How many roster spots are still in play?

[Ethan in Cleveland]

By my count I think there are really only 5 spots (RB #3, back-up QB, back-up MLB, CB#2, slot WR) to fill and a handful others to bring in for competition.  

 

RB - Currently I believe they only have 2 RBs on the roster.  Given the dollars spent elsewhere so far, my guess is they choose to address this in the draft again.

Punter - they will draft one and have a camp competition

MLB - I'm going to assume they do not trade Edmunds.  That still leaves back-up MLB in play.  I would like to see Klein back on a reduced contract, but suspect this will be addressed with a mid-round draft pick.

OT - with Williams gone and Morse extended, I think they shift from C/G in the draft to OT that can play guard in a pinch.  Dawkins played well down the stretch but he wil lbe a prime candidate for a salary cap cut in the next year or two.  

C/G - At some point Bates will be signed.  He is the utility knife.  We all assume Ford will be gone, but he is relatively cheap has played and now has a new position coach.  As above I would favor adding an OT instead of another interior lineman.

Safety - Hyde was restructured but both safeties are over 30. They are going to need to save some dollars and get younger here in the near future.  Adding a future starter in the draft would make sense here. Another safety can play special teams as well. 

TE - with Howard and Doyle playing the role of blocking TE, I don't see them addressing this any further

WR - They had 7 on the roster last season after Stevenson was added off IR.  I think they only keep 6 and they already have 5 under contract (Diggs, Davis, McKenzie, Kumerow, Stevenson). Do they keep 6 and draft a WR?  If 7, then two rookies or do they try and sign someone?

Back-up QB - free agent or draft pick?

 

Forgot CB#2 - I am assuming they draft a CB in round 1, but an additional veteran FA is also a possibility.

 

What do you all think?

 

 

Edited March 17, 2022 by Ethan in Portland

[offyourocker]

DB would be worthy of mention?

[wjag]

To me it's just 3 or 4..  Most glaring need at the moment is a QB2..

 

Then CB2 ... then WR3 ..  and on a stretch a punter...

[buffblue]

9 minutes ago, Ethan in Portland said:

By my count I think there are really only 5 spots (RB #3, back-up QB, back-up MLB, CB#2, slot WR) to fill and a handful others to bring in for competition.  

 

RB - Currently I believe they only have 2 RBs on the roster.  Given the dollars spent elsewhere so far, my guess is they choose to address this in the draft again.

Punter - they will draft one and have a camp competition

MLB - I'm going to assume they do not trade Edmunds.  That still leaves back-up MLB in play.  I would like to see Klein back on a reduced contract, but suspect this will be addressed with a mid-round draft pick.

OT - with Williams gone and Morse extended, I think they shift from C/G in the draft to OT that can play guard in a pinch.  Dawkins played well down the stretch but he wil lbe a prime candidate for a salary cap cut in the next year or two.  

C/G - At some point Bates will be signed.  He is the utility knife.  We all assume Ford will be gone, but he is relatively cheap has played and now has a new position coach.  As above I would favor adding an OT instead of another interior lineman.

Safety - Hyde was restructured but both safeties are over 30. They are going to need to save some dollars and get younger here in the near future.  Adding a future starter in the draft would make sense here. Another safety can play special teams as well. 

TE - with Howard and Doyle playing the role of blocking TE, I don't see them addressing this any further

WR - They had 7 on the roster last season after Stevenson was added off IR.  I think they only keep 6 and they already have 5 under contract (Diggs, Davis, McKenzie, Kumerow, Stevenson). Do they keep 6 and draft a WR?  If 7, then two rookies or do they try and sign someone?

Back-up QB - free agent or draft pick?

 

What do you all think?

 

 

You really think Dawkins could be a cap casualty? He's an above average player still in his 20's at one of the most important positions in the game. And he's signed for 3 more years at a reasonable salary.

[First Round Bust]

backup qb - has to be a vet, cant build a SB contender and have a raw rook drafted mid-late round as the pinch-hitter like Jake Fromm-like zombie but of course that comes with a coupla mill per season...drafting a guard to step-in at mid-season is another priority to give Ford compeition as bates is the c-g like Feliciano was, only better hopefully

 

both safties 30+ but there are young vets on the roster- Hyde has 2 years left, Poyer one.

 

the backup MLB needs to get real - if you want to replace Edmunds you need some exp, speed, size, wingspan and that is tough to find.

 

SDSU TE on day three would give thee a chubee

 

Only Jameson is there at 25 (value) I am trading down for an extra 2nd and 3rd-rounder, so if I dont get that special kid I got 2 second and 2 to go shopping for WR, CB, OL. DL then LB and RB in middle rounds with house money on day 3; TE, QB, S..

