Ethan in Cleveland

Hamlin made the roster because there are were few other credible back up safeties on the roster. I would agree Stevenson's performance made the decision to keep 7 WRs easier. I could argue though 6 vs 7 WR really came down to Kumerow's performance in camp. Given there were three games to play I agree McD did a fine job in how he managed playing time. I would not have played any starters the whole time but I understand and see how McD approached it. Like someone else posted add another regular season game and cut back to 1 preseason game would be perfect.

Another training camp and preseason in the books and it proves yet again there is zero need for preseason games. There is not a poster on this board that could not have guessed 50 or maybe even 52 of the 53 players on this roster. People were posting how the Bills would cut good players this year. So far only one has been picked up by another organization. Preseason is an absolute waste of time and only risks injury. Three games and they didn't learn anything more than the casual fan already knew. NFLPA is nuts to agree to any more than 1 preseason game and should fight for none.

The current roster can play better and they added guys. Epenesa can play better. Star is back. Edmunds might fulfill his potential. Phillips might play better if he returns(I don't think he will but others on this board do). At WR sanders could/should give more production than Brown did and Davis looks like he will produce even more. RB is a quesoitn makr but both guys have the potential to be better if the line is better. And for the OL, the starting 5 is together for the first time and healthy. I agree free agency didn't do much other than swap Sanders for Brown. But the draft bought talent. They added a first round DE that looks good. Basham looks like a guy that will get treated how Epenesa did last year. I suspect he is a healthy scratch the first month or so and then is brought along slowly. So yes, they didn't make any splash moves, but they are a better team. And none of that matters if Allen gets hurt or regresses.

It's less about Hollister love for me than it is at least he has produced in the past. What has Sweeny done to earn a roster spot? He can't block worth a dam. Maybe the organization sees them as interchangeable and that Sweeney may have more potential than what we have seen on the field. Again fringe decisions that in the end won't really matter.

I like Anderson as a long term project at center. I liked Beane drafting him late. I still think an upgrade at center in next year's draft is likely.

Not a single ProBowl TE in franchise history. I still like Knox but keeping Sweeny over Hollister makes no sense.

Again these are marginal decisions that I'm fine with. I'd prefer an extra safety who likely would make those same 7 tackles as a gunner and give us more depth in the DB group. But all in all I'm good with the roster. I'm going to assume Hollister comes back and they place McKenzie on IR or release Sweeney. I like the 7 WR's, I like the fact they moved Johnson and kept Obada, I like they cut Fromm, and I like the LB group. The reverse is if we punt so few times and most Kickoffs are touchbacks, then why do we care so much about the gunner position? No argument on skill level. He's a good player. I'd just go with a another DB and I think you can find someone to fill the gunner role.

He had 7 special team tackles last season. That tied him for 69th in special teams tackles. I would have kept an extra CB or safety over Jones. But honestly none of the DBs they cut deserve to make the team either. Hope so. Zimmer seems like a coach favorite so that would only leave Butler as the odd man out at DT. But like others said, just give it time and see who gets dinged up in the first few weeks

Phillips might not come back. I had him making the roster and not Zimmer. But Phillips just has not been good. My guess is they injury settlement him in a few weeks.

When healthy he is a top 5 CB. You can say he didn't play hard in Buffalo. You can say he wanted to leave or whatever you want but he won a MVP and he is a highly regarded DB. But I agree he does seem to attract drama.

He's in the final year of his deal and according to one site I saw he is the 13th highest paid CB in the league. He was pre-injury regarded as a top 3 CB in the league. Now I agree, he is 30 years old and his best days are probably past, but when healthy he is worth closer to 17M a year than the 13M he is getting for 2021. For perspective Ronald Darby is getting 10M this year. These are always incredibly hard choices for a GM to make. There are some players that can still excel even past age 30 at CB but it is rare. Replacing a CB of his quality in the draft will be hard and they probably overpay in FA for a lesser quality player. New England burned a ton of cap space on marginal players this past off-season and but they still have $14M they could use to pay Gilmore more for this year and next. It's a really tough situaiotn for a GM.

Why isn't depth at safety discussed more? That is the position group that I feel has the worst depth. We have two solid veterans. I don't know how good Hamlin is but he is alate round rookie. I'd like to see them add a more experienced third safety. Maybe Neal plays some safety in a pinch?

Yeah if it's not an injury it's him winning defensive MVP. Always something

It never was in the window

I 99.9% agree with you. But has he really done much in camp to be certain of a roster spot? I had him on my 53. But Ertz is still a possibility. I never had Sweeney on my final 53. Will be interesting to see how this all shakes out

If you are another GM, what do you give up for Fromm? He was drafted in the fifth round. By all reports he does not have a NFL caliber arm. A seventh? At best he is a 3rd string QB. I'd have no issue giving up a 7th round pick for a QB project. Not sure I would go much higher than that and I would instead take my chnaces he gets released.

I think people are angry that he was not on the final 53 not what value Beane got in the trade. Not me. He never showed any promise on defense and Addison and Obada both outplayed him last year. I'm glad Beane got a pick because Johnson was not going to make the 53. This board needs to stop thinking like it is 2010-2019. Special teams mean nothing. That is what loser teams with no talent care about. Johnson had 8 special teams tackles last year. Who the hell cares. Someone else will make those 8 tackles this year. Now jettison Jones and keep Kumerow and an extra LB.

The defense collapsed as it did against KC - weakest link on the team Edmunds and the defensive coaching staff....

He was young and a prospect but he was not good. Obada has done more in his career at DE already. I too hope they get rid of Jones. I'd rather they keep an extra WR and an extra LB to play the special teams reps that Johnson and Jones played.

He got cut last year. Whats different now?

Agree with 7 WR and only 2 true TE's. You have 11 DL. That is not going to happen. They will keep 10 with Phillips going to IR and sub out Johnson and add Obada. Phillips might just be an injury settlement and they part ways. I too think they keep an extra LB this year and let Taiwan Jones go. I agree with your analysis they will not have five active RB's (4 + Gilliam).

Surprise cut: Doyle. He is terrible. It's not uncommon to cut draft picks but usually not the fourth guy taken even if it is the fifth round Surprise 53: Hamlin - earlier in the year I did not have him making the 53. Now I think he is a lock unless they bring in another veteran that is let go

Agree. Sweeney is not worth keeping. He can't block and Kumerow can be the big body receiver if needed. I've been posting most off season that they don't need three true TEs and it would be better to play a swing OT as the designated blocking TE.

Last year he made a goal line stand tackle on 4th down against the 49ers. It was a great play. It was the only great play he made last year.

I saw nothing to dissuade my opinion that the weakest link on this team is Edmunds. He may not be the worst player on the defense but because his position is so critical his flaws are more problematic. I'm going into game 1 with an open mind and I hope he plays up to his potential.