After training camp and the first week of the preseason, the Bills’ 53-man roster construction is becoming clearer. While things might change in the last two weeks of the preseason, many spots are already locked up.
From special teams players to positional battles to setting the practice squad, Brandon Beane has tough decisions to make. However, after nearly a decade on the job, it’s easy to predict how the roster will shake out.
Quarterbacks
Keep: Josh Allen and Kyle Allen
Cut: Shane Buechele
No surprises here. The Bills have their franchise quarterback in Josh Allen, but there’s some competition for the backup role. Both Kyle Allen and Shane Buechele have been around the Bills’ organization long enough to know Joe Brady’s offense.
After a few seasons away from the team, Allen has found himself back in Buffalo. He’ll be the more likely backup option, having previously served in that role during the 2023 season.
If this is how the roster shakes out, Buechele will sign to the practice squad after his release. While other teams, like the Chiefs, who Buechele played a game for last season, might have interest, a practice squad is the best fit for him.
Runningbacks and Fullbacks
Keep: James Cook, Ty Johnson, Ray Davis, and Ben VanSumeren
Cut: Frank Gore Jr. and Ian Wheeler
At the moment, the Bills seem likely to stick with the running back room they had last season. The only difference will be fullback Ben VanSumeren replacing Reggie Gilliam, who left for the division rival Patriots this offseason.
With an established backfield like the Bills have, Gore Jr. and Wheeler face an uphill battle to make the roster.
While both could find themselves back on the Bills’ practice squad after their release, Gore Jr. has the best chance of remaining in Buffalo. Gore has been on the Bills’ practice squad each of the last two seasons, and it would take a bad offseason to unseat him.
Wide Receivers
Keep: D.J. Moore, Khalil Shakir, Keon Coleman, Skyler Bell, Joshua Palmer, Mecole Hardman, and Tyrell Shavers (IR)
Cut: Dante Pettis, Stephen Gosnell, Trent Sherfield, Ja’Mori Maclin, Max Tomczak, Quintin Skinner, and Mac Dalena
Wide receiver is one of the most difficult positions to predict for the Bills simply because they roster so many.
The team has also rostered players like Tyrell Shavers and Trent Sherfield in recent years to serve as core special teams pieces. With Sherfield returning this offseason, the sixth wide receiver role will likely come down to him and Mecole Hardman.
With Tyrell Shavers out for the foreseeable future with a knee injury, the Bills have to decide between a return specialist in Hardman or a special teamer like Sherfield. It seems more likely that the Bills would opt for Hardman so that Khalil Shakir doesn’t have to return punts this season.
While they wait for Shavers to return from injury, they’ll replace him with a backup defensive player on special teams.
Tight Ends
Keep: Dalton Kincaid, Dawson Knox, and Jackson Hawes
Cut: Keleki Latu and Shane Zylstra
Tight end is another position that the Bills are likely to keep the same. Last season, they were effective with two-and-three tight end sets, which helped propel the run game.
They’ll likely keep this strategy during 2026, so each of the three active tight ends will play a lot of snaps.
The key to this room is keeping Dalton Kincaid healthy, so it wouldn’t be surprising to see them keep Latu or Zylstra on the practice squad. They need some kind of insurance in case Kincaid misses more games, and both players have enough experience to step in if needed.
Offensive Line
Keep: Dion Dawkins, Jude Bowry, Alec Anderson, Austin Corbett, Connor McGovern, Sedrick Van Pran-Granger, O’Cyrus Torrence, Spencer Brown, and Tylan Grable
Cut: Da’Metrius Weatherspoon, Nick Broeker, Lloyd Cushenberry, Bruno Fina, Ar’maj Reed-Adams, Chase Lundt
The offensive line is another tough position to predict because every team carries a different number. Combined with all the positional battles the Bills are facing, that makes it even harder.
With Alec Anderson and Austin Corbett battling for the starting left guard position, both will likely make the roster.
Besides that, the other battles are for backup positions. Will the Bills opt for more experience, or will they keep some developmental players around?
This year, they seem to be setting themselves up to keep a lot of previous draft picks on the offensive line. If these are the players they keep around, only Austin Corbett and Connor McGovern would be the only two who aren’t homegrown.
Defensive Line
Keep: Ed Oliver, T.J. Sanders, Landon Jackson, Zane Durant, Deone Walker, DeWayne Carter, Phidarian Mathis (Suspended)
Cut: Greg Gaines, Zion Logue, and Travis Clayton
With the Bills moving to a 3-4 defense this season, grouping nose guards, defensive tackles, and defensive ends together makes it easier to predict the roster.
