Conner McGovern to Bills

[John from Riverside]

1 minute ago, Warriorspikes51 said:

Ideally Bates is the immediate backup at C and G. Not a starter 

If Bates gets beat up by a better player, that’s fine, but there’s absolutely nothing wrong with his play
 

Now we have two guards that are extremely athletic and can move

[JerseyBills]

2 minutes ago, billsfan89 said:

PFF graded him poorly in 2022 but good in 2021 and decent in 2020. However, Cowboys fans seem to think he is a decent to above-average player so that's a good eye test. The money isn't crazy for a player of his caliber. A young starting caliber guard with positional flexibility is worth the cost. I would ideally like to a vet RT brought in to compete with Brown and another lower end vet guard brought in for more depth. 

I'd rather draft RT. I still think Brown will work out and I don't see it being wise to throw $ at RT just to give competition.  Now if Buf feels he can't improve,  I'm all for it. He looked much better his rookie year

[ColoradoBills]

3 minutes ago, MAJBobby said:

 

 

He started 2022 with an ankle injury and was also moved around the line from C to G with all of the Cowboys OL injuries.

 

[Chas56]

I don’t know which lineman has the best grades, but this board would find a reason to hate on him.

[billieve420]

2 minutes ago, Gunsgoodtime said:

So we signed a back up for 3 year 23m?  Woof

 

Devil is in the details. Lot of times these deals look crazy but when you see how it is structured it turns out to be solid. I don't mind the money part if player pans out and is not a bust.

[MAJBobby]

Just now, ColoradoBills said:

 

He started 2022 with an ankle injury and was also moved around the line from C to G with all of the Cowboys OL injuries.

 

Yep. Actually like the signing a lot. Young athletic top 15 pass blocking splays OG/C so can move to center later when Morse moves on. Good solid start to offseason. 

[JerseyBills]

3 minutes ago, Gunsgoodtime said:

So we signed a back up for 3 year 23m?  Woof

Not at all. He started as a backup on a very good ol and filled in solid. Hopefully practicing with the starters everyday will up his game.  3rd ed pick. Lot of upside. 

[Nitro]

Solid signing.  

[78thealltimegreat]

24 minutes ago, Royale with Cheese said:

https://cowboyswire.usatoday.com/2023/03/01/cowboys-connor-mcgovern-free-agency/

 

Who to bring back and who to allow to test free-agent waters is never an easy decision. The Dallas Cowboys have 21 free agents to sort through this offseason, and they currently sit over the projected salary cap making for an even more difficult task.

One of the players the team must decide on is offensive lineman Connor McGovern. The Cowboys selected McGovern out of Penn State in the third round of the 2019 draft and since entering the league he’s played in 45 games, starting 29.

 

Although he’s never been mentioned as one of the better players on the  offensive line, McGovern has been solid. The versatility from the four-year veteran is something that cannot be overlooked. In college, McGovern played both guard spots, and center, while in Dallas he has been used on both sides at guard. McGovern has filled in for right guard Zack Martin when he’s missed time and started 15 games at left guard last year.

The offense also has lined McGovern up as a fullback and tight end with success.

 

Another positive with McGovern is his ability to play clean football, garnering just two penalties in his three playing seasons (he missed his rookie year with a torn pectoral muscle). McGovern wasn’t flagged for a single infraction in 2022 and has played 2,015 career snaps and been flagged just twice.

The Cowboys have been one of the most penalized teams in the league in recent years, so having someone they can count on to be disciplined enough not to hurt the team is huge plus. Playing clean is tough enough but doing it while playing multiple places on the offensive line is an impressive feat.

McGovern is also just 25-years old, and his best football could still be ahead of him. If the Cowboys want to retain a young versatile piece of their offensive line at a good age, they’ll try to re-sign him.

 

It helps that McGovern won’t cost near what the top free agents at guard will command since he isn’t as accomplished as some of the other options. However, because of his age and with teams desperate to upgrade their offensive lines, McGovern could be seen as a bargain for a franchise looking for interior help. There simply aren’t enough good offensive linemen around the league.

 

The Cowboys are in a place where they need to consider all options on the offensive line and what they do elsewhere could determine McGovern’s fate with the team. There isn’t much depth on the interior of the team’s offensive line, with Matt Farniok currently as the only other guard with much experience on the roster.

