Interior offensive line depth ended up being a factor for the Buffalo Bills last season. Having Ryan Groy in place to step in after Eric Wood was lost for the season helped the Bills stay competitive down the stretch, especially in the run game.
Groy is still in Buffalo, but who else is in place to join him as a reserve interior lineman? The Bills added a couple undrafted free agents who might be able to help out, including the guy we’ll talk about today.
Name: Zach Voytek
# 68
Position: G
Experience: R
College: New Haven
Draft: UDFA (2017)
Financial Situation (per Spotrac): Voytek is on a standard three-year UDFA deal. He’s set to make $465k this season with $90k raises in each of the next two seasons. There is no dead cap hit if the Bills release him.
2016 Recap: Voytek was named All-Northeast Conference first team, the Northeast Conference Offensive Lineman of the Year, and named to several postseason All-America teams while starring for the 7-4 Chargers. In 11 games, his offensive line only allowed ten sacks.
Positional Outlook: With two entrenched starters at guard, Voytek is going to be in a battle for a reserve spot on the 53. Teams normally only carry two or three reserve linemen, and Groy has one of those spots locked up. Given Vlad Ducasse’s ability to play tackle, the odds aren’t in Voytek’s favor this year.
2017 Offseason: He’s been at OTAs, but he hasn’t popped enough to make anybody’s radar just yet.
Practice Squad Eligible? Yes
2017 Season Outlook: Again, given the usual roster makeup and veteran presence ahead of him, it’d be a stunner to see Voytek on the 53. Depending on how his summer goes, he could be one of a couple offensive linemen to make the Bills’ (or some other team’s) practice squad.