Buffalo Bills 2024 53-man roster projected ahead of June minicamp

A high turnover rate on both sides of the ball makes it harder than usual to compile a projection for the Buffalo Bills’ 53-man roster at the start of 2024. Still, expectations in Western New York remain high then as the franchise attempts to win its fifth straight AFC East title and sixth straight playoff berth.

Superstar quarterback Josh Allen, who was the only player besides award-winning Baltimore Ravens signal-caller Lamar Jackson to receive a first-place vote for NFL MVP last season, returns but the cast of point guards game around him has changed radically.

Allen’s two top targets in recent years, receivers Stefon Diggs and Gabe Davis, left Buffalo en route to the Houston Texans and Jacksonville Jaguars, respectively. Other notable offensive departures included starting center Mitch Morse, backup running back Latavius ​​Murray and two depth receivers, Trent Sherfield and Deonte Harty.

The Bills defense, which ranked fourth in points allowed per game in 2023 (18.3), was not immune to the front office roster overhaul. The longtime safety tandem of Micah Hyde and Jordan Poyer headlined the high-profile releases, although Hyde remains unsigned and recently told reporters he would only play for Buffalo if he signed. he continued his football career. Cornerback Tre’Davious White and defensive end Leonard Floyd are also gone.

Now, as the Bills prepare for the final phase of their offseason workouts with OTAs and a mandatory minicamp in June, here’s an update on how their new team is shaping up for the 2024 campaign.

Buffalo Bills 2024 53-man roster projection (v1.0; pre-June OTA, minicamp)

Quarterbacks (2): Josh Allen, Mitchell Trubisky

Allen faces the pressing challenge of getting up to speed with his new group of wideouts, but he should remain among the top contenders in the MVP race. Trubisky returns for his second stint as Allen’s backup, a role he previously held in 2021.

Shane Buechele probably won’t make the team barring an injury, but it’s a safe bet he’ll make the practice squad.

Running backs (4): James Cook, Ray Davis, Ty Johnson, Reggie Gilliam (FB)

Cook is locked in as the Bills return after a stellar 2023 season in which he racked up 1,567 yards from scrimmage and six total touchdowns. Davis is expected to enter training camp with an inside track on a roster spot after being selected in the fourth round of the 2024 NFL Draft. Gilliam is also secure in his starting guard role.

The final spot will likely go to Ty Johnson, who averaged 4.4 yards per carry in limited reserve work last year, or rookie Frank Gore Jr. Gore joined the Bills as a free agent undrafted five years after his future Hall of Fame father played for the organization in 2019.

Wide Receivers (6): Khalil Shakir, Keon Coleman, Curtis Samuel, Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Justin Shorter, KJ Hamler

Receiver will draw the most attention of any position leading into Buffalo’s Week 1 matchup with the Arizona Cardinals in September. Shakir, Coleman and Samuel are locks, and MVS is the likely pick as the No. 4 WR if he can keep his dropping issues under control throughout camp.

The last two (or potentially three) places are truly up for grabs. One will likely go to an outside edge option (Shorter, Mack Hollins or Chase Claypool), while the other should be a smaller slot target (Hamler or Andy Isabella).

Tight ends (3): Dalton Kincaid, Dawson Knox, Quintin Morris

While there are no changes in the tight end room from last season, Knox is under pressure to bounce back from a lackluster 2023 to avoid creating an even bigger gap in snap share between him and Kincaid, who completed 73 passes as a rookie.

Offensive Line (9): Dion Dawkins, David Edwards, Connor McGovern, O’Cyrus Torrence, Spencer Brown, Sedrick Van Pran-Granger, La’el Collins, Ryan Van Demark, Gunner Britton

Dawkins (LT), Torrence (RG) and Brown (RT) are the heavy favorites to start at their respective positions. Although McGovern is also in the lineup, he could be at center or left guard depending on the development of Van Pran-Granger, a fifth-round pick from Georgia who could make a case for immediately taking over at center. Any struggles for Edwards at LG could also push Buffalo’s coaching staff to move McGovern there, opening the door for the rookie.

There will be a prolonged camp battle for the remaining reserve spots between Collins, Van Demark, Britton and a massive group of other offensive linemen on the current 90-man roster.

EDGE (5): Greg Rousseau, AJ Epenesa, Von Miller, Dawuane Smoot, Javon Solomon

While most of the attention this offseason has focused on replacing the team’s marquee departures, the biggest thing that could impact the team’s fortunes in 2024 is a return fit Miller, an eight-time Pro Bowler who recorded no sacks and just three combined tackles in 12 games last year. He accumulated eight sacks in 11 appearances for Buffalo in 2022 before suffering a torn ACL.

Smoot and Casey Toohill will likely battle for a backup spot, while the Bills are giving Solomon every chance to make the team after totaling 31.5 sacks over his final three college seasons.

Defensive tackles (4): Ed Oliver, DaQuan Jones, DeWayne Carter, DeShawn Williams

The depth here isn’t as strong as last season, but Oliver and Jones make for one of the best tackling tandems in the league when they’re both operating at full capacity. Carter should see immediate snaps as a third-round pick. Williams and Austin Johnson are expected to battle for last place.

Linebackers (6): Matt Milano, Terrel Bernard, Deion Jones, Dorian Williams, Nicholas Morrow, Edefuan Ulofoshio

Buffalo only uses two linebackers in its base defense – the dynamic duo of Milano and Bernard – so it’s possible they only have five linebackers if there are tough decisions elsewhere on the roster. Overall, the Bills’ linebacker group is larger than it has been in recent seasons.

Cornerbacks (7): Rasul Douglas, Christian Benford, Taron Johnson, Kaiir Elam, Daequan Hardy, Kyron Brown, Ja’Marcus Ingram

This is an area the Bills could still look to improve, at least from a depth standpoint, heading into the regular season. The starting trio of Douglas, Benford and Johnson (slot) is among the best in the NFL, but all of the options behind them are either disappointing or unproven.

Elam is a virtual lock to make the roster in its current construction, but the 2022 first-round pick needs a breakthrough year to secure his future with the franchise for 2025 and beyond after a few unremarkable seasons to open his NFL career.

Safeties (4): Mike Edwards, Cole Bishop, Taylor Rapp, Cam Lewis

Edwards, Rapp and Bishop will compete to fill the two starting safety spots. Rapp-Bishop would be the pair with the highest potential, but a veteran presence like Edwards might be needed after losing the decorated Poyer-Hyde combination.

Lewis will challenge Damar Hamlin for the other reserve spot unless Hyde decides to return.

Kicker (1): Tyler Bass

It’s a bit surprising that the Bills didn’t draft another kicker to compete with Bass, who missed five field goals during the regular season and three more in the playoffs last year. That includes a missed 44-yard attempt in the final minutes of the team’s 27-24 playoff loss to the Kansas City Chiefs. If he struggles early in camp, veteran competition can be relied upon to motivate him, at least.

Punter (1): Sam Martin

Martin will battle with rookie Jack Browning to maintain his role as Buffalo’s punter. He has the upside at the position, but is not an asset to win the job after a mediocre 2023.

Long snapper (1): Reid Ferguson

Ferguson is one of the best in the business and could be a candidate for a contract extension before the season as he prepares to enter the final year of his current contract.

As always, things can change quickly with a roster as fluid as this, so look for another projection of the Buffalo Bills 2024 53-man roster before training camp opens in July.

Main image: Jamie Germano/Rochester Democrat and Chronicle / USA TODAY NETWORK