Connor McGovern's $13 Million Deal and Nobody in the AFC Is Ready For How Cheap It Looks

Alright, listen up, 12s, because while we're always bleeding blue and green here, sometimes you gotta peep what other teams are doing to really understand the league. And let me tell you, what just went down with Buffalo’s Connor McGovern is an absolute steal, making other center contracts look downright criminal! You won't believe the value they locked in before the market exploded.

The Monster Center Contract That Made Everyone Else Look Silly

So, the offseason dust has settled, and you’ve got ESPN’s Bill Barnwell dropping truth bombs on who won and lost the offseason. And get this: the Buffalo Bills pulled off a masterclass move by re-signing center Connor McGovern. Seriously, Brandon Beane, their GM, must have a crystal ball. Before free agency even started, they inked McGovern to a four-year, $52 million pact. That means his average salary is $13 million a season.

Now, why is that crazy? Because other center deals are blowing up. Creed Humphrey re-upped with the Chiefs for $18 million annually. And then, Tyler Linderbaum just signed with the Raiders for a staggering $27 million per season, a 50% jump from the previous high! McGovern, who even made the Pro Bowl in 2024 and is crucial to one of the league’s most impactful rushing attacks, is making less than half of what Linderbaum will pull in. Even if the Bills somehow move on after two years, they’d only pay him $32.6 million, which is still just over $16 million per year. That's a ridiculous value, and it feels like the rest of the AFC is about to realize just how good that deal looks moving forward.

The DJ Moore Move That Reeks of Desperation

But hey, even the smartest teams make head-scratching moves. And for every McGovern coup, there’s a total whiff. For the Bills, that would be everything that happened with DJ Moore. While they played the market perfectly with McGovern, the Moore situation screamed desperation. The Bills were clearly frustrated with their wide receivers last season, with guys like Brandin Cooks, Gabe Davis, and Tyrell Shavers getting significant reps late in 2025. Keon Coleman hadn't lived up to expectations, becoming the public scapegoat for what felt like an organizational strategy of always trying to hit singles at a position where you need dingers.

Making a big move for a receiver made sense, but not this one. Moore is coming off his worst season as a pro, seemingly falling out of favor in the Chicago offense. The Bears were on the hook for $49 million over the next two seasons for a player who might have been their fourth option heading into 2026. This should have been a salary dump for Chicago. Instead, the Bills actually sent a second-round pick to get him! It feels like they paid a premium for a player who might not even move the needle for them in 2026, especially considering his recent performance. Yikes.

So, what can we take away from this? Locking in talent early pays dividends, and acting out of desperation can cost you valuable draft capital. These early season moves, good or bad, set the tone for the whole year. You gotta wonder if other teams are looking at that McGovern contract right now and kicking themselves for not anticipating the market. The season is still young, but these offseason decisions are already showing their impact.

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.