Putting a new face next to him in what will be a pivotal year might not be the best thing for his development. Brown was neck-and-neck with Saffold in pressures allowed in 2022 (Brown had 29) and gave up a whopping nine quarterback hits - most on the team by over double, despite only playing in 14 games. The counter argument is that this move would leave the right guard spot open next to another struggling offensive lineman in second-year right tackle Spencer Brown. But with the possibility of Saffold either moving on or returning without being the preferred starter, the door is open to move Bates to left guard if the team so chooses. Saffold being a player who was more comfortable at left guard, combined with Bates’ noted ability to play all five spots on the offensive line, likely contributed to the move to right guard for the former Penn State product. Bates’ best play in 2021 came at left guard, before signing an offer sheet with the Chicago Bears last offseason that was matched by general manager Brandon Beane. One immediate option to fill the left guard position is to move right guard Ryan Bates there in 2023. Coming up on his age-35 season, Saffold doesn’t figure to be a player that the Bills will rely on as their only option at left guard going into 2023. Saffold surrendered 30 pressures in 2022, the most on the team, while allowing four quarterback hits, tied for second-most on the team. Left guard Rodger Saffold played out his one-year contract with the Bills, and most observers believe that the left guard position he occupied is one that could be upgraded in 2023. With a few important unrestricted free agents, the Bills’ list of positional needs is fluid - based upon the return (or lack thereof) for pending free agents like linebacker Tremaine Edmunds and safety Jordan Poyer.īut one of the needs that seems unlikely to be filled through a free agent re-signing is offensive guard. The offseason begins in earnest for the Buffalo Bills as they seek to build on an AFC East divisional champion team that fell to the Cincinnati Bengals in the NFL Divisional Round of the playoffs.
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