With the 53-man roster cuts set for this Sunday, the Buffalo Bills will look to make changes via trade acquisitions or by releasing players outright without receiving anything in return. General manager Brandon Beane and new head coach Joe Brady will face some tough decisions.
Now that preseason is over and the coaches have had time to evaluate their players, it is time for them to make their final roster selections for the 2026 NFL season. Bills Mafia won't know until roster cut day, so here are some suggestions for candidates the Bills could look to cut or trade to another team.
4 Bills players on thin ice to make final 53-man roster
1.) TE Keleki Latu
Keleki Latu was the Bills' breakout player last year after starting the season on the Bills' practice squad. When added to the active roster, the 6-foot-6, 249-pound athlete finished his rookie season with 4 catches for 35 yards and proved why the 17-game season offers an opportunity to develop and call up more practice squad players, showing promising signs of growth when they are called up.
The Bills should keep Latu on their active roster if they want to go with four tight ends, which would likely mean defensive nose tackle DeWayne Carter is the likely candidate to be cut.
However, Beane may risk losing Latu to another team by putting him on the practice squad to start this season.
2.) WR Mecole Hardman Jr.
A very fast and skilled wideout with experience on special teams, Mecole Hardman Jr. has enjoyed his stint with the Buffalo Bills since being picked up from the Kansas City Chiefs last year. The 5-foot-10, 187-pound athlete might face elimination because he's a smaller receiver and lacks the size to block in the running game.
Also, Trent Sherfield Sr. is competing for the same special-teams role and has a better chance of making it due to his 6-foot-1, 205-pound frame and familiarity with the Bills dating back to 2023. His prior experience with the team gives him greater stability and confidence if he makes it.
With that being said, expect Hardman Jr. to be cut by the Bills and Sherfield Sr. to win that final wide receiver/special teams spot.
3.) S Sam Franklin Jr.
This would be a difficult split from the Bills, as Sam Franklin Jr. just signed an extension with the team and was a star on special teams last season in Orchard Park. Franklin Jr. is a big safety at 6-foot-3, 210 pounds, and, just like his predecessor, Sean McDermott, Joe Brady really values that 12th man on the depth chart who is a first-class special teams star.
Also, Franklin Jr's. relationship with Brady goes back to their days with the Carolina Panthers from 2020-2021. He was also with Jim Leonhard in Denver in 2025 before the Bills claimed him. At least keeping him on the active roster for special teams will help him reunite with both coaches this season in Orchard Park, which is important for team solidarity.
4.) DT/NT DeWayne Carter
DeWayne Carter has been through so much adversity since being drafted by the Bills in the third round of the 2024 NFL Draft. The 6-foot-2, 302-pound athlete has struggled to stay healthy in recent years, but so far in the preseason, he has stayed on the field in every game.
Overall, he should make the 53-man roster, which can inspire trust in his ability to contribute to the team's success. His 1st-round talent being drafted in the 3rd round shows his potential to be a valuable asset. The Bills could also trade him to a team that needs a 3-4 nose tackle.
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