The are losing one of their key starters at the beginning of free agency.
As reported by Alaina Getzenberg of ESPN, offensive guard Connor McGovern is signing a three-year, $23 million deal with the Buffalo Bills.
“The Buffalo Bills are beginning to fill some of the holes on the roster in free agency, agreeing to terms with former Dallas Cowboys offensive lineman Connor McGovern on a three-year, $23 million deal on Monday, a source confirmed to ESPN,” said Getzenberg.
How Connor McGovern Won Cowboys Starting Job
The 25-year-old McGovern was initially selected in the third round of the 2019 NFL draft by the Cowboys. Over the past three seasons, McGovern has started 29 of his 45 appearances, serving as a part-time starter during the 2020 and 2021 seasons. Following the departure of starting left guard Connor Williams to the Miami Dolphins last offseason, McGovern eventually became the permanent starter, starting all 15 of his appearances during the 2022 season.
However, he didn’t initially win the job. Rookie Tyler Smith beat out McGovern for the starting left guard job before being bumped to the starting left tackle job due to a severe training camp injury suffered by Tyron Smith. McGovern then took over the job at left guard for the rest of the season.
The 6-foot-5, 308-pound McGovern delivered mixed results during his first full season as a starter, as Getzenberg notes.
“McGovern has not been great against the run with a 69.3% run block win rate in 2022,” says Getzenberg. “He did, however, have a 93.1% pass block win rate, and protecting quarterback Josh Allen is crucial for the Bills. Allen had his second-most career sacks in 2022 (33). McGovern also provides depth at center and has played fullback.”
According to Pro Football Focus, McGovern posted a below average offensive grade of 52.2. His specific grades reflect his block win rates, as he posted a superb 74.8 pass-blocking grade, but an underwhelming 42.7 run-blocking grade. McGovern’s pass-blocking grade ranked 17th among all guards (with at least 100 snaps). Meanwhile, his run-blocking grade ranked 129th of 141 players who lined up at offensive guard last season.
Why the Cowboys Aren’t Re-Signing McGovern
As David Moore of The Dallas Morning News notes, McGovern likely wasn’t a higher priority for the Cowboys due to their possible plan of starting
Source::