Buffalo Bills offensive tackle Ryan Van Demark (74) stretches during warmups before the game against the Cincinnati Bengals at Paycor Stadium. Katie Stratman-Imagn Images

Bills Make Surprising Move, Retain Longtime OL Ryan Van Demark in NFL Free Agency

Originally posted on Buffalo Bills on SI | By Alex Brasky | Last updated Mar 11, 2026 3:25 PM ET

Just ahead of the start of the NFL’s new league year, which opens on Wednesday at 4 p.m., the Buffalo Bills have made another move to bring back one of their own.

Ryan Van Demark will be back with the Bills in 2026 after the team elected to give the veteran offensive lineman a tender of $3.5 million to remain with the team. The move was reported by the Democrat and Chronicle’s Sal Maiorana, who was taken aback by the news.

“I’m a little surprised,” posted Maiorana to X. “Thought [the Bills] would try to get him back on a lesser deal, but there must have been interest in him.”

Van Demark was set to become a restricted free agent, but will Buffalo retains his rights following the news.

Stunning decision

Gregory Fisher-Imagn Images

The decision to pay Van Demark $3.5 million this season is particularly surprising after the Bills re-signed potential starter Alec Anderson to a one-year deal worth up to $3M. Anderson is in line to replace David Edwards, who departed for the New Orleans Saints in free agency, while Van Demark will serve as, at most, a backup to tackles Dion Dawkins and Spencer Brown.

Van Demark earned four starts for the Bills in 2025, finishing the season having been on the field for 28% of the team’s offensive snaps. According to Pro Football Focus, Van Demark allowed two sacks, six quarterback hurries and one quarterback hit during his time on the field a year ago.

The depth chart

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After losing Edwards, Anderson is the frontrunner to take the starting job left behind by the new Saints star, but he likely will have to earn it after a preseason competition. Other names in the running include Tylan Grable, Sedrick Van Pran-Granger and Chase Lundt.

Van Demark was the Bills’ top swing tackle a year ago, but that was with Grable beginning the season on Injured Reserve due to a concussion. Grable returned to action late in the season, and there is a chance he could also factor in as Buffalo’s swing tackle.

Slow start

Aside from a lukewarm trade for wide receiver DJ Moore, the Bills’ start to free agency has been slow. Earlier on Wednesday, the Bills agreed with quarterback Josh Allen on a restructured contract to create $12M in much-needed cap space. Buffalo must be under the salary cap of $301.2M before the start of the new league year.

This article first appeared on Buffalo Bills on SI and was syndicated with permission.

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