After the 2025 NFL Draft, some players who made the roster in 2024 should be on notice.
Each year when the draft ends, the battle to make the 53-man roster begins. Here is the offseason schedule where the battles will take place:
- Voluntary Workouts : April 21-May 26
- Rookie Minicamp : yet to be announced, but either May 2-5 or 9-12
- OTAs : May 27-June5
- Mandatory Minicamp : June 10-12
- Training Camp : yet to be announced
- Preseason Games : Will be announced on May 14th
After updating my roster tracker, I identified 10 positions that should be in fierce competition for the final spots on the 53-man roster.
Methodology
Looking at the roster, I used the number of players at each position that made the 53-man roster last year, only adjusting 1 less quarterback to make room for either more WRs or CBs.
I prioritized this year’s rookies and last year’s core special teams players.
At DT, I know Michael Hoecht is listed officially as a DE, but that is because he played in a 3-4 for the Rams, similar to how Von Miller was always listed as an OLB, but only ever played DE. I consider Hoecht to take snaps at all DL positions, but he’s the typical size of a 4-3 DT, so I’m categorizing him as such.
Outside Corner
Christian Benford, Mad Max, and Tre’Davious White should be roster locks.
That leaves Dane Jackson, Ja‘Marcus Ingram, Dorian Strong, Brandon Codrington (who is the favorite to be one of the two returners), Te’Cory Couch, Daryl Porter, and Wande Owens competing for 2 spots.
With the amount of draft picks in this list, the Bills may reduce numbers at a different position to keep these players from being picked up by other teams.
Way too early prediction: Ja’Marcus Ingram + Dorian Strong + Brandon Codrington with the rest to the practice squad.
WR
Khalil Shakir, Keon Coleman, and Joshua Palmer are the locks for starting spots from this position group. I want to add Curtis Samuel to this list, as Beane tends to lean in the direction of players he has scouted and drafted in the past. The Carolina connection over the years has not been as much about players he has connections with as much as players he has convictions about. If Samuel gets off to a bad start or has an early injury, he might be overtaken by some of the young and hungry talent on this team.
Curtis Samuel, Laviska Shenault (expected advantage as he has a proven record as a returner in the league), Jalen Virgil, Tyrell Shavers, K.J. Hamler, Kaden Prather, Kelly Akharaiyi, and Stephen Gosnell will all be competing for 2-3 spots.
Way too early prediction: Curtis Samuel, Laviska Shenault, Tyrell Shavers with the rest to the practice squad.
DT
The DT room is suddenly flooded with Free Agents and draft picks. Ed Oliver, Daquan Jones, Larry Ogunjobi, Michael Hoecht, T.J. Sanders, Deone Walker.
This is where it gets dicey. Last year, the Bills only kept 6 DTs, which would leave every other DT on the roster, including Dewayne Carter, Zion Logue, Paris Shand, and Devin Brandt on the outside looking in.
Way too early prediction: Dewayne Carter has to make the roster right?………right?
RB
This position likely stays chalk unless the Bills trade James Cook. If he is out for any amount of mandatory time, Ray Davis could get 1st team snaps, and it would create room for another RB to join the roster. For now, though, James Cook and Ray Davis are the 1-2 punch with Ty Johnson in line as the 3rd down back. Reggie Gilliam comes in as the 4th back due to his Core Special Teamer role.
Competing with Ty and vying for next man up, Darrynton Evans, Frank Gore Jr., and Rahjai Harris are likely competing for practice squad appointments.
Way too early prediction: James Cook, Ray Davis, Ty Johnson, Reggie Gilliam with the rest to the practice squad.
TE
Dawson Knox and Dalton Kincaid lock down the two starting positions.
Last season, the Bills rostered 3 TEs with Quintin Morris being the long-time core special teamer, with consistently a game-winning touchdown grab once a year. This offseason, Quintin Morris surprisingly did not return and remains a free agent.
Draft pick Jackson Hawes seems poised to take that role, with 400+ special-teams snaps and blocking prowess. It’s not that he can’t catch the ball, but at 6’6″ 260, Georgia Tech leaned into his greatest strength, but he has a versatile enough skill set where he won’t be a tell to the defense if he comes onto the field. His main competition is Zach Davidson, who flashed receiving chops in past seasons, but has gotten bitten by the injury bug fairly often.
