graham wrote.
“The Bills will have significant cap space next year after receiver Stefon Diggs’ dead money clears, but they can save a lot by extending Brown in the next few months and not letting him get close enough to free agency to get curious about testing the open market,” he wrote.
Brown had a setback at the end of the 2023 season, suffering a shoulder injury in the team’s divisional-round playoff loss to the Kansas City Chiefs and further aggravating it when he leaned against his truck door on the way home after the game. The 6-foot-8 lineman underwent shoulder surgery in the offseason and was limited through the team’s minicamp.
Despite the absence, Bills offensive coordinator Joe Brady said he’s impressed with the work he’s seen from Brown.
“I’m excited for Spencer even though he is not out there kind of doing all the things,” Brady said, via Nick Sabato of the Niagara Gazette. “But he’s able to do a lot of the physical activities (with his) lower body that he hasn’t been able to do in the past. And so, I feel great for Spencer and his work ethic and how he’s kind of going about it.”
Bills Add Reinforcements
The Bills have done some work to boost their offensive line in the offseason, using three draft picks on linemen and signing veteran La’el Collins.
Though he is expected to compete for a backup role, Collins made it clear that he’s ready to make a big impact after missing most of last season while rehabbing a major knee injury.
“They brought me here to play football and I came here to dominate and I’m going to let everything else take care of itself,” Collins said, via WGRZ reporter Jonathan Acosta.. “I’m going to show up every day and go to work. Help the young guys, and do whatever they ask me. I’m super grateful and I just look forward to giving Bills Mafia everything left in me. I’m ready to go ball. I’m ready to go dominate.”
Nathan Dougherty is a sports reporter covering the NFL for Heavy.com, with a focus on the Buffalo Bills, Detroit Lions and Miami Dolphins. Previously he wrote for the Rochester Business Journal and served as the assistant editor of athletic trade magazines Coaching Management, Athletic Management and Training & Conditioning. He is based out of Rochester, New York, and loves everything football. More about Nathan Dougherty
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