[GolfandBills]

I can see a vet CB and QB shortly in free agency then it will be a handful of minimum contract guys that don’t count toward the cap.  Punter could’ve an option too

[NewEra]

8 minutes ago, wjag said:

To me it's just 3 or 4..  Most glaring need at the moment is a QB2..

 

Then CB2 ... then WR3 ..  and on a stretch a punter...

You think backup qb should be a higher priority than cb2 for this team?

[gordong]

think your way off base on Dawkins ...  WAY off base.  

[Desert Bills Fan]

RB - Currently I believe they only have 2 RBs on the roster.  Given the dollars spent elsewhere so far, my guess is they choose to address this in the draft again, later rounds - plus a FA

Punter - they will draft one and have a camp competition. UNdrafted pick up for camp

MLB - I'm going to assume they do not trade Edmunds.  That still leaves back-up MLB in play.  I would like to see Klein back on a reduced contract, but suspect this will be addressed with a mid-round draft pick.

OT - with Williams gone and Morse extended, I think they shift from C/G in the draft to OT that can play guard in a pinch.  Dawkins played well down the stretch but he wil lbe a prime candidate for a salary cap cut in the next year or two = nope!

C/G - At some point need this: Bates will be signed.  He is the utility knife.  We all assume Ford will be gone, but he is relatively cheap has played and now has a new position coach.  As above I would favor adding an OT instead of another interior lineman.

Safety - Hyde was restructured but both safeties are over 30. They are going to need to save some dollars and get younger here in the near future.  Adding a future starter in the draft would make sense here. Another safety can play special teams as well. 

TE - with Howard and Doyle playing the role of blocking TE, I don't see them addressing this any further

WR - They had 7 on the roster last season after Stevenson was added off IR.  I think they only keep 6 and they already have 5 under contract (Diggs, Davis, McKenzie, Kumerow, Stevenson). Do they keep 6 and draft a WR?  If 7, then two rookies or do they try and sign someone? Would like to see Robinson or an early draft pick

Back-up QB - definitely need a free agent and a draft pick?

CB: definitely need a FA vet, and an early draft pick

Edited March 17, 2022 by Desert Bills Fan

[wjag]

5 minutes ago, NewEra said:

You think backup qb should be a higher priority than cb2 for this team?

 

I do..  Jackson can play CB2 (assuming White is back).  What gave me great comfort last year was having Trubisky on the team.  The QB room is literally bare.  We all live in fear that one hard hit will take JA17 out.  I don't want some clipboard holder back there.  I want a legit QB2 in the event it is needed..

[Simon Says]

34 minutes ago, Ethan in Portland said:

By my count I think there are really only 5 spots (RB #3, back-up QB, back-up MLB, CB#2, slot WR) to fill and a handful others to bring in for competition.  

 

RB - Currently I believe they only have 2 RBs on the roster.  Given the dollars spent elsewhere so far, my guess is they choose to address this in the draft again.

Punter - they will draft one and have a camp competition

MLB - I'm going to assume they do not trade Edmunds.  That still leaves back-up MLB in play.  I would like to see Klein back on a reduced contract, but suspect this will be addressed with a mid-round draft pick.

OT - with Williams gone and Morse extended, I think they shift from C/G in the draft to OT that can play guard in a pinch.  Dawkins played well down the stretch but he wil lbe a prime candidate for a salary cap cut in the next year or two.  

C/G - At some point Bates will be signed.  He is the utility knife.  We all assume Ford will be gone, but he is relatively cheap has played and now has a new position coach.  As above I would favor adding an OT instead of another interior lineman.

Safety - Hyde was restructured but both safeties are over 30. They are going to need to save some dollars and get younger here in the near future.  Adding a future starter in the draft would make sense here. Another safety can play special teams as well. 

TE - with Howard and Doyle playing the role of blocking TE, I don't see them addressing this any further

WR - They had 7 on the roster last season after Stevenson was added off IR.  I think they only keep 6 and they already have 5 under contract (Diggs, Davis, McKenzie, Kumerow, Stevenson). Do they keep 6 and draft a WR?  If 7, then two rookies or do they try and sign someone?

Back-up QB - free agent or draft pick?

 

What do you all think?

 

 

What about Hodgins?

[Bangarang]

11 minutes ago, wjag said:

 

I do..  Jackson can play CB2 (assuming White is back).  What gave me great comfort last year was having Trubisky on the team.  The QB room is literally bare.  We all live in fear that one hard hit will take JA17 out.  I don't want some clipboard holder back there.  I want a legit QB2 in the event it is needed..

Dane Jackson is a JAG. He’s not someone you want to rely on to be your #2 corner. 
 

