Final 53: Predicting the Buffalo Bills Roster Ahead of Cutdown Day
NFL cutdown day is upon us. By 4 PM tomorrow, every team must trim its roster to 53 players, and the Buffalo Bills are no exception.
I fully expect GM Brandon Beane to be active on the trade front — a name like Curtis Samuel could be in play, and maybe even second-year DT DeWayne Carter. The suspensions of Larry Ogunjobi and Michael Hoecht until Week 7 will also factor heavily into the roster math, forcing Buffalo to carry a couple of temporary replacements on the defensive front. Did the players I highlighted before the Tampa Bay game do enough to earn a spot on the roster?
Below is my projection for who makes the final cut in Orchard Park, and for the practice squad, I only included players currently on the Bills that I anticipate being released. That said, it’s a safe bet Beane and Sean McDermott will look to scoop up talent cut loose by other teams once the initial wave of moves settles.
I will update the list with the cuts of players I had making the 53 and add players in red that were not on my predicted 53-man roster.
Offense
Quarterback - 2
Josh Allen
Mike White - Released 8/25
Mitch Trubisky
*White gets the benefit of cost here as moving Mitch Trubisky’s contract saves the team $2.46 million in cap space. This could be via trade or release. Shane Buechele’s performance in the finale makes this a more realistic move in my opinion, as they can add him to their practice squad.
**8/25 The Bills released Mike White and are keeping Mitch Trubisky as their QB2, barring a trade or FA signing
Running Backs - 4
James Cook
Ty Johnson
Ray Davis
Reggie Gilliam (FB)
*Think this is pretty obvious, but Frank Gore Jr. had a great preseason and deserves to be on an NFL roster somewhere. It will be interesting to see if they’re able to stash him on the practice squad again.
Wide Receiver - 6
Khalil Shakir
Keon Coleman
Joshua Palmer
Elijah Moore
Curtis Samuel (potential trade candidate, here for now)
Tyrell Shavers
*I believe the team is actively trying to move Samuel’s contract, and if they can’t strike a deal before 4 pm, he will still be on the roster. Moore didn’t flash in the preseason games but developed chemistry with Allen in training camp. KJ Hamler and Laviska Shenault are potential WR6 candidates if Samuel is traded in the next 24 hours.
Tight End - 3
Dawson Knox
Dalton Kincaid
Jackson Hawes
*No surprises really here. Zach Davidson hasn’t shown me enough (it was a nice punt, though) to warrant a spot on the 53 with Hawes’ ability at the position. He'll be on the practice squad if he doesn’t get claimed.
Offensive Line - 9
Dion Dawkins
Spencer Brown
Connor McGovern
O'Cyrus Torrence
David Edwards
Alec Anderson
Kendrick Green
Ryan Van Demark
Tylan Grable
Sedrick Van Pran-Granger
*Sedrick Van Pran-Granger is a potential IR designation to start the season. Grable (concussion) could be too if the Bills liked what they saw from 6th-round pick Chase Lundt.
**8/26 The Bills released Kendrick Green and announced Sedrick Van Pran-Granger would be activated from the PUP list and be on the 53-man roster.
Defense
Defensive Tackle - 5
Ed Oliver
DaQuan Jones
Jordan Phillips
Deone Walker
T.J. Sanders
DeWayne Carter
* The Phillips signing before roster cut-downs tells me a current DT is being moved. My guess is DeWayne Carter is traded, with DaQuan Jones as a dark-horse candidate. A trade of Jones would save the team $7.75 million, and a release would save $5.5 million, with a dead cap of $5.5-7.5 million coming with either. Carter hasn’t developed as quickly as the Bills would have hoped, and a change of scenery may be necessary for the second-year player. It will be interesting to see how the team handles the position with Ogunjobi’s suspension to start the year that caught them by surprise. Is he a potential cap casualty because of this?
**8/25 “It’s my understanding he is signing to the current active roster right now so he can begin working out in this interim time period while there was space on the 90-man roster. He will be released and re-signed to the team’s practice squad on Wednesday.” - Sal Capaccio via X regarding Jordan Phillips
Defensive End - 5
Greg Rousseau
Joey Bosa
A.J. Epenesa
Javon Solomon
Landon Jackson
*This group is pretty clear to me. Hoecht’s suspension will make a move necessary when the time comes, but that doesn’t mean it needs to be in this position group.
Linebacker - 5
Terrel Bernard
Matt Milano
Dorian Williams
Joe Andreessen
Shaq Thompson
*I am putting Thompson over Edefuan Ulofoshio or Jimmy Ciarlo from an experience standpoint if something were to happen to Bernard. Thompson is a better backup at that role than Andreessen or Williams at this point in their careers. I expect the Bills to put Ciarlo and Ulofoshio on their practice squad if they clear.
Cornerbacks - 7
Christian Benford
Taron Johnson
Dorian Strong
Ja'Marcus Ingram
Jordan Hancock
Cam Lewis
Tre'Davious White
Brandon Codrington
*This is assuming that Tre White is ok and that rookie Maxwell Hairston will be starting the season on IR as he recovers from his knee injury. Dane Jackson and Daequan Hardy did not look good in coverage during the preseason. Jackson may sneak onto the 53 if White’s injury is something that would have him missing time.
**8/26 Codrington makes the team listed as a CB while being their return specialist. Hancock, whom I had listed as a CB, is now listed as a safety on their roster.
Safeties - 4
Cole Bishop
Taylor Rapp
Damar Hamlin
Darrick Forrest
Jordan Hancock
*I won’t be surprised if Hamlin or Forrest are cut if the Bills feel that Cam Lewis or Jordan Hancock can step into a backup safety role instead of CB. As of now, this makes more sense from an experience standpoint. Maybe the Bills explore the trade or FA market, but I don’t know if there are better options available that they can currently afford.
**8/26 Darrick Forrest was released by the team and Jordan Hancock is being listed as a safety. I had Hancock making the team as a CB.
Special Teams
Tyler Bass
Reid Ferguson
Brad Robbins
*No surprises here. Bass looked healthy against the Buccaneers. I expect Robbins to make the 53, but I will not be surprised if he's moved off if another veteran punter becomes available before the regular season.
Practice Squad - Bills Roster Cuts Only
Shane Buechele
Jimmy Ciarlo
Brandon Codrington
Zach Davidson
Mike Edwards
Dan Feeney
Frank Gore Jr.
Richard Gouraige
Stephen Gosnell
KJ Hamler
Keleki Latu
Zion Logue
Kristian Wilkerson
