Bills ink offensive line stalwart to four-year deal

Another extension has been worked out in time for the start of the season. Right tackle Spencer Brown has agreed to a four-year deal with the Bills, Mike Garafolo of NFL Network reports. The news is now official, per a team announcement.

Brown was set to enter 2024 as a pending free agent. Instead, he will complete his rookie contract knowing he will remain a Buffalo offensive line staple for years. As a result of this news, the 26-year-old is under team control through the 2028 campaign.

Given the recent report indicating the Bills hoped to get a deal done with Brown before the season, Friday’s news is no surprise. Buffalo also took care of an important piece of financial business well before next spring, at which point Brown may have upped his value with another strong season. He and left tackle Dion Dawkins are both on the books for the foreseeable future and will be counted as impactful contributors.

Brown’s first two seasons included significant playing time, but they did not draw strong PFF reviews. The Northern Iowa product took a step forward last season, with his run-blocking standing out in particular. The midseason change from Ken Dorsey to Joe Brady as offensive coordinator led to a ground-based approach to close out the year. If that remains the case, Brown could be in a position to continue developing (although improvement in pass protection will be a priority as his career continues).

Buffalo has Dawkins, Brown, and the interior trio of David Edwards, Connor McGovern, and O’Cyrus Torrence intact from last season. That continuity along the O-line will be welcomed to start the 2024 season, in which the team’s receiver room will look much different. How well the Bills’ passing attack fares with the new skill position pieces in place will be worth watching closely, but an effective unit up front will aid in that regard.

The right tackle market has seen upward movement in recent years, and for a time this offseason, Penei Sewell had an extension that dwarfed all those for blindside blockers. That $28M-per-season Lions accord will no doubt remain well ahead of Brown’s compensation on his second Bills pact, but the latter has set himself up for a notable raise moving forward.