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Buffalo Bills: 4 defensive players on the roster bubble

By Avery Duncan

BALTIMORE, MD - SEPTEMBER 9: Rafael Bush #20 of the Buffalo Bills stands on the field prior to the game against the Baltimore Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium on September 9, 2018 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
BALTIMORE, MD - SEPTEMBER 9: Rafael Bush #20 of the Buffalo Bills stands on the field prior to the game against the Baltimore Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium on September 9, 2018 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images) /
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ORCHARD PARK, NY – AUGUST 31: Eddie Yarbrough #75 of the Buffalo Bills warms up before the game against the Detroit Lions on August 31, 2017 at New Era Field in Orchard Park, New York. (Photo by Brett Carlsen/Getty Images)
ORCHARD PARK, NY – AUGUST 31: Eddie Yarbrough #75 of the Buffalo Bills warms up before the game against the Detroit Lions on August 31, 2017 at New Era Field in Orchard Park, New York. (Photo by Brett Carlsen/Getty Images) /

Eddie Yarbrough – DE

This could go to a slew of other defensive ends. The Bills appear to have their top three ends locked in with Jerry Hughes, Trent Murphy, and Shaq Lawson on-board, behind that is an ensuing brawl for the fourth and fifth spot. The candidates for that roster battle: Eli Harold, Darryl Johnson, Mike Love, and Eddie Yarbrough. Due to Harold being a free agent acquisition and Johnson being a draft selection, that competition may come down to Yarbrough and Love for a practice squad nod.

In two seasons with the Bills, Yarbrough acted as a quality rotational defensive end. He plays with attitude and can set the edge, which led to him seeing 769 total defensive snaps over the same span. The problem; he wasn’t too productive in 2018 (29 total tackles), rarely gets to the quarterback (one career sack, eight QB hits), and hasn’t shown he can be useful as a special-teamer; in turn, he’s fallen out of favor with the coaching staff.

Ultimately, Yarbrough’s (and Love’s) time on the roster looks to be coming to an end. The Bills didn’t invest heavily in the position — instead, keeping a talented trio — but they did add intriguing, younger options in Harold (25) and Johnson (22) to challenge for depth positions.

Yarbrough’s known as a hard worker and is still young at 26, but his game hasn’t taken the next step. Therefore, his spot on the roster hinges on his training camp performance. If the Bills were to release him, they would save all of the $645 thousand, per Over The Cap, given to him when he signed his exclusive rights offer sheet earlier this off-season.

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