By Nick Wojton / Billswire.usatoday.com
The Bills preseason is half over after two wins against the Indianapolis Colts and Carolina Panthers, respectively.
While some fans admit they’re fired up by the wins, they mean little. What really counts is how players have performed en route to their ultimate end of summer goal, making Buffalo’s final 53-man roster.
With that, here’s Bills Wire’s latest 53-man roster projection for the Bills, halfway through the preseason:
Quarterback (2): Josh Allen, Matt Barkley
Cut: Tyree Jackson
Oddly enough, combined, the Bills might have the best preseason quarterback duo in the NFL in Josh Allen and Matt Barkley. By the numbers, Barkley, playing against backups, has some great numbers thus far. Allen was OK against the Colts, but was lights out in Week 2 against the Panthers. So there are some confident signs after Buffalo floundered in 2018, having started four QBs in the regular season.
Unfortunately for Tyree Jackson, the lights seemingly haven’t gone on yet. The case for him before the preseason was, can Buffalo sneak him on the practice squad? That is now much closer to, does he even deserve that?
Running back (4): LeSean McCoy, Frank Gore, Devin Singletary, Patrick DiMarco
Cuts: Marcus Murphy, Senorise Perry, TJ Yeldon, Christian Wade
In recent weeks, this once tough projection has become pretty clear. The Bills’ top-three backs are going to be Shady, Frank Gore and Devin Singletary. We’re just not sure how that’s going to shake out specifically. It also appears they still love Patrick DiMarco, despite his lack of contributions on offense.
Senorise Perry and TJ Yeldon both had bad fumbles this preseason which really hurt their stock. They were benched after. Christian Wade will have at least a roster exemption spot, but he’s kind of pushing for the 53-man roster after some huge plays. But a roster spot seems really unlikely for him, so in one way or another, he’ll probably land on the practice squad.
Wide receiver (6): Cole Beasley, John Brown, Zay Jones, Robert Foster, Andre Roberts, Isaiah McKenzie
Cuts: Duke Williams, David Sills, Cam Phillips, Ray-Ray McCloud, Nick Easley, Victor Bolden
Our top-four of Cole Beasley, John Brown, Zay Jones and Robert Foster seems in-tact as of now. Although, we haven’t seen really much from Jones, it’s the preseason and health is the main goal.
Aside from that, Andre Roberts hasn’t flashed offensively in games, but in early camp practices, he featured with the starters and Buffalo wants him to be their returner. The biggest story is Isaiah McKenzie. You cannot ignore he’s making play after play in the preseason. Aside from him, Duke Williams might be the last cut here as Ray-Ray McCloud and Cam Phillips have drifted back a little in the team’s recent games. Williams had an outstanding touchdown catch vs. the Panthers. His size made all the difference there, so perhaps he still has the best chance for a roster spot.
Also of note: under Sean McDermott, the Bills have never rostered more than five receivers out of camp, but this year feels different.
Tight end (4): Tyler Kroft, Lee Smith, Dawson Knox, Tommy Sweeney
Cuts: Nate Becker, Kyle Carter, Jason Croom, Keith Towbridge
Tommy Sweeney had a huge opportunity gift wrapped to him with Tyler Kroft, fellow rookie Dawson Knox and Jason Croom all suffering injuries. He’s been up-and-down with his play as the defacto No. 1 tight end on the roster, but against the Panthers, he was the team’s best playmaker with two catches from Josh Allen.
While Lee Smith has been quiet, he’ll feature as an extra blocker for the Bills and likely has a spot held. It’s a tough call on Croom, but Sweeney has flashed as of late, so he gets the nod over him.
This also depends on the health of Kroft, who could start the year on the PUP list.
Interior offensive line (5): Mitch Morse, Spencer Long, Jon Feliciano, Quinton Spain, Wyatt Teller
Outside offensive line (3): Dion Dawkins, Ty Nsekhe, Cody Ford
A tough group to project here. One can envision another tackle being added to this group as well, perhaps even local Jarron Jones, which would be a great storyline. But for now, this is the group we’ll go with.
Russell Bodine seems destined for a new team as he’ll fallen behind Spencer Long and Jon Feliciano as the backup center. Wyatt Teller has come back around and impressed recently and should have a backup role for him saved while Quinton Spain will probably start at left guard, next to Mitch Morse, of course.
