Training camp is just about wrapping up before the Buffalo Bills play their first preseason game against the Chicago Bears. It’s unclear how much the starters will play, but one thing is for certain, we are going to get to see a lot of the rookies, especially the undrafted players fighting to make the team. The Bills have a lot of talent that they signed after the draft, and they are practicing well as they adjust to the NFL world. Is there a spot for any on this roster, though?
The Bills, while retooling at many positions, are still deep at multiple positions. That leaves many undrafted free agents looking to take a roster spot away from a veteran. However, is it unrealistic for the Bills to keep any undrafted free agents on the 53-man roster? No, but it won’t be easy finding a roster spot or a role on the team.
Guys like Frank Gore Jr who are very talented are a product of a deep positional group that won’t allow them to see the active roster early, much like wide receiver Tyrell Shavers last year. The good thing for the Bills though, is they have a stockpile of young talent for down the road if they can hold onto them. Buffalo is in the middle of finding cheap young players to help produce, and finding gems after the draft is the best way to go. The Bills have a nice track record of finding talent after the draft, including players like Levi Wallace, Tyrel Dodson, and Cam Lewis. Now, Buffalo is hoping that one or multiple of these guys can have the same success.
Cornerback Te’Cory Couch
Couch, a former Miami University cornerback, had a good college career. He totaled 156 tackles, four sacks, and two interceptions, and has experience as a slot corner. Now, the Bills don’t currently need a slot corner as they already have Taron Johnson and Cam Lewis. In the future, if Buffalo loses Cam Lewis, they have an in-house replacement that has many of the same qualities as Lewis. As Rivals mentioned, Couch has some experience at Safety, much like Lewis does.
The Bills are excited for Couch, and the future is bright for him. With a little coaching and development on the practice squad, he could come back in 2025 and have a real shot at making the roster. For now, Couch will have the ability to learn behind some great veterans in Taron Johnson, Rasul Douglas, and Kareem Jackson while having his old college coach, Jahmile Addae, in his corner again.
Buffalo will likely only keep six corners, two being slot players. Unless they view Cam Lewis as their full-time safety, which hasn’t proven to be the case through training camp, it’s looking like 2024 will be a redshirt season for the young Miami product. If he plays as well in the three preseason games as he has been in practice, it’ll be hard to stash him on the practice squad all season. Much like Nick Broeker and Jordan Mims being poached before Buffalo could bring them back, the same could happen to Couch.
Running back Frank Gore Jr
The Bills added Frank Gore Jr to a crowded backfield after adding Darrynton Evans in free agency and making Ray Davis one of their top picks. After suffering multiple injuries to the backfield in 2023, the Bills made sure they had enough depth where that wouldn’t be a concern in 2024 and beyond.
Now, Gore Jr is tasked with trying to impress the coaches enough to earn a roster spot, and judging by how he’s practicing, he’s doing a great job of winning over the offensive staff. On Sunday, when Ty Johnson was held out of practice, the former Southern Miss back received reps with the second-string offense.
The coaches have shown a lot of faith in Gore Jr to give him reps over Evans, and it’s paying off. He’s shown all summer his ability to catch the ball and be elusive out of the backfield, something he didn’t do very much of in college. Now it comes down to Evans or Gore Jr for the fourth running back spot. Evans would make the roster solely for special teams, while Gore would come in on offense every now and then as a goal-line back.
Gore Jr will have his first chance to prove to coaches during game action that he has even half the talent his father did. And if he does, there’s a very good chance they choose him over Darrynton Evans. With Evans expected to get a lot of looks as a returner in the preseason, I wouldn’t be surprised to see Frank Gore Jr get a lot of looks through these three games.