Connor Mcgovern

Current Contract

Contract Value Index (CVI)

The Buffalo Bills significantly overpaid for Connor McGovern, handing out a bloated four-year, $52M deal ($13M AAV) that earns an F CVI for one of the most questionable center contracts in recent memory. Paying franchise-caliber money for an unproven player at the position represents a massive miscalculation of the market, especially when McGovern has yet to establish himself as even a reliable starter at center. The Bills essentially bet $26.2M guaranteed on projection rather than production, a risky gamble that could handcuff their salary cap flexibility for years. This contract structure offers little escape hatch if McGovern fails to develop into the elite pivot they're paying him to be, with that hefty guaranteed money frontloaded into a deal that screams desperation rather than strategic roster building. Buffalo's aggressive spending on McGovern suggests they either dramatically overvalued his potential or got caught in a bidding war they should have walked away from, leaving them with one of the worst value contracts at the center position.

Performance Analysis

Connor McGovern's 2025 performance lands him firmly in replacement-level territory among NFL centers, earning an F grade that reflects a dramatic disconnect between his hefty $13M AAV contract and his actual on-field production. The 28-year-old veteran managed to stay healthy throughout the campaign, appearing in all 16 games as Buffalo's starting center, but durability was about the only positive in what amounted to a thoroughly disappointing season. McGovern's play fell well short of the franchise-caliber investment the Bills made in him, with his pass protection and run blocking both grading out as subpar across the board. For a six-year veteran who was supposed to provide offensive line stability, McGovern instead became a liability that opposing defenses could exploit on a consistent basis. The stark contrast between his glowing public perception—fueled by his reputation as a "reliable veteran presence"—and his actual tape creates an uncomfortable reality for Buffalo's front office, who may have overpaid significantly for name recognition rather than current production value.