While there is still a number of months before the start of the 2023 season, and plenty can change between now and then, there are a few position battles that are already taking shape for the Buffalo Bills.
During offseason workouts, training camp, and then preseason games these are five positions that fans should pay extra attention to as the starter isn’t necessarily locked in and the spot in the starting line up could be won depending on who steps up during this period.
Early look at 5 key position battles for the Buffalo Bills during the 2023 offseason
Right Guard
Ryan Bates vs. Ike Boettger vs. David Edwards
The assumption here is that Connor McGovern will be the starting left guard for the Buffalo Bills, which opens the door to a potential competition at the other starting guard position. The Bills do have Ryan Bates returning, who started 15 regular season games and both playoff games for Buffalo last season after the team matched a four-year offer sheet from the Chicago Bears when Bates was a restricted free agent.
While Bates did a pretty good job, it wouldn’t be surprising to see him pushed for the starting job. Ike Boettger returned on a one-year deal this offseason and could step in as the starter now that he is likely fully recovered from his Achilles injury in 2021. The Bills also added David Edwards, who started 45 games over four seasons with the Los Anges Rams, in free agency.
In addition, the interior offensive line could be a point of focus in this upcoming draft and this competition has the potential to include a rookie depending on how the NFL Draft plays out.
Linebacker
Tyrel Dodson vs. Terrel Bernard vs. Baylon Spector
Without question, the biggest position battle for the Buffalo Bills this offseason is at middle linebacker. The Buffalo Bills lost Tremaine Edmunds in free agency, who signed with the Chicago Bears, and the coaching staff must now determine the best option to replace their starter from the past five seasons.
This is also a position battle that is probably guaranteed to have at least one, maybe two, more players enter the discussion. It would make sense for the team to use one of their early draft picks on one of the top middle linebackers in the 2023 NFL Draft but they could also add another veteran free agent linebacker, like Zach Cunningham.
As it presently stands, there are three players competing for the job to replace Edmunds with Tyrel Dodson leading the way. He has the most experience of the three linebackers on the roster and has started in place of Edmunds when he has missed games due to injuries.
The other two players, Terrel Bernard and Baylon Spector, are two players entering their second year in the NFL and are very different players. Bernard is much more athletic and can do a better job in pass coverage but might be a liability in run defense at only 224 pounds.
As for Baylon Spector, he is about 10 pounds bigger than Bernard and could make more of an impact against the run but won’t have the range in pass coverage.
Cornerback
Kaiir Elam vs. Dane Jackson vs. Christian Benford
The Buffalo Bills drafted Kaiir Elam in the first round of the 2022 NFL Draft and the hope was that he would step in as the starter almost immediately. It took him some time as a rookie and he would split snaps with Dane Jackson, as well as fellow rookie Christian Benford.
Now entering the second year in the NFL, the hope would be that Elam could secure the full-time spot opposite Tre’Davious White. However, it isn’t necessarily a foregone conclusion and Sean McDermott has shown that just because a player is a high draft pick, it doesn’t guarantee they will be a starter.
The other two players that Elam likely will compete with for the starting job are the two he split time with last season. Dane Jackson returned to Buffalo this offseason on a one-year deal and has started 20 regular season games over the past two years.
The third player is Christian Benford, who has some questions about where he might actually line up this season. The Buffalo Bills have brought up the idea of Benford potentially moving to safety but that is dependent on what the roster looks like during the offseason. With the addition of Taylor Rapp and the hopeful return of Damar Hamlin, it would seem cornerback is the more likely position for Benford this season.
Running Back
James Cook vs. Damien Harris vs. Nyheim Hines
This next one is not a traditional position battle as the Buffalo Bills will likely have defined roles for the three running backs. However, there is certainly going to be a competition for snaps and this could determine how the position is utilized in this offense.
James Cook is the most talented running back of the three currently on the roster as he has great elusiveness and is a big play threat, either carrying the ball or as a receiver. While the hope is that he would receive a majority of the work, it is still unknown if he can earn the coaching staff’s trust to step into that role.
This was one of the reasons the Bills added Damien Harris this offseason as he is a veteran running back and will probably be close to leading the team in rushing attempts this upcoming season. The question will be do the Bills lean more into a traditional run game with Harris or is he primarily a short-yardage, goal-line back?
The third running back is Nyheim Hines, who made an impact on special teams after the Buffalo Bills traded for him during the season, but was almost a non-factor on offense. This was surprising as he is an excellent receiver out of the backfield. If Cook isn’t able to take that next step, then Hines could see a significant increase in his workload this coming season.
Wide Receiver
Khalil Shakir vs. Trent Sherfield
The wide receiver position, particularly at slot receiver, is another position that would seem to be a perfect spot for the Buffalo Bills to address in the 2023 NFL Draft. Depending on how the first round plays out, there are a number of wide receivers that could be good fits at this spot in the offense.
However, for now, it appears to be a two-man race to step into the starting spot. Last season, the Bills began the year with Isaiah McKenzie as their starter but he would struggle in the expanded role and the team would bring back Cole Beasley.
Neither player is currently on the roster which leaves last year’s fifth round draft pick Khalil Shakir and free agent addition Trent Sherfield. The Buffalo Bills did also add Deonte Harty, but general manager Brandon Beane indicated that he would likely be more of that gadget player for this team.
Shakir is an intriguing player as he had limited snaps as a rookie but was pretty productive when on the field. Last season, Shakir had only 10 receptions for 161 receiving yards and one touchdown in 14 games but then had five receptions for 91 yards in two playoff games.
Meanwhile, Sherfield had 30 receptions last season with the Miami Dolphins for 417 receiving yards and two touchdowns in 58% of the offensive snaps. These totals were by far the most of his career but he could be a player just scratching the surface of what he can do.