Offensive Line Struggles Persist for the Buffalo Bills

As the Buffalo Bills prepare for the 2026 NFL season, one critical issue continues to cast a shadow over their Super Bowl aspirations: persistent struggles along the offensive line. For three consecutive seasons, the Bills’ offensive line has ranked among the NFL’s bottom third in key metrics—allowing 45+ sacks each year, averaging less than 4.0 yards per rushing attempt, and failing to provide consistent protection for star quarterback Josh Allen. Despite multiple offseason overhauls, roster tweaks, and coaching changes, the unit remains a liability—undermining the Bills’ talented offense and putting Allen at risk of injury. With Allen chasing a quarterback rushing record and the team adding playmakers like Brandin Cooks to the passing game, the offensive line’s inability to perform has become a defining obstacle. Offensive Line Struggles Persist for the Buffalo Bills thus examines the causes of these issues, their impact on the team, and the urgency to fix them.

To understand why the Bills’ offensive line struggles persist, it’s essential to trace the root causes that have plagued the unit since 2023. The most significant factor is constant roster turnover: the Bills have started 12 different offensive linemen over the past three seasons, with no consistent five-man group playing together for more than eight games in a row. This instability has prevented the line from building chemistry—a critical component for success, as linemen rely on timing and communication to block effectively. Injuries have compounded the problem: center Mitch Morse (knee), left tackle Dion Dawkins (ankle), and right guard Ryan Bates (shoulder) have all missed multiple games due to injuries since 2024, forcing the Bills to plug in backups with little experience. Additionally, the Bills’ draft strategy has failed to address long-term needs: they’ve used just one first-round pick on an offensive lineman (left guard Cody Ford in 2019) in the past decade, instead prioritizing skill positions like wide receiver and defensive back. “Chemistry takes time, and we haven’t had that,” said Bills offensive line coach Aaron Kromer. “When you’re changing the lineup every few weeks, it’s hard to build trust. Linemen need to know where their teammates are going to be before the snap, and that only comes with consistency.” Offensive Line Struggles Persist for the Buffalo Bills thus frames turnover and injuries as the core drivers of the unit’s woes.

The impact of the offensive line’s struggles extends far beyond sacks and rushing yards—it directly undermines the Buffalo Bills’ most valuable asset: Josh Allen. Allen, known for his mobility and willingness to extend plays, has been forced to scramble earlier than intended due to poor pass protection, increasing his risk of injury. In 2025, Allen was hit 128 times (third-most among NFL quarterbacks) and missed two games with a knee sprain suffered while evading a sack. The line’s inconsistencies have also stifled the Bills’ running game: despite having talented running back James Cook (who averaged 4.8 yards per carry in 2025), the Bills ranked 24th in the NFL in rushing yards per game, as linemen failed to create consistent holes. This has put more pressure on Allen’s passing game, forcing him to throw more often on third downs and limiting the Bills’ ability to balance their offense. “It’s frustrating for everyone,” Allen said in a post-season interview. “When the line is struggling, it changes everything—you can’t set your feet to throw, you can’t let plays develop, and the running backs can’t get going. We need to be better up front, plain and simple.” The line’s struggles were particularly evident in the 2025 AFC Divisional Round loss to the Kansas City Chiefs, where Allen was sacked 5 times and the Bills rushed for just 62 yards. Offensive Line Struggles Persist for the Buffalo Bills thus highlights how the unit’s failures have derailed the Bills’ playoff hopes.

In recent offseasons, the Buffalo Bills have attempted multiple fixes to address the offensive line—none of which have yielded long-term success. In 2024, they signed veteran right tackle Dawuane Smoot to a three-year, $30 million contract, but Smoot struggled with injuries and was benched mid-season. In 2025, they traded for guard Kevin Zeitler, a 10-year veteran, but Zeitler’s performance declined with age, and he allowed 8 sacks—tied for the most among NFL guards. The Bills have also tried to develop young linemen through the draft, but late-round picks like guard O’Cyrus Torrence (third round, 2024) and tackle Ryan Van Demark (fourth round, 2025) have failed to crack the starting lineup. Part of the problem is the Bills’ reluctance to invest top draft capital in the line: they’ve chosen to use first-round picks on defensive players (like cornerback Christian Gonzalez in 2023) and wide receivers (like Zay Jones in 2022) instead of addressing the offensive line’s long-term needs. “We’ve tried different approaches, but we haven’t hit on the right combination,” said Bills general manager Brandon Beane. “It’s a tough position—you want to win now, but you also need to build for the future. The offensive line has been a gap in our strategy, and we need to fix that.” For the Buffalo Bills, the cycle of short-term fixes has only prolonged the problem, leaving the line as a persistent liability. Offensive Line Struggles Persist for the Buffalo Bills thus explores why previous attempts to improve have fallen short.

The 2026 offseason represents a critical crossroads for the Buffalo Bills’ offensive line—and the team’s championship aspirations. With Morse and Zeitler set to become free agents, the Bills have an opportunity to rebuild the interior of the line with younger, more durable players. The Bills are expected to target top offensive line prospects in the 2026 NFL Draft, with rumors linking them to Alabama tackle JC Latham (projected top-10 pick) and Georgia center Sedrick Van Pran (projected second-round pick). They also have cap space to sign a veteran lineman, with names like tackle Mike McGlinchey (formerly of the Chiefs) and guard Dalton Risner (formerly of the Broncos) on their radar. Additionally, the Bills have hired a new offensive line coach, Mike Munchak—a Hall of Fame tackle and respected coach who helped rebuild the Pittsburgh Steelers’ offensive line in the 2010s. Munchak’s emphasis on technique and physicality could help turn the unit around, but he’ll need time to implement his system. “This offseason is make-or-break for our offensive line,” Beane said. “We’re committed to investing in the position—through the draft, free agency, and coaching. We owe it to Josh, to our fans, and to this organization to get this right.” For the Buffalo Bills, the 2026 offseason is their best chance to end the cycle of struggles and build a line that can support their championship goals. Offensive Line Struggles Persist for the Buffalo Bills thus outlines the team’s latest plan to fix the unit.

If the Buffalo Bills fail to resolve their offensive line issues in 2026, the consequences could be severe—threatening their window of contention with Allen in his prime. Allen, who turns 29 in 2026, is entering the final years of his peak athleticism, and constant hits from poor pass protection could shorten his career. The Bills’ talented skill position players—Diggs, Cooks, Cook—will be wasted if the line can’t create opportunities for them to make plays. Additionally, the Bills’ defense, which has consistently ranked among the NFL’s top 5, will be forced to play more snaps if the offense can’t sustain drives—leading to fatigue and more points allowed. For Bills fans, the offensive line’s struggles have become a source of frustration, as the team continues to fall short of the Super Bowl despite having one of the league’s best quarterbacks. “We have all the pieces except one—the offensive line,” said a Bills fan from Buffalo. “If we can fix that, we can win it all. If not, we’re going to keep watching other teams hoist the Lombardi Trophy.” The Bills’ 2026 season will thus be defined by whether their offensive line can finally live up to the rest of the team’s talent. Offensive Line Struggles Persist for the Buffalo Bills thus concludes by emphasizing that the line’s success or failure will determine the Bills’ championship fate.