Buffalo Bills: 53-man roster projection entering training camp
By Aaron Tully
Defensive Line (9):
Jerry Hughes, Mario Addison, Gregory Rousseau, Carlos Basham Jr., Efe Obada, Ed Oliver, Vernon Butler, Star Lotulelei, A.J Epenesa
The defensive line is another position that the Buffalo Bills will have some tough decisions to make. Such problems are good problems to have, however.
Jerry Hughes, Mario Addison, Ed Oliver, Vernon Butler, and Star Lotulelei are all locks to make the 53-man roster. Younger players like A.J Epenesa, Greg Rousseau, and Carlos Basham Jr. are all safe as well due to where they were picked in the last two drafts.
Efe Obada gets the nod for the final roster spot due to his pass-rushing efficiency in limited snaps.
That leaves out the likes of Harrison Phillips and Justin Zimmer, who would be on the roster if not for AJ Epenesa’s ability to rush from both the inside and outside. That makes Phillips and Zimmer expendable despite them being decent players.
Phillips and Zimmer would likely be snatched by other teams before the Bills could put them on the practice squad.
Bryan Cox Jr. is on IR, meaning that he likely will not play in 2021. The remaining names are Darryl Johnson, Mike Love, Brandin Bryant, Treyvon Hester, and Eli Ankou.
Johnson is the only one on the list with practice squad appeal due to his special teams contributions for the Bills over the last two seasons.