By Nick Wojton / Billswire.usatoday.com
There’s finally a roster for the 2019 Buffalo Bills. They’ve announced 31 players would leave the team. We’ll later find out who returns via the practice squad.
Here’s a full breakdown of which players did make the team’s final roster, position-by-position, with notes for each:
Offense
Quarterback
Rostered: Josh Allen, Matt Barkley
This was never in question. The Bills’ entire success as a team in 2019 and near future depends on Josh Allen. Will he take that next step? What also quickly went into the “never in question” category is Matt Barkley settling in as QB2.
Not only did Barkley himself look good in the preseason, Tyree Jackson looked bad. The Bills will need a scout team QB and it’s unlikely anyone claims Jackson with the way he performed or the Bills could look for an upgrade.
Running back
Rostered: Devin Singletary, Frank Gore, TJ Yeldon, Patrick DiMarco
Welcome to the big leagues, Devin Singletary. In a shocker, LeSean McCoy was released, even though he said this offseason he plans to be the team’s workhorse back. General manager Brandon Beane said following the decision he didn’t think McCoy would want to be in a rotation, even though he also added he didn’t ask McCoy’s thoughts on that, either.
A few more surprises in the running back room, too. First, Christian Wade was released, which means the Bills are hoping he lands on the actual practice squad, not the “exempt” one. If he went on that, the team wouldn’t be able to call him up to the actual roster this season. On the actual practice squad, they can.
Other guys actually making the roster also included Frank Gore and fullback Patrick DiMarco, along with TJ Yeldon, who’s also a bit of a surprise. Or at least, it wouldn’t have been shocking if Yeldon was cut.
Wide receiver
Rostered: Cole Beasley, John Brown, Zay Jones, Andre Roberts, Zay Jones, Isaiah McKenzie, Robert Foster
No real surprises here. We had our top-four of Cole Beasley, John Brown, Zay Jones and Robert Foster, and many assumed Andre Roberts and Isaiah McKenzie were behind them. In the exhibitions, McKenzie clearly was the team’s best playmakers.
Key cuts included roster hopefuls Duke Williams and Ray-Ray McCloud. Both could get sniffs from other teams, but also could land on Buffalo’s practice squad. What will be interesting to monitor in Week 1 is exactly what level of the depth chart Jones is. He’s been playing special teams.
Tight end
Rostered: Tyler Kroft, Dawson Knox, Tommy Sweeney, Lee Smith
Is Tyler Kroft going to play opening day? Maybe, maybe not. We still have to see. Some assumed he would end up on the PUP list and miss some time, but he doesn’t have to sit out the first six weeks since he’s on the roster. He might be ready for Week 1 or Week 2. Jason Croom was placed on the injured reserve. Tommy Sweeney quickly rose from seventh-round rookie for the practice squad to someone who would for sure make the final roster after capitalizing on his chances when Kroft, Croom and Knox had injuries.
Offensive line
Rostered: Cody Ford, Dion Dawkins, Mitch Morse, Quinton Spain, Ty Nsekhe, Spencer Long, Jon Feliciano, Ryan Bates, Conor McDermott
A lot of these tough decisions were already decided via trade. The Bills shipped Wyatt Teller to the Browns and Russell Bodine to the Patriots. Local product Jarron Jones is gone, but the only surprise is really Conor McDermott. Buffalo apparently wanted depth at tackle because he just continues to stick around, but good for him.
Ryan Bates went from eventual cut when traded for in a deal with the Eagles to actually being rostered because it was evident the Bills liked using his as depth at several position on the offensive line. From left the right, Buffalo’s ideal starting line will likely be Dion Dawkins, Quinton Spain, Mitch Morse, Cody Ford and Ty Nsekhe.
Defensive line
Rostered: Trent Murphy, Jerry Hughes, Shaq Lawson, Darryl Johnson, Ed Oliver, Star Lotulelei, Harrison Phillips, Jordan Phillips
Another standard operation here. The Bills kept pretty much everyone you would’ve guessed. Small school, seventh rounder Darryl Johnson was a pleasant surprise, beating out Eddie Yarbrough for the team’s fourth defensive end spot. On the inside of the line, that grouping hasn’t changed since the end of the 2018, aside from Ed Oliver replacing Kyle Williams.
Linebacker
Rostered: Lorenzo Alexander, Tremaine Edmunds, Matt Milano, Julian Stanford, Corey Thompson, Maurice Alexander
This depth was all about versatility. Julian Stanford will be behind Tremaine Edmunds in the middle and did well there last season when filling in. Corey Thompson has experience playing every linebacker spot. Maurice Alexander is your special team ace, but all three depth players will be contributing there. Vosean Joseph hurt his shoulder and ended up on the IR, but he never really stood out during the exhibition season.
Cornerback
Rostered: Tre’Davious White, Levi Wallace, Kevin Johnson, Taron Johnson, Siran Neal
The Bills brought in Kevin Johnson and EJ Gaines to challenge Levi Wallace at the No.2 cornerback spot. He had no issues holding both off, as Gaines was already released via an injury settlement. Cam Lewis, the Buffalo product, made a late push for a roster spot, but could end up on the team’s practice squad. Lafayette Pitts is a coveted special teams contributor, but perhaps depth linebackers were picked over him there.
Siran Neal was a surprise of training camp. He did little as a rookie, only to look strong this summer as a nickel cornerback. But Taron Johnson will start there.
Safety
Rostered: Micah Hyde, Jordan Poyer, Jaquan Johnson, Dean Marlowe
Dean Marlowe is a bit of a surprise, but he’s been a player Sean McDermott has liked to keep around in recent seasons. Jaquan Johnson was named one of Pro Football Focus’ top performers of the preseason, but Kurt Coleman is the interesting one. NFL Network reports the Bills want to bring him back as early as tomorrow. He was cut on Saturday. There could still could be movement here.
Special teams
Rostered: Stephen Hauschka, Corey Borjorquez, Reid Ferguson
Stephen Hauschka wasn’t going anywhere. Corey Borjorquez could be, though. The Bills could scout the waiver wire for his potential replacement in the coming day or so.