Buffalo Bills: Predicting the 53-man roster following rookie minicamp

Secondary

Outside – Tre White, Vontae Davis/Levi Wallace, Lafayette Pitts

Slot – Phillip Gaines/Taron Johnson

Safeties – Jordan Poyer, Micah Hyde / Rafael Bush, Siran Neal

The strongest part of the team’s defense is here. White is already a number one corner and he is only going to get better. While Davis is coming off an injury, he is a Pro-Bowl caliber player and his veteran presence is a solid addition to the corner position. The conversation will be at the slot position where I think Gaines has the edge entering training camp, but I could easily see Johnson supplanting Gaines with a strong showing.

Poyer and Hyde are one of the best safety tandems in the league. Bush was signed as a solid backup option and Neal is an intriguing prospect. He has experience at safety and linebacker in college. His size is more of a safety, but he could be a good third down option of defense because his abilities in run and pass. He may carve out a niche as a utility weapon on defense.

One player to watch is Wallace. I think Pitts will make the roster because of his time with the team last season. Breon Borders is definitely another option to make the roster, but Wallace came to Alabama as a walk-on and became a multi-year starter. That is the kind of work ethic that McDermott loves and the fact he can carve out a roll on a Nick Saban defense, I think he can do the same for the Bills.

Special Teams

Kicker – Steven Hauschka

Punter – Colton Schmidt

Long Snapper – Reid Ferguson

There isn’t much to think about here. Hauschka was incredible last season and was the reliable kicker the team has been lacking for years. Schmidt is a solid punter and I have never heard Ferguson’s name called during a game which means he is doing a great job. All three of these guys should have jobs without a doubt.