There are options and the team does have some versatility with the offensive line, but that means making more decisions throughout the unit.

Dallas drafted Tyler Smith to be their left tackle of the future, but the team began him at left guard. Smith was supposed to gain experience in his first year before moving to LT, but those plans didn’t work out. When veteran LT Tyron Smith was hurt in preseason, the rookie was shifted outside and McGovern was inserted into the starting lineup.

 

This offseason, the Cowboys need to make a decision on Tyron Smith. Do they keep the mammoth tackle and move Tyler Smith back to guard for another year of acclimating, or do they release the veteran, save over $13 million on the cap and accelerate the younger Smith’s learning curve yet again?

And what if Dallas isn’t comfortable with right tackle Terence Steele’s health after his torn ACL suffered late in the year? The team moved Tyron Smith over to RT tackle while using Tyler Smith and Jason Peters at LT when Steele got hurt. Steele is also a free agent, albeit a restricted one, and the team needs a contingency for him as well.

 

Those decisions on the Smiths and Steele could be a factor in what the Cowboys do with McGovern.

He’s not the biggest piece of the free agent puzzle in Dallas, but the team should strongly consider re-signing McGovern if the price is right. McGovern isn’t one of the best guards in the league, but he’s a solid player, and is a good fit with the team because of his versatility, toughness, and ability to avoid penalties.

McGovern doesn’t feel like a priority free agent for the Cowboys, but he does feel like a valuable player to retain.

This is a really solid signing my coworker is a cowboys fan and wanted him resigned badly 

[TheyCallMeAndy]

Dawkins-Bates-Morse-McGovrn-Brown

 

If Brown takes a step with his first healthy offseason, Bills could be much improved from a pass blocking perspective. 

[BigAl2526]

This sounds like a solid signing by the Bills.  He's got starting experience, prototypical size and a long career ahead off him.  The price seems reasonable.  This probably takes offensive guard out of consideration as a first round draft pick.  I could still see Buffalo picking up a center/guard prospect in the draft though.

[MAJBobby]

 

[Riverboat Ritchie]

Get a tackle or another guard in second rd. Let’s get the WR 2 in 1rd and run it back. Going to be a tough year but this seems like a solid start. Go Bills. 

[MAJBobby]

 

[Royale with Cheese]

2 minutes ago, TheyCallMeAndy said:

Dawkins-Bates-Morse-McGovrn-Brown

 

If Brown takes a step with his first healthy offseason, Bills could be much improved from a pass blocking perspective. 

 

I think Bates goes back to RG and McGovern is our LG.  I would like to have competition for Brown.  He doesn't deserve an automatic starting spot IMO.

[78thealltimegreat]

2 minutes ago, TheyCallMeAndy said:

Dawkins-Bates-Morse-McGovrn-Brown

 

If Brown takes a step with his first healthy offseason, Bills could be much improved from a pass blocking perspective. 

McGovern can play both guard spots and started for Dallas at center this is actually a pretty solid player and a decent price considering what a sack of potatoes like Ben powers just signed for 

[Warriorspikes51]

3 minutes ago, TheyCallMeAndy said:

Dawkins-Bates-Morse-McGovrn-Brown

 

If Brown takes a step with his first healthy offseason, Bills could be much improved from a pass blocking perspective. 

O.Brown - Draft Pick/UFA - Morse - McGovern - Dawkins 😎

[billieve420]

3 minutes ago, TheyCallMeAndy said:

Dawkins-Bates-Morse-McGovrn-Brown

 

If Brown takes a step with his first healthy offseason, Bills could be much improved from a pass blocking perspective. 

 

I would still be looking to draft another Guard and/or Tackle. Need some competition for Brown this offseason.

[Success]

Just now, billieve420 said:

 

I would still be looking to draft another Guard and/or Tackle. Need some competition for Brown this offseason.

 

I was just thinking that my ideal 1st or 2nd rounder is a tackle who they could potentially move to guard.

 

[MrEpsYtown]

https://www.nfl.com/prospects/connor-mcgovern/32004d43-4741-7420-d3a4-ecbbf78bc788

 

Check his pro comparison!

 

Anyway, he started a ton of games at RG at PSU as well as center. Bates was a LT at PSU. I think McGovern is a natural RG (blocked by Zach Martin) and that Bates fared better at LG, so that's the combo I would go with.