Training camp is officially underway! The Buffalo Bills just wrapped up their first official week of practices, and the fans and media got a good look at where this roster shapes up compared to previous years. Let’s take a look at the first version of the Bills 53-man roster prediction.
QB: Josh Allen, Mitch Trubisky (cut Shane Buchele)
This one is pretty obvious, the Bills aren’t bringing in any competition for Trubisky.
RB: James Cook, Ty Johnson, Ray Davis, Darrynton Evans (cut Frank Gore Jr)
The Bills likely keep four backs this year with one less receiver. Evans makes the team strictly as a kick returner, and Gore Jr is stashed on the practice squad for the year.
FB: Reggie Gilliam
Duh.
WR: Curtis Samuel, Keon Coleman, Khalil Shakir, Mack Hollins, Marquez Valdes-Scantling (cut Chase Claypool, Andy Isabella, Tyrell Shavers, KJ Hamler, Bryan Thompson, Justin Shorter, Xavier Johnson Jr, Lawrence Keys).
Unless they bring in more competition, this is the five being kept. If by the time preseason ends they feel like six wide receivers is a must, Chase Claypool likely earns that spot.
TE: Dalton Kincaid, Dawson Knox, Quintin Morris (cut Tre McKitty, Zach Davidson)
This one is clear and obvious, barring injuries there’ll be no surprises. Wouldn’t be shocked if one of McKitty/Davidson goes to the practice squad.
OT: Dion Dawkins, Spencer Brown, La’el Collins, Ryan Van Demark (cut Richard Gouriage, Tylan Grable, Travis Clayton)
I really like the offensive tackle depth in Buffalo this year. Another year with Van Demark, and adding a veteran presence like La’el Collins is terrific.
OG: David Edwards, O’Cyrus Torrence, Alec Anderson (cut Kevin Jarvis, Gunner Britton, Keaton Bills, Mike Edwards)
The versatility of La’el Collins to play both inside and at tackle gives the Bills more wiggle room to keep an extra player somewhere else. Not to mention Pran-Granger’s ability to move to Guard if the opportunity arises.
OC: Connor McGovern, Sedrick Van Pran-Granger
No surprise here, we’ve heard all off-season how McGovern will be the starting Center with Pran-Granger waiting in the wings.
DE: Von Miller, Greg Rousseau, AJ Epenesa, Dawuane Smoot, Javon Solomon (cut Casey Toohill, Kingsley Jonathan, Kameron Cline, David Ugwoegbu, Rondell Bothroyd)
Coach McDermott’s infatuation with rotating his edge rushers means they’ll keep five on the roster. New addition Dawuane Smoot, who’s played edge and defensive tackle with the starters this week means he’s likely a lock for the active roster.
DT: Ed Oliver, DaQuan Jones, DeWayne Carter, Austin Johnson, DeShawn Williams (cut Eli Ankou, Branson Deen, Gable Steveson)
The Bills can go with a lot of different variations on the defensive line. As mentioned before, Smoot can play inside and outside, along with Rousseau in a pinch. Buffalo has a lot of depth on the defensive line, and I think that’s one of the positions they go deep at.
LB: Matt Milano, Terrel Bernard, Dorian Williams, Nicholas Morrow, Edefuan Ulofoshio (cut Baylon Spector, Deion Jones, Joe Andreessen, Shayne Simon)
The additions of Nicholas Morrow and rookie Edefuan Ulofoshio mean Baylon Spector loses his roster spot. They added Deion Jones in the spring as Matt Milano insurance, but it seems like he won’t be needed as Milano has been practicing in team drills this summer.
CB: Rasul Douglas, Christian Benford, Kaiir Elam, Taron Johnson, Cam Lewis, Ja’Marcus Ingram, Daequan Hardy (cut Kyron Brown Keni-H Lovely, Te’Cory Couch)
The Bills go deep at corner, but especially at the Nickel corner position. Taron Johnson isn’t going anywhere, and the versatility of Cam Lewis to play both corner and safety means he likely stays. However, they’ve also put rookie Daequan Hardy as a returner for most of training camp now. If he excels there, it’s hard not to keep him around.
Safety: Cole Bishop, Mike Edwards, Taylor Rapp, Dee Delaney (cut Damar Hamlin, Kendall Williamson)
The Bills completely retooled their safety room. The only two returning are Taylor Rapp and Damar Hamlin. However, Hamlin may not stick around to see the field again. The additions of Bishop, Edwards, and Delaney (who can play all over the defense) means Hamlin’s best shot with the Bills is likely the practice squad.
Kicker: Tyler Bass
Pretty obvious, the Bills don’t have another kicker to compete with Bass.
Punter: Sam Martin
Buffalo did add another San Diego State punter in Jack Browning. However, until we see him on the field, it’s hard to say for certain that he’ll make the roster. As the special teams unit heads to another field, fans and media can’t get a good look at this punter battle.
LS: Reid Ferguson
The most that’ll happen to Ferguson is a parking lot cut. We may see him as a “cut” on the transactions log, but he’ll be the teams long snapper for the foreseeable future.