![Buffalo Bills center Connor McGovern (66) looks on before an NFL football AFC Wild Card playoff matchup, Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026, in Jacksonville, Fla. The Bills defeated the Jaguars 27-24. [Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union]](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_crop,x_0,y_612,w_6000,h_3375/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/images/ImagnImages/mmsport/53/01kjx35wf575sak6qztx.jpg "Buffalo Bills center Connor McGovern (66) looks on before an NFL football AFC Wild Card playoff matchup, Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026, in Jacksonville, Fla. The Bills defeated the Jaguars 27-24. [Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union]")
Connor McGovern doesn't sound like the Buffalo Bills' center in 2026.
According to The Athletic's Tim Graham, McGovern hasn't heard anything from Bills general manager Brandon Beane ahead of free agency, which kicks off on March 9. With that radio silence, McGovern is reportedly resigned to the fact that his time in Buffalo is over.
“They haven’t contacted me once...In my gut, that says it’s over and done.”
McGovern could be a huge target for Brad Holmes in free agency. While the Detroit Lions might not be able to get Tyler Linderbaum thanks to cap constraints and far more competitive offers, McGovern could be a consolation prize to target. He's projected to land a deal worth $16.3 million per year, which is only a million dollars less than what Linderbaum is expected to get on his new deal.
If Detroit backs down on their idea of sliding Tate Ratledge over to center, McGovern is the exact kind of veteran, postseason-tested center they need to try and get.
Lions should be all-in on McGovern after latest free agency update
McGovern was one of the better run blocking centers in the NFL last season, and a stellar pass protector. He allowed zero sacks on Josh Allen in 2025, also only allowing two quarterback hits. That's a humongous upgrade to what the Lions were working with last year, with Graham Glasgow struggling to adjust to life at center.
Buffalo benefitted greatly with their tandem up front of McGovern and David Edwards, who are both free agents this offseason. Obviously, the Bills aren't looking to pay both, with McGovern the sacrificial lineman.
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James Cook was one of the greatest beneficiaries of their solid IOL, and perhaps the Lions see the benefit of McGovern added to their IOL next to Tate Ratledge, as it could boost Jahmyr Gibbs' production mightily.
Money remains the only roadblock for the Lions on this front, with the team still needing to work out contract restructurings with several key, big contracts.
Jared Goff, Penei Sewell, and Amon-Ra St. Brown are all candidates, and restructuring all three could create cap space upwards of $60 million. That's more than enough to sign McGovern, while also remaining competitive for other roster needs like at the edge or at safety.
Even restructuring just one of these deals could open things up for Detroit and for a deal with McGovern. Hopefully, the Ratledge-center noise is a smokescreen for what's about to be a free agency compatible with their Super Bowl window.