Aside from Jones, De’Ondre Wesley is another guy that could sneak onto the final roster as a tackle because while Cody Ford is listed on the outside of the offensive line, he’s played inside much more.
Cuts: Russell Bodine, Ike Boettger, Ryan Bates, Garrett McGhin, Demetrius Rhaney, Conor McDermott, De’Ondre Wesley, Jarron Jones
Defensive tackle (4): Ed Oliver, Jordan Phillips, Harrison Phillips, Star Lotulelei
The defensive tackle position is pretty easy to predict right now. Jordan Phillips made plays early this offseason, but Oliver has made play after play after play to surpass him pretty quickly on the team’s depth chart. Most expected that at some point, anyway. But having said that, both Jordan and Harrison Phillips will see the field this year, with the rotation Sean McDermott runs in the trenches.
Cuts: Kyle Peko, LT Walton, Roderick Young
Defensive end (5): Trent Murphy, Jerry Hughes, Shaq Lawson, Darryl Johnson, Eddie Yarbrough
Trent Murphy, Shaq Lawson and Jerry Hughes, like the interior of the defensive line, are locks. Darryl Johnson is emerging as a bright spot as a seventh-round rookie that no one saw coming. He’ll have to keep it up through the final two preseason games, but already having sacks to his name will help.
The last spot is the tough spot. Eddie Yarbrough has held down that role in recent years, but it’s a tight competition between him and Mike Love. But envisioning a scenario with Love on the practice squad seems fitting. Yarbrough also got into the backfield as a pass rusher during the preseason, which is exactly where he needs to improve his stock.
Cuts: Mike Love, Sam Acho
Linebacker (7): Tremaine Edmunds, Matt Milano, Lorenzo Alexander, Julian Stanford, Deon Lacey, Vosean Joseph, Maurice Alexander
Another top-three set, but the rest comes down to a lot of special teamers. Julian Stanford gets a nod over Tyrel Dodson and Corey Thompson because when he filled in for Tremaine Edmunds at middle linebacker last season, he was effective and that’s big for his stock. Along with Stanford, Deon Lacey Vosean Joseph and Maurice Alexander, all will be contributors of some sort on special teams. Thompson is easily the hardest cut here, he has versatility as a defender and special teamer as well. Seeing him make the final roster would, in no way, be a shock.
Cuts: Tyrel Dodson, Corey Thompson
Cornerback (6): Tre’Davious White, Levi Wallace, Kevin Johnson, Taron Johnson, Captain Munnerlyn, Siran Neal
With the addition of Captain Munnerlyn, simply slide him in and EJ Gaines out, who was released this week via an injury settlement. Both have flexibility to play on the inside and outside, but preferably the inside. Also there is Siran Neal, once thought of as a safety and now mostly thought of just as Buffalo’s “big” nickel cornerback.
Kevin Johnson had edged out Gaines pretty much throughout the offseason and cemented that with a 71-yard pick-six interception against the Panthers. Taron Johnson isn’t a name we’ve heard much this offseason, but he played well as a rookie at the nickel corner spot as well. Tre’Davious White and Levi Wallace, one and two.
Lafayette Pitts could slide onto the roster, but it’s tough to envision who he overtakes, perhaps Munnerlyn, but his biggest contributions over his Bills tenure is as a special teamer. Cam Lewis has performed well, but should be an easy pick for a practice squad spot.
Cuts: Ryan Lewis, Lafayette Pitts, Denzel Rice, Cam Lewis
Safety (4): Jordan Poyer, Micah Hyde, Kurt Coleman, Jaquan Johnson
Jordan Poyer and Micah Hyde are who they are. Behind them, Kurt Coleman seems a good pick because of his past successes playing in Sean McDermott’s defense with the Panthers. The final spot here could come down to what the Bills think of Jaquan Johnson, who had a solid game against the Colts. He would be a younger, more developmental piece for the Bills, as opposed to a player like Dean Marlowe.
Abraham Wallace could be a sneaky pick for the practice squad since the Bills have cut him and brought him back a few times this offseason.
Cuts: Dean Marlowe, Abraham Wallace
Special teams (3): Stephen Hauschka, Cory Carter, Reid Ferguson
Stephen Hauschka has a few people sweating through the preseason, but he should be good for at least a chance to kick in the regular season. Cory vs. Corey at punter is the battle to watch here. Flip of a coin, really.
Cuts: Chase McLaughlin, Corey Bojorquez