:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/63897886/usa_today_11076250.0.jpg)
The Buffalo Bills have overhauled their offensive line over the last few months, adding talent along the interior and exterior. Some of their newest additions are also versatile enough to play multiple positions, while others are potentially talented enough to force some of Buffalo’s returning linemen to other spots along the trenches.
In our latest installment of “90 players in 90 days,” we profile one of Buffalo’s holdovers along the offensive line, a player plucked off the waiver wire who finds himself looking like an outsider in a new positional group.
Name: Conor McDermott
Number: 68
Position: OT
Height/Weight: 6’8” 305 lbs.
Age: 26 (27 on 10/19/19)
Experience/Draft: 3; drafted in the sixth round (211 overall) of the 2017 NFL Draft by the New England Patriots
College: UCLA
Acquired: Claimed off waivers on 9/3/17
Financial situation (per Spotrac): McDermott enters the third year of his four-year rookie contract signed with New England in 2017. That contract is worth a total of $2,535,018. All of his guarantees were paid out already, so if Buffalo were to cut him, there would be zero dead cap charge as a result. If McDermott makes the squad this year, his cap hit will be $645,000.
2018 Recap: McDermott played a grand total of 45 snaps last season over five games on the active roster. His snap split was nearly dead-even, as he played 22 snaps on offense and 23 snaps on special teams. The vast majority of those snaps came in Buffalo’s blowout victory over the Miami Dolphins in Week 17. In that contest, McDermott played 18 snaps on offense and ten snaps on special teams.
Positional outlook: While McDermott was on the 53-man roster last season, he was a healthy scratch for the majority of the year. Since the 2018 season ended, Buffalo has re-signed tackle Jeremiah Sirles, added tackles LaAdrian Waddle and Ty Nsehke via free agency, and drafted tackle Cody Ford. They also signed undrafted free agents Blake Hance (released on 5/22) and Garrett McGhin. Incumbent starting left tackle Dion Dawkins, a former second-round draft choice, also returns.
2019 Offseason: Offseason activities (OTAs) began on May 20, and Chris Brown noted the starting offensive line and the second-string offensive line. McDermott was not a part of either grouping.
2019 Season outlook: For McDermott, the outlook is grim. Unless someone ahead of him is injured or plays very poorly, and he remains healthy and plays very well, he will most likely be looking elsewhere for work this season. With the resources that general manager Brandon Beane poured into the offensive line this spring, it’s hard to imagine McDermott showing well enough to remain with the team.