If the Bills keep these players on the 53-man roster, Deone Walker and DeWayne Carter would slot in as the nose guards. Ed Oliver, Zane Durant, and Phidarian Mathis would play a more traditional 3-tech role. As for the defensive end position, T.J. Sanders and Landon Jackson seem primed to battle for snaps there.
The Defensive line as a whole will be finalized once the roster is announced because of the defensive scheme change. The number the team keeps will tell the fans a lot about how Jim Leonhard plans to rotate his players.
Outside Linebackers/EDGE Rushers
Active: Gregory Rousseau, Bradley Chubb, Michael Hoecht, T.J. Parker, Javon Solomon, Mike Danna
Cut: Andre Jones Jr. and Cade Denhoff
This is a position the Bills are likely going to go deep at because of the new scheme and players typically needing rest over the course of the game.
Many on the outside see it as a thin room, but the team has made a lot of effort to make changes on the edge this offseason. Bradley Chubb and T.J. Parker are going to play big roles in the Bills’ defense this season.
While Mike Danna is on the bubble to make the roster, he could also play a role for the team as well. Having a player like Danna, who has won two Super Bowls, is valuable to a team trying to get over the hump.
The team could still look to add another veteran presence to the practice squad at this position, but the roster feels set.
Inside Linebackers
Active: Terrel Bernard, Dorian Williams, Kaleb Elarms-Orr, Joe Andreesen
Cut: Keonta Jenkins, Jimmy Ciarlo, Otis Reese, and Theron Gaines
Going with only four inside linebackers in a 3-4 defense leaves the team kind of thin, but it’s the most likely outcome.
The players on the bubble lack enough special-teams experience, let alone overall defensive experience. The team can easily get by with keeping a player like Keonta Jenkins on the practice squad. This way, they can play the matchups and decide whether to elevate another defensive back or linebacker.
What remains to be seen is whether Dorian Williams or training camp standout Kaleb Elarms-Orr will take the starting position. The team seems to favor Williams for now, but this positional battle is worth watching.
Cornerback
Active: Christian Benford, Maxwell Hairston, Dee Alford, Davison Igbinosun, Jordan Hancock, Toriano Pride Jr.
Cut: Kani Walker, D.J. Miller, Jordan Dunbar, Anthony Kendall, Te’Cory Crouch
At cornerback, the team will likely settle for five or six players on the 53-man. This isn’t just because they need special teams players, but because they want to have depth they’re confident in.
The most difficult decision at cornerback that Brandon Beane needs to make is between Toriano Pride Jr. and Kani Walker. Pride Jr. seems to have the early upper hand because the team drafted him.
However, Walker has stood out so far this offseason. Losing either player will hurt the team. This is a good problem to have, though. If the team has so much talent that one of these players has to go, they’re in a good spot.
Safeties
Active: Cole Bishop, Chauncey Gardner-Johnson, Jalen Kilgore, Jordan Hancock, Sam Franklin Jr.
Cut: Damar Hamlin, Geno Stone, Wande Owens
Safety is an interesting position for the Bills because they have some proven talent behind their starters. With guys like Damar Hamlin and Geno Stone slotting in as backups, it’s hard to cut them.
However, cutting Hamlin and Stone is the right choice. Allowing Kilgore to get more snaps and taking advantage of Hancock’s versatility to play nickel corner or safety allows them to do this.
The reason Sam Franklin Jr. makes the roster over both Hamlin and Stone is that he’s a specialist. Franklin Jr. only sees the field to play special teams, and every roster has that. He might be from the McDermott era, but Beane should be confident enough to keep Franklin around.
Special Teams
Active: Tyler Bass, Tommy Doman Jr., and Reid Ferguson
Cut: Mitch Wishnowsky
Special teams isn’t the most exciting aspect of the 53-man roster to a lot of people, but it’s still important.
This season, the Bills will see Tyler Bass return as their kicker and Reid Ferguson hold down the long snapper position.
The only thing of note on special teams is the decision to keep Tommy Doman Jr. or Mitch Wishnowsky as the punter. At this point, Doman Jr. is the better option because the team will have more control at the punter position for the next few years.
The Florida product was drafted in the seventh round this year and looks to unseat last year’s starter, Mitch Wishnowsky.
An Influx of Youth and Speed
The biggest difference between the Bills’ roster this season and last is how much younger they are. Brandon Beane made an effort to separate Joe Brady from the Sean McDermott era.
This is evident in how many late draft picks are sticking around to develop. In previous seasons, the Bills didn’t have the luxury of letting these kinds of players make the roster. Things are different now, though.
Joe Brady seems to want his own guys on the roster, and their profile is different from what Bills fans are used to. If given time, this Bills team has the opportunity to extend their competitive window.
When that happens, the sky is the limit.
Leave a comment