If you spent any time watching the Buffalo Bills between 2015 and 2018, you definitely know the name Jordan Mills. You probably have an opinion on him, too. In the hyper-critical world of NFL fandom, right tackles often only get noticed when they surrender a sack or get flagged for a false start on 3rd-and-short. It’s a thankless gig. But when we look back at the roster construction of the early Sean McDermott era and the final years of the Rex Ryan experiment, Mills represents something that is increasingly rare in today’s "win-now" league: pure, unadulterated availability.
He wasn't a perennial Pro Bowler. He wasn't a first-round pedigree guy like some of the bookends we see today. Honestly, he was a waiver wire pickup that turned into a multi-year starter. In a league where offensive line chemistry is harder to find than a quiet spot in Highmark Stadium on a Sunday, Mills was the guy who just showed up. Every. Single. Week.
How Jordan Mills Became a Buffalo Bills Mainstay
The story of Jordan Mills in Buffalo didn't start with a flashy press conference or a high-priced contract. It started with a pink slip. After being drafted by the Chicago Bears in the fifth round of the 2013 NFL Draft out of Louisiana Tech, Mills actually started all 16 games as a rookie. That’s a massive feat for a late-round pick. However, injuries and coaching changes in Chicago led to him being waived in 2015. After a blink-and-you-miss-it stint with the Dallas Cowboys, the Buffalo Bills scooped him up off waivers in October 2015.
At the time, the Bills were looking for any semblance of depth. What they got was a player who would eventually start 53 games for the franchise. Think about that for a second. A waiver claim from mid-season became the starting right tackle for nearly four full seasons. He took over the starting role from Seantrel Henderson and basically refused to give the jersey back.
It’s easy to look at Pro Football Focus (PFF) grades and point out that Mills often hovered in the average-to-below-average range. Critics loved to harp on his struggles against elite speed rushers. But football isn't played on a spreadsheet. In the trenches, consistency is the ultimate currency. While the Bills' offensive line saw plenty of turnover at other positions, the right side remained remarkably stable with Mills and veteran guard John Miller.
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The Rex Ryan and Sean McDermott Transition
Mills is a fascinating case study because he survived a total regime change. Usually, when a new coach like Sean McDermott comes in with a "Process" and a specific vision, the "holdover" guys from the previous staff are the first to go. Rex Ryan loved big, physical maulers who could pave the way for a ground-and-pound attack. Under Anthony Lynn and Greg Roman, the Bills led the league in rushing. Jordan Mills was a huge part of that. He wasn't a finesse blocker; he was a grinder.
When McDermott arrived in 2017, the culture shifted toward discipline and "availability is the best ability." Mills fit that mold perfectly. In 2017, he played 100% of the offensive snaps. Not 95%. Not 99%. Every single snap. For an offensive lineman, that is a badge of honor that outweighs a lot of negative Twitter comments. He was the right tackle for the team that finally broke "The Drought" in 2017. When Kyle Williams was celebrating in the locker room after that miracle win in Miami, Jordan Mills was right there, having protected Tyrod Taylor for the entire season.
Why Fans Were So Divided on His Performance
Look, we have to be real here. If you ask a certain segment of Bills Mafia about Jordan Mills, they’ll bring up the speed rushers. They’ll talk about the times he got beat around the edge by the Von Millers or Cameron Jordon's of the world. And yeah, those moments happened. He didn't have the quickest feet in the league.
But there's a nuance to offensive line play that gets lost in highlight reels.
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- He was an elite communicator.
- He rarely blew a mental assignment or a blocking scheme.
- His durability allowed the coaching staff to focus their "fix-it" energy elsewhere.
If you replace an "average" tackle who plays 16 games with a "slightly better" tackle who misses 6 games, your offensive line actually gets worse. The revolving door at tackle is a season-killer. Mills prevented that door from ever spinning. He was the ultimate "bridge" player who allowed the Bills to focus on drafting guys like Dion Dawkins without having a total collapse on the right side.
Life After Orchard Park
After the 2018 season, the Bills decided to move in a different direction, opting for a massive overhaul of the offensive line that brought in guys like Mitch Morse and Ty Nsekhe. Mills hit free agency and became a bit of a journeyman, spent time with the Dolphins, Cardinals, Cowboys (again), and the Saints.
The fact that he kept getting signed by winning organizations says everything you need to know about his reputation in league circles. Coaches love guys who know the playbook, don't cause drama, and can play through a stinger. In 2021, he even ended up starting games for the New Orleans Saints. His longevity is a testament to his professional approach. He was never the most gifted athlete on the field, but he was often the most prepared.
Technical Breakdown: The "Mills Style" of Blocking
If you go back and watch the tape of the 2016 Bills—one of the best rushing offenses in modern franchise history—you see why Mills stayed in the lineup. He was excellent at "down blocking." In a power-run scheme, he was a vacuum. He could wash a defensive end inside, creating a massive lane for LeSean McCoy to bounce outside.
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His pass protection was "serviceable," which sounds like an insult but in the NFL, it's a compliment. He used his length well. At 6'5" and over 315 pounds, he was a massive human being who understood how to use his frame to force edge rushers into wider arcs. By the time the defender cleared the corner, the ball was usually out.
Actionable Insights for Evaluating Offensive Linemen
When you're looking at current or future Bills offensive linemen, don't just look at the "pancakes" or the sacks allowed. Use these criteria to see if a player provides the same "Mills-level" value to a roster:
- Snap Count Percentage: If a player isn't playing 90%+ of the snaps, they are forcing the team to use a backup who likely isn't prepared. Total snaps matter more than PFF grades in a 17-game season.
- Penalty-to-Snap Ratio: One of Mills' underrated traits was his discipline. He didn't kill drives with constant holding calls. Check if a tackle is "clean" or if they are a drive-killer.
- Scheme Fit: Some tackles are better at zone blocking (moving laterally), while others are "Gap" blockers (moving forward). Mills was a Gap specialist. When the Bills moved toward more zone concepts under Brian Daboll, his value shifted, which is why the team eventually moved on.
- The "Vocal" Factor: Listen to quarterback interviews. Players like Josh Allen or Tyrod Taylor always praised the guys who stayed in the lineup. If a QB trusts his tackle to be in the right spot, the whole offense functions faster.
Jordan Mills was a blue-collar player for a blue-collar city. He wasn't there to be a superstar; he was there to do a job. In the history of the Buffalo Bills, he remains a key figure in the transition from the "dark ages" to the modern era of playoff contention. You don't get to where the Bills are now without guys like him holding down the fort when things were messy.
If you want to understand the current Bills' success, look at the foundation. It was built by guys who didn't miss games. It was built by guys like Jordan Mills.
Next Steps for Bills Fans:
If you're tracking the current Bills offensive line, pay close attention to the right tackle rotation. Compare the "pressure rate" of current starters against the historical averages of the 2015-2018 era. You might find that "average and available" is actually a lot harder to find than it looks on paper. Check the official NFL Game Logs to see how snap consistency correlates with late-season wins. It’s the hidden stat that defines playoff runs.