After finally staying healthy for a full season, the big fourth-year man seems to have put it together. Can he build on that success?
Since Brandon Beane took over as general manager of the Buffalo Bills following the 2017 NFL Draft, the team has drafted 11 offensive linemen. Of that group, just two of those 11 draft choices project as a current starter. Those two are also the only offensive linemen Beane has drafted who remain with the team (outside of the three linemen drafted in 2024, that is).
So, is Beane bad at drafting offensive linemen? Does he benefit from the previous regime’s having drafted a stud left tackle, thereby limiting the pressure to select a true game-changer up front? Has he done a great job signing free agents there? All of these questions have a variety of answers, and I’m sure that people will vary on their opinions. The fact is, though, that Beane has continued to add bodies to the offensive line both by the draft and free agency in a search for the best grouping possible.
One of his two starting draft choices was thought by some to be a major disappointment entering last season. However, he finally capitalized on his physical tools with a strong season. Entering the final year of his deal, this mammoth of a man is looking to earn himself a contract extension to stay with the Bills long-term.
In today’s edition of “91 players in 91 days,” we discuss the Bills’ starting right tackle.
Spencer Brown
- Number: 79
- Position: T
- Height/Weight: 6’8”, 311 pounds
- Age: 26 (27 on 2/28/2025)
- Experience/Draft: 4; selected in the third round (No. 93 overall) of the 2021 NFL Draft by the Bills
- College: Northern Iowa
- Acquired: Third-round draft choice
Financial situation (per Spotrac): Brown enters the final year of his contract, and thanks to his strong 2023 campaign, he’s earned himself a large pay raise. Due to the NFL’s performance-based pay escalators, Brown earned an additional $912,723 on the final year of his rookie deal. His cap number for 2024 is $3,585,036. If he’s released or traded, Buffalo will be responsible for a dead-cap figure of $219,036.
2023 Recap: Brown entered the 2023 season with a lot to prove. In his first two years, he’d been inconsistent in his play and in his availability. While injuries were the reason he missed 10 games over those two seasons, it also may have been the reason for his inconsistent play, as it’s hard to develop when you aren’t able to play or practice consistently.
In 2023, Brown started every game for the first time in his career, and as a result, he had his best pro season. He also had a consistent running mate at right guard in O’Cyrus Torrence, as the rookie played every snap for the Bills last year. Brown was still called for a ton of penalties (nine), and he gave up some sacks (five), but he earned a 68.3 grade from Pro Football Focus — by far the highest he’s earned in his career. Brown also played every snap on offense last season, further cementing 2023 as his breakout year.
Positional outlook: Brown is locked in as the starting right tackle, with Dion Dawkins set to reprise his role as the starting left tackle. Ryan Van Demark, Richard Gouraige, La’el Collins, Tylan Grable, Travis Clayton, Mike Edwards, and Alec Anderson are the other players either listed at tackle or who can play tackle.
2024 Offseason: Brown is healthy and he’s been working with the starting unit in training camp.
2024 Season outlook: The question for Brown isn’t whether he’ll be a starter this year. The real question is whether he’ll remain with the Bills or if he’ll explore other options come next offseason. I assume that Buffalo will want to keep him around for the future, but that might hinge on what kind of year he has this season.
If Brown slogs through an inconsistent, injury-plagued campaign like his first two professional seasons, the Bills might prioritize finding his replacement. If he has another good season and takes another step forward, he might also want to test his market and see if there’s a team out there willing to pay him more than the Bills can afford.
Such is life when the salary cap dictates many a roster move. For now, though, we all hope that 2023 was a sign of things to come and not a momentary blip on the radar. If Brown can build on last year’s success, both in terms of his health and his play, then the Bills might have a dominant right side of the offensive line. With some uncertainty at center and left guard, that would be a welcome sight for everyone in red, white, and royal blue.