The Buffalo Bills addressed several needs along the offensive line and at wide receiver on Thursday, signing guard Austin Corbett, center Lloyd Cushenberry III, and receiver Trent Sherfield. The moves come as the team navigates the free agency period following the departure of guard Ryan Van Demark to the Minnesota Vikings. The Bills freed up approximately $3.5 million in salary cap space when they opted not to match the Vikings’ offer sheet to Van Demark, bringing their total available cap room to around $13.1 million, according to Spotrac.
The signings aim to bolster a Bills offensive line that faced challenges last season and to add depth to a receiving corps that will be without Tyrell Shavers for a significant portion of the upcoming season. The team is looking to solidify protection for quarterback Josh Allen and provide reliable targets in the passing game as they prepare for the 2026 NFL season.
Corbett to Compete at Left Guard
Austin Corbett, a veteran offensive lineman with 94 career games played, is expected to immediately contend for the starting left guard position. He joins the Bills after four seasons with the Carolina Panthers, though his time there was hampered by injuries that caused him to miss 29 games. Last season, Corbett appeared in 11 of 13 games, receiving a grade of 42nd among 61 qualifying guards from Pro Football Focus. He was originally drafted by the Cleveland Browns in the second round of the 2018 NFL Draft and later played a key role on the Los Angeles Rams team that won Super Bowl LVI after the 2021 season, starting every game that year.
Corbett’s arrival creates competition with Alec Anderson, who signed a one-year, $2.5 million contract with the Bills after being a restricted free agent. Anderson, while capable of playing multiple positions, is viewed as a backup-level player. The Bills clearly prioritized adding a veteran presence to the left guard spot, a position vacated by David Edwards, who signed with the New Orleans Saints earlier this month. Edwards’ departure left a significant hole in the Bills’ offensive line.
Cushenberry Adds Center Depth
Lloyd Cushenberry III brings starting experience at center, having started all 57 games he played over four seasons with the Denver Broncos. He then started all 23 games he played for the Tennessee Titans. The 28-year-classic Cushenberry was a third-round pick by Denver in 2020 and is familiar with Bills head coach Joe Brady, having played with him at LSU in 2019 when the Tigers won the national championship, where Brady was the passing game coordinator.
Last season, Pro Football Focus graded Cushenberry 20th among 32 centers who played at least 600 snaps, though his run-blocking grade ranked 31st. He will compete with third-year pro Sedrick Van Pran-Granger for the backup center role behind Connor McGovern, who the Bills re-signed earlier in the offseason. The Bills may also explore the possibility of Cushenberry playing guard, adding further versatility to the offensive line.
Sherfield Returns to Provide Special Teams Value
Trent Sherfield returns to the Bills after a stint with the team in 2023. The 30-year-old receiver and special teams contributor played 17 games for Buffalo last year, recording 11 receptions for 86 yards and one touchdown. His primary role was as a blocker, and he played 150 snaps on special teams. With Tyrell Shavers expected to miss a substantial portion of the season due to injury, Sherfield is poised to compete for the fifth receiver spot and continue to contribute on special teams.
Sherfield has bounced around the league since entering the NFL with the Arizona Cardinals in 2018, also playing for the San Francisco 49ers, Miami Dolphins, Minnesota Vikings, and the Cardinals and Broncos. Throughout his 124-game career, he has amassed 89 receptions for 1,034 yards. His experience and reliability on special teams make him a valuable addition to the Bills’ roster.
These signings demonstrate the Bills’ commitment to building a competitive roster and addressing key needs as they prepare for the upcoming season. The team continues to evaluate options in free agency and the draft to further strengthen their roster and contend for a Super Bowl championship.
The Bills will next hold a scheduled team meeting on April 8th to commence installation of the offensive and defensive schemes for the 2026 season, according to a team spokesperson. Updates on further roster moves and draft preparations will be released as they become available.
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