The first week of training camp is officially in the books for the Bills, and while there haven’t been any padded practices yet, there are some clear winners and losers. Here are some of the players whose stock is trending upward, and another who needs to start showing better consistency moving forward:
Winner: Tre’Davious White
Perhaps the most surprising player to make the list, White has played with the first-team defense exclusively for the Bills during camp. And according to Joe Buscaglia of The Athletic, it isn’t just a “novelty” thing, either. He’s earned those snaps and has been one of the team’s best defensive backs so far.
When the Bills re-signed White this offseason, it wasn’t with the expectation that he would be a starter. Instead, it was a veteran depth signing to help them get through camp and with the idea that he could mentor some of the younger cornerbacks on the roster. While that is still happening, his play through the first week has been good enough that he has a legit chance of starting in Week 1.
For a defense that already has some really good cornerbacks, White turning back the clock and becoming a starting-caliber player would be massive for the Bills. It would allow Maxwell Hairston to grow into his role and not be forced onto the field before he is ready. Time will tell if White can keep this up, but so far, so good for the former All-Pro cornerback.
Loser: Keon Coleman
It’s hard to call anyone a “loser” after three non-padded practices, but Keon Coleman just hasn’t taken the sophomore leap yet. And the keyword there is “yet” because it could happen at any moment. But it’s been more of the same for Coleman, who continues to be a widely inconsistent player.
According to Buscaglia, Coleman has struggled with drops early in camp and has called him “maddingly inconsistent.” That isn’t a great sign, considering that Buffalo needs Coleman to be a reliable option if he is going to earn more targets.
Again, it’s essential to remember that we are only a handful of practices in, and the pads haven’t even been put on yet. However, it’s safe to assume the Bills were hoping to see more from Coleman so far during camp.
Winner: James Cook
It’s easy to admire James Cook and his dedication to the team, considering he is in the midst of a contract disagreement. Cook wants to be paid like one of the top running backs in the league, and that makes sense given how productive he’s been over the last two seasons. And yet, no extension has been reached, and Cook is set to enter the final year of his contract.
But instead of holding out and missing practice, Cook was present from Day 1 on. And he’s not a “hold-in” either. He’s been a full participant in all three practices, and he is showing good faith to the organization. Time will tell if the Bills give him a new deal, but he is doing everything in his power to show the organization that he is a team player and should be a long-term building block of the franchise.
Rather than making things messy, Cook decided to show up and be a professional. For that reason alone, we are calling him one of the biggest winners of camp. Look for Cook to have a monster season in Year 4 as he waits for his new contract extension from Buffalo.