The Buffalo Bills and general manager Brandon Beane aren’t finished sorting through NFL free agents and signing intriguing players. Their latest addition is Forrest Lamp, an offensive lineman who signed a one-year deal with the team on Wednesday. Lamp, the 38th overall pick in the 2017 draft, spent his first four seasons with the (now Los Angeles) Chargers.
Lamp, a collegiate left tackle, was the first guard selected in 2017. The 6’4” 309-lb lineman would compete to start as a rookie for the Chargers, but tore his ACL in training camp. Returning in 2018, Lamp was a healthy scratch for almost the entire season, and only appeared in two games (playing 17 offensive snaps).
He worked his way into the lineup in year three, and started two games for the Chargers, but a broken fibula ended his season after only seven games. Returning in 2020, Lamp finally played a full season, starting 16 games at left guard.
Coming out of the draft, Lamp was renowned for his balance, quick feet, and grip strength. With his history of lower body injuries, it’s not clear whether this is the same player who was the top interior lineman in pre-draft rankings. Nonetheless, the Bills have added yet another player with starting experience to the roster.
The interior offensive line now looks like an early contender for the most exciting position battles of the preseason. Cody Ford, Mitch Morse, and Jon Feliciano will begin with the starting spots, but Lamp and Ike Boettger have starting experience, Jamil Douglas also belongs in the conversation, and Ryan Bates is trying to justify a roster spot with his versatility and experience with the team. And there’s still room for the Bills to draft a rookie here, if they wanted.