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The Buffalo Bills might not have to look far for their next starting left guard.
They may have already developed one.
Alec Anderson is in the mix to replace David Edwards, general manager Brandon Beane told reporters at the NFL owners meeting in Phoenix this week. Edwards left in free agency, signing a four-year, $61 million contract with the New Orleans Saints,
"He's going to be competing for it," Beane said Monday. "I think there's going to be a good competition at left guard. I wouldn't want to give that to him or anyone else. I would say because Alec's been here, if we played a game right now he knows the system and would probaby be out there first."
The familarity gives Anderson and early edge, but it won't hand him the job.
Anderson, 25, re-signed with the Bills on a one-year, $2.5 million deal and would be a cost-effective option to fill a starting spot.
Anderson's rise would follow a route the Bills have taken before.
In 2023, Edwards was primarily used as a sixth offensive lineman in jumbo packages before eventually stepping into a full-time starting role in 2024 and 2025. Now, Anderson could follow a similar trajectory.
"We've been very fortunate wit the continuity that we've had," head coach Joe Brady said Tuesday. "Part of it is a progression. We had David Edwards a couple years ago and he moved into that guard role and had a lot of success. Alec has been that jumbo. We feel like we have five guys that can start in winning football."
Anderson, who is 6-foot-5 and 305 pounds, has played in all 34 games over the past two seasons, carving our a role as Buffalo's extra lineman in heavy formations while showing versatility at guard and tackle.
He signed with the Bills as an undrafted free agent in 2022 and spent his rookie season on the practice squad before making the roster in 2023.
Anderson has a reputation for playing with a physical edge He logged 291 offensive snaps in 204 and 189 in 2025 as the Bills shifted to utliziing true blocking tight end Jackson Hawes.
Buffalo signed veteran Austin Corbett, a former second-round pick with 78 starts who is expected to compete at guard while offering flexibility at center.
"Corbett is kind of an interior guy," Beane said. "Obviously our biggest hole, losing David Edwards is a left guard so there will be competition there with Alec and (Corbett). He's a proven starter.
"He's had a couple durability things but well-regarded, brings leadership, intelligence in the room. He'll be in the mix. The shortest path to being a starter would be to win the left guard but he can play center for us as well."
The Bills also added Lloyd Cushenberry, primarily a center but he could see reps at guard.
This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Alec Anderson could be Buffalo Bills' starting left guard in 2026
Continue reading...
They may have already developed one.
Alec Anderson is in the mix to replace David Edwards, general manager Brandon Beane told reporters at the NFL owners meeting in Phoenix this week. Edwards left in free agency, signing a four-year, $61 million contract with the New Orleans Saints,
"He's going to be competing for it," Beane said Monday. "I think there's going to be a good competition at left guard. I wouldn't want to give that to him or anyone else. I would say because Alec's been here, if we played a game right now he knows the system and would probaby be out there first."
The familarity gives Anderson and early edge, but it won't hand him the job.
Anderson, 25, re-signed with the Bills on a one-year, $2.5 million deal and would be a cost-effective option to fill a starting spot.
Alec Anderson's path to a starting role
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Anderson's rise would follow a route the Bills have taken before.
In 2023, Edwards was primarily used as a sixth offensive lineman in jumbo packages before eventually stepping into a full-time starting role in 2024 and 2025. Now, Anderson could follow a similar trajectory.
"We've been very fortunate wit the continuity that we've had," head coach Joe Brady said Tuesday. "Part of it is a progression. We had David Edwards a couple years ago and he moved into that guard role and had a lot of success. Alec has been that jumbo. We feel like we have five guys that can start in winning football."
Anderson, who is 6-foot-5 and 305 pounds, has played in all 34 games over the past two seasons, carving our a role as Buffalo's extra lineman in heavy formations while showing versatility at guard and tackle.
He signed with the Bills as an undrafted free agent in 2022 and spent his rookie season on the practice squad before making the roster in 2023.
Anderson has a reputation for playing with a physical edge He logged 291 offensive snaps in 204 and 189 in 2025 as the Bills shifted to utliziing true blocking tight end Jackson Hawes.
Austin Corbett enters the left guard competition
Buffalo signed veteran Austin Corbett, a former second-round pick with 78 starts who is expected to compete at guard while offering flexibility at center.
"Corbett is kind of an interior guy," Beane said. "Obviously our biggest hole, losing David Edwards is a left guard so there will be competition there with Alec and (Corbett). He's a proven starter.
"He's had a couple durability things but well-regarded, brings leadership, intelligence in the room. He'll be in the mix. The shortest path to being a starter would be to win the left guard but he can play center for us as well."
The Bills also added Lloyd Cushenberry, primarily a center but he could see reps at guard.
This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Alec Anderson could be Buffalo Bills' starting left guard in 2026
Continue reading...