CB2 is far more important than backup QB and it isn’t even close.

[hondo in seattle]

Maybe this is my imagination so other long-time Bills fans can chime in...

 

But it seems to me that in the past we could pretty much predict the final 53 at the conclusion of the draft.  In the spring, we'd bring in a bunch of cannon fodder but there were few meaningful training camp battles.   

 

But Beane signs legit guys to battle for roster spots.  So I think it's too early to say there are only 5, 7, whatever spots available.  Of course, there are some glaring openings.  But I also think that some of the guys who look to make the 53 man roster right now we'll find themselves in heated competitions once camp gets going. 

[NewEra]

24 minutes ago, wjag said:

 

I do..  Jackson can play CB2 (assuming White is back).  What gave me great comfort last year was having Trubisky on the team.  The QB room is literally bare.  We all live in fear that one hard hit will take JA17 out.  I don't want some clipboard holder back there.  I want a legit QB2 in the event it is needed..

And what if Tre misses a month or so?  What happens if a corner gets hurt?  
 

that gray comfort we had with Trubisky meant nothing when tredavious went down and our season inevitably ended becssue we didn’t have good enough corner play.  
 

i get your point and I agree that backup qb is important, but disagree that it’s more important than cb2 4 months removed from Tre tearing his acl And having Dane Jackson as our only nfl caliber outside corner 

[Ethan in Cleveland]

47 minutes ago, offyourocker said:

DB would be worthy of mention?

Good catch. I edited the original post.  I was assuming CB#2 will be a high draft pick

[HereComesTheReignAgain]

55 minutes ago, Ethan in Portland said:

 

OT - with Williams gone and Morse extended, I think they shift from C/G in the draft to OT that can play guard in a pinch.  Dawkins played well down the stretch but he wil lbe a prime candidate for a salary cap cut in the next year or two.  

 

 

What do you all think?

 

 

Dawkins was outstanding for the last part of the season.  There is zero chance he is a cap cut in the next few years.  He took a little while to fully recover from covid, after that he was one of the best LTs in the league.

 

[Ethan in Cleveland]

42 minutes ago, buffblue said:

You really think Dawkins could be a cap casualty? He's an above average player still in his 20's at one of the most important positions in the game. And he's signed for 3 more years at a reasonable salary.

They will need to make some had decisions in the future. Every team cuts players but your comments are well taken.  

[wjag]

45 minutes ago, Bangarang said:

Dane Jackson is a JAG. He’s not someone you want to rely on to be your #2 corner. 
 

CB2 is far more important than backup QB and it isn’t even close.

 

Jackson competed with Levi for CB2 last year and held his own when Tre went down.  He'll be fine.

 

Never did I say we don't need another CB, I just said, the most glaring weakness on this team AT THE MOMENT is there is only one QB on the team.  

Edited March 17, 2022 by wjag

[Process]

55 minutes ago, wjag said:

 

I do..  Jackson can play CB2 (assuming White is back).  What gave me great comfort last year was having Trubisky on the team.  The QB room is literally bare.  We all live in fear that one hard hit will take JA17 out.  I don't want some clipboard holder back there.  I want a legit QB2 in the event it is needed..

This is wild

[MrEpsYtown]

We are in excellent shape. IMO we need: 

 

Corners: Whether it is a vet or a rookie, or both that is a glaring hole imo. I like Dane Jackson, but he is just a cheaper Levi. We need an upgrade there, preferably really fast. 

 

WR depth: I think McKenzie has a role, but not sure he is a full time slot. I nominate Adam Humphries. It would be amazing if Allen Robinson too less to join the party. The deep speed of Will Fuller would be nice, and he has a lot to prove. Maybe a young and hungry Dante Pettis. 

 

Backup QB. I keep saying Jacoby Brissett, but honestly this can go in any number of directions once the dust settles on the Watson stuff. 

 

Tackle Depth: There a bunch of free agent guys out there. One guy who makes sense is Jason Spriggs, a super high RAS guy who can play either tackle. 

 

IOL Depth: None of the guys left in free agency are better than Bates imo. So I pencil him in there and likely draft IOL early. And preferably a guy who can play center so Bates can focus on one position. 

 

Change of Pace RB: I like Jerick McKinnon, a guy who can catch it and run it with speed. 

 

More DL Depth: The more the merrier, Calais Campbell, Morgan Fox, Akiem Hicks, Carl Nassib, Matt Ioannidis. 

 

Competition and depth at Linebacker: We all have our opinions on Tremaine, but let's bring in legit competition and see what happens. Is that Bobby Wagner, or LVE, or Kwon Alexander? Or a rookie like Brandon Smith, my personal draft crush.