Way too early prediction: Dawson Knox, Dalton Kinkaid, Jackson Hawes with the rest to the practice squad.
Slot Corner
This is a simple and short battle to describe. Taron Johnson is a mainstay of the Bills’ defense and is the only lock at slot corner.
The bigger question is how the Bills make the 53-man roster limit with so much young talent on their team. There was a point in years past where every draft pick stayed on the roster until the Bills were ready to move on for good. Last year, we saw that pattern change, where roster spots were not reserved for anyone, and if your skill set didn’t lend itself to a championship like the team expected, you didn’t make the cut.
Daequan Hardy was an example of a good player the Bills believe has skill, but wasn’t ready to contribute at a championship level, so a replacement at returner was brought in via trade in Brandon Codrington, and Hardy was subjected to waivers and was assigned to the practice squad.
This year, Cam Lewis is the player on notice, as Jordan Hancock was brought in with a similar skill set but a better athletic profile. Hancock’s RAS score was a 9.82, good for 51st out of 2752 CBs measured. Cam Lewis, while a fan favorite and an intelligent system player, as well as a core special teamer, only had a RAS of 4.5 out of 10 and is in danger of being shown up by the rookie with more upside. I can’t see them affording to keep both players, so this is an important battle to watch.
Way too early prediction: Taron Johnson, Jordan Hancock, with Cam Lewis to the practice squad.
LT
Dion Dawkins and Ryan VanDeMark are the mainstays at the LT position, Dawkins being the star and VanDeMark being the solid back-up.
Last year, the Bills kept 3 LTs and seem likely to keep the same number this year, with last year’s draft pick in Tylan Grable the favorite for the last spot. He’ll be pushed by Chase Lundt, though there is some buzz out there that Lundt is a candidate to cross-train at a guard position that may be more of a fit for his body, specifically his 14th percentile measurement in arm length.
Way too early prediction: Dion Dawkins, Ryan VanDeMark, Tylan Grable with Chase to the practice squad, and Travis Clayton as the International player exemption.
LB
This position also seems fairly open and shut as there are clear leaders at the position, clear backup talent set to take over for Matt Milano after what seems to be shaping up as his final season in Buffalo.
Last year, the Bills kept 5 Linebackers and will likely do so again this year with Terrel Bernard, Matt Milano, Dorian Williams, and Edefuan Ulofoshio shaping up to be the clear favorites. Buffalo Joe Andreessen seems likely to edge out Baylon Spector and Keonta Jenkins, given his proven role last year as a core special teamer and developmental player.
Way too early prediction: Terrel Bernard, Matt Milano, Dorian Williams, Joe, Andreessen, and Edefuan Elofoshio get the nod at the linebacker positions, with the rest signing to the practice squad.
Backup OL
This might be the most painful position to try to predict. Alec Anderson serves as the Bills’ dominant 6th OL, who comes in as a Big TE on obvious running downs, a role that was filled previously by David Edwards, who now serves as the Bills’ starting LG.
This leaves only 2 spots on the 53-man roster open, considering how they structured the positions last year. Having Reid Ferguson as a dedicated Long Snapper reduces the depth the Bills can have at OL to 9 total.
This will be a painful cut as Chase Lundt, Mike Edwards, Sedrick Van Pran-Granger, Kendrick Green, Rush Reimer, and Richard Gouraige will all compete for the 2 spots that remain as backups along the Offensive Line.
Way too early prediction: Sedrick Van Pran Granger and Kendrick Green stick to the 53, with the rest to the practice squad.
Punter
It appears to be an open competition at the Punter position, as Veteran Sam Martin was cut from the team during this most recent offseason.
Brad Robbins and Jake Camarda seem to be just as likely as the other to win the starting spot, but there could always be a late entry to win the position, including University of Buffalo standout Ethan Duane, who was invited to Rookie Minicamp.
Way too early prediction: Jake Camarda wins the starting position due to his veteran status and big leg.
The Obvious Problem
I think the practice squad I’ve described is 27 spots deep. This is obviously not realistic, and I don’t see a great way out of it. Maybe Beane can pull off some magic in the offseason trade world, but it seems increasingly likely that the Bills will have to say some painful goodbyes to talented players in their pursuit of the greatest prize in sports, a Super Bowl Ring.
Get ready for an eventful offseason filled with camp battles to keep an eye on.