Buffalo Bills: What to Watch For Preseason Week 3

This year, is the first year of the new rule that there is only 1 roster cutdown for NFL teams. By 4pm on September 2nd, all NFL teams must be at 53-man rosters. That means the 90 players most teams have currently will all be down to 53.

If you do the math, that’s 1,184 instant free agents. The Buffalo Bills have holes, even before Anquan Boldin decided to retire. In my opinion the Bills can still look to improve talent at WR, Offensive Tackle, Cornerback, and Tight End.

Since there is only going to be one official roster cut requirement, you won’t get to see veteran free agents cut early. Remember when the Bills cut Fred Jackson? That was a shocking move during the 1st round of cuts. It allowed the Seahawks to bring Jackson into their training camp, and he ended up making their team.

Without multiple ’rounds’ of cuts, teams will need to get inventive. My prediction is that you will start seeing teams try to acquire late round or conditional draft picks via trades starting this week. If you need a tight end, and let’s say that Carolina want’s to cut Ed Dickson. They could, or they could call some old friends in Buffalo and try to get a late round pick for him.

The Bills I can see being active in trades starting this week. I don’t anticipate any ‘tanking’ by Buffalo, but they do have talented pieces that teams will be interested in. What role does Adolphus Washington have in Buffalo? TJ Yates looks to have been beaten out for the #2 QB job, but that doesn’t mean he isn’t an upgrade for a team like Indianapolis who is seeking a backup QB with a pulse.

I want to see if NFL teams change their late pre-season business activities from surprise cuts, to multiple trades. By trading during this week, teams can get a full extra week of practice to integrate their new additions into their team strategies.

Speaking of surprises, the Bills Wide Receivers will also be a focal point this week.