The Buffalo Bills made some serious noise on Thursday, not with a splashy wide receiver signing, but by shoring up the trenches. They inked two veteran offensive linemen, Austin Corbett and Lloyd Cushenberry III, sending a clear message about their priorities. This isn't the sexiest headline grabber, but it might be the most impactful.
Corbett, a former second-round pick by the Browns in 2018, arrives in Buffalo after spending the last two seasons with the Carolina Panthers. He started 26 games for them, including 11 last year after returning from a torn ACL suffered in January 2023. Before Carolina, he was a linchpin for the Rams, starting 40 games at right guard and winning a Super Bowl in 2022. That kind of experience doesn't just walk in off the street. He’s seen it all.
Then there’s Cushenberry. The Bills landed him on a four-year, $50 million deal, a significant investment for a center. He started all 17 games for the Denver Broncos last season, playing 1,125 offensive snaps and earning a respectable 76.4 pass-blocking grade from Pro Football Focus. That's a huge upgrade from what they've had. Mitch Morse, the Bills' center for the past five seasons, was a good player, but Cushenberry is younger, stronger, and frankly, better in pass protection. Morse allowed 25 pressures in 2023; Cushenberry gave up just 19. Those six fewer pressures could be the difference between a clean pocket and a strip-sack for Josh Allen.
This move signals a shift. The Bills, for years, have been a team built around Allen's incredible mobility and arm talent. Now, they're clearly doubling down on protecting that asset. Their offensive line, while solid, hasn't always been dominant. Adding Cushenberry and Corbett, even if Corbett is more for depth and competition at guard, immediately raises the floor. Spencer Brown, their starting right tackle, allowed 49 pressures last season. That's simply too many. You can’t expect Allen to continue to magic his way out of every collapsing pocket.
Real talk: You don't pay a center $12.5 million a year if you're not absolutely committed to running the football and keeping your quarterback upright. The Bills finished 7th in the league in rushing yards in 2023 with 2,211 yards, proof of James Cook's emergence and Allen's legs. But they need to be more consistent. Cushenberry's arrival, combined with Corbett’s physical style, suggests they want to lean into that identity even harder.
My hot take? This is a direct response to the Kansas City Chiefs' strategy. The Chiefs have invested heavily in their offensive line to protect Patrick Mahomes. The Bills are finally realizing that as great as Allen is, he can't do it all if he's constantly running for his life. This isn't just about winning the AFC East; it's about winning in January. You don't beat the Chiefs with a patchwork offensive line.
The Bills also signed La’el Collins, another veteran tackle, to a one-year deal. He missed all of 2023 with injuries but started 15 games for the Bengals in 2022. If he can stay healthy, that's another experienced body to throw into the mix. This isn't just depth; it's a complete overhaul of the interior and tackle depth.
Bold prediction: The Bills will finish top-5 in the NFL in fewest sacks allowed next season, a dramatic improvement from their 10th-place finish in 2023.