Buffalo Bills: 5 position battles that will come down to the wire

Backup Defensive Tackle

This is likely the most interesting and unpredictable position on the roster. Buffalo could keep anywhere between 3-5 players at defensive tackle. The only two guaranteed to make the team are Star Lotulelei and Ed Oliver the two starters. Behind them, Harrison Phillips, Vernon Butler, and Justin Zimmer are all trying to make the team. What makes this so interesting is that we have no idea how many defensive tackles Buffalo is interested in keeping.

Because we are expecting a heavy defensive end group that could be as many as seven. That means Buffalo could potentially go thin at defensive tackles. I would predict they land in the middle and roster four defensive tackles. Although the defensive end position is much improved it is really from a pass-rushing perspective. Last season Buffalo struggled against the run and because of that, I think they keep enough defensive tackles to have a solid rotation.

Harrison Phillips briefly was in the lead for the third defensive tackle spot but an injury to the knee that he has recently torn his ACL on is a huge setback for him and could cost him a roster spot. If Phillips’ injury is significant or even going to last a couple of weeks those two spots could go straight to Justin Zimmer and Vernon Butler. However, if Phillips’ injury is not too significant things become extremely difficult to predict. Buffalo likes all three of those players and would likely keep them all if they had the space. Unfortunately, they do not and hard decisions are looming for Brandon Beane.

If Phillips is healthy I believe that he and Butler take the two backup spots. Butler was slightly disappointing last season but also had to play out of position with no Phillips or Lotulelei available. In his more natural 3-tech defensive tackle position he could have a significantly better impact.