3 veterans on the Buffalo Bills who are on the roster bubble

Tyler Matakevich

The most veteran player on this list, Matakevich, is one of the most valuable special team players on the team. Luckily the Bills have not endured many injuries at the linebacker position, so Matakevich never really has had to play on defense for the Bills.

While his special team contributions are essential, this could be the season where the Bills decide to go with younger options that have more potential to play on the defensive side in the future. Adding two linebackers in the draft does not necessarily mean the end of Matakevich’s time with the Bills. All it means is that Matakevich will have to fend off some youngsters to make the roster.

The Bills roster is so rounded out that it is hard to find veterans at risk of being released. Matakevich does not provide much salary cap savings either. So why him? The Bills have already paid one linebacker in Matt Milano and have Tremaine Edmunds coming up on free agency. There are concerns that the Bills will not be able to commit that much money to the linebacker positions while paying all their other important players.

Matakevich is the Bills’ primary backup middle linebacker, and while he holds that role, it is pretty clear he is not a replacement option for Tremaine Edmunds if Edmunds is not resigned. I think this opens the possibility of the Bills rostering a young linebacker who they potentially project as the heir to Edmunds and the middle linebacker.

While I think that player has yet to be identified, it could cost Matakevich his roster spots. After all, the Bills may be able to find similar production on special teams from other positions.