Defensive line after Camp, then after suspended players return?

[BigAl2526]

14 hours ago, Shortchaz said:

Not a surprise but jones is going to be cut. 

I don't think so myself.  It's not that he's a great player, and maybe not even a good one anymore, but he's the only veteran guy on the team that has natural 1 tech size. Hopefully, Deone Walker has a very bright future, but I can't see the Bills trusting him to be "the man" right out of the gate.  The Bills have a history of trusting what they know, even if what they know is only average or a little less.  If Jones falls on his face, the Bills may be forced to dump him and try something different, but they are not going to let Walker start until they are sure he can handle it. They sure aren't going to start Carter or Zion Logue and I'm pretty sure they are planning for TJ Sanders to be in a rotation with Oliver at 3 tech.

[Ridgewaycynic2013]

3 hours ago, Dunkirk Donski said:

My source says he's been stacking Methylene Blue and should take over for Beane in early '26

Is that another name for Walter White's 'Blue Sky' meth? 🤔😇

[NewEra]

5 hours ago, Logic said:

It's definitely an interesting question.

My eyes are on an AJ Epenesa trade and/or a DaQuan Jones cut.

They simply don't have room on the roster for everyone. And even IF they find a way to play the first six games with those guys, they'll need to make room once Ogunjobi and Hoecht return.

Agreed.  Hopefully Beane can turn this into a day 3 pick. I could see us getting a 5th for AJ.  We got similar for Ryan Bates and Cody ford.  I think Daquan will be retained and start unless one of the kids really show out and take it.

[Rockinon]

3 hours ago, BigAl2526 said:

I don't think so myself.  It's not that he's a great player, and maybe not even a good one anymore, but he's the only veteran guy on the team that has natural 1 tech size. Hopefully, Deone Walker has a very bright future, but I can't see the Bills trusting him to be "the man" right out of the gate.  The Bills have a history of trusting what they know, even if what they know is only average or a little less.  If Jones falls on his face, the Bills may be forced to dump him and try something different, but they are not going to let Walker start until they are sure he can handle it. They sure aren't going to start Carter or Zion Logue and I'm pretty sure they are planning for TJ Sanders to be in a rotation with Oliver at 3 tech.

There is a lot of talk that he may actually play along side of Oliver.

[BullBuchanan]

18 hours ago, Mikie2times said:

This seems to be a really interesting grouping not only thru training camp but also when Ogunjobi and Hoecht (can we please give nicknames?) return. It would seem Hoecht could be more of a hybrid as far as position allocation, so another layer with that factored in.   

 

How many do we typically keep each year is also not something I'm 100% on. So I'm curious what some people think as far as what they expect this to look like out of camp and what they expect this to look like when those two players return. 

 

Do you see any surprise cuts? I have heard Jones and Carter being tossed around, but those appear to be the likely 1 tech DT's? I know Ogunjobi can play that spot as well. Perhaps even Walker although most his draft feedback has said that isn't necessarily who he is.

 

I expect them to keep every player through camp and into the season. When the suspensions end, Solomon and Logue get cut and sent to PS.

Carter and Walker inactive on game days after the suspensions.

Edited 13 hours ago by BullBuchanan

[JohnNord]

18 hours ago, Mikie2times said:

This seems to be a really interesting grouping not only thru training camp but also when Ogunjobi and Hoecht (can we please give nicknames?) return. It would seem Hoecht could be more of a hybrid as far as position allocation, so another layer with that factored in.   

 

How many do we typically keep each year is also not something I'm 100% on. So I'm curious what some people think as far as what they expect this to look like out of camp and what they expect this to look like when those two players return. 

 

Do you see any surprise cuts? I have heard Jones and Carter being tossed around, but those appear to be the likely 1 tech DT's? I know Ogunjobi can play that spot as well. Perhaps even Walker although most his draft feedback has said that isn't necessarily who he is.

 

It’s going to get really tough after the suspended players get back.  Ogunjobi’s money is guaranteed and Hoecht has a multi-year deal so they are safe.  
 

I think that the draft put DeWayne Carter on notice.  Beane essentially drafted two players which could be replacement.  He now needs to stick on as a 1TDT.  He was not good at this  position last season, so I feel it’s an upward climb for him.  He really needs to show something.

 

I think Epinesa and Solomon might be fighting for a spot as well.  Bills might be able to trade AJ or they can just cut him after June 1.

 

For Daquan to get cut - the rookie DT’s and Carter really need to stand up in the preseason.  
 

If I had to guess, I would assume Carter gets cut. 

6 minutes ago, BullBuchanan said:

I expect them to keep every player through camp and into the season. When the suspensions end, Solomon and Logue get cut and sent to PS.

Carter and Walker inactive on game days after the suspensions.

I think they may keep Solomon over Carter.

[BullBuchanan]

2 minutes ago, JohnNord said:

It’s going to get really tough after the suspended players get back.  Ogunjobi’s money is guaranteed and Hoecht has a multi-year deal so they are safe.  
 

I think that the draft put DeWayne Carter on notice.  Beane essentially drafted two players which could be replacement.  He now needs to stick on as a 1TDT.  He was not good at this  position last season, so I feel it’s an upward climb for him.  He really needs to show something.

 

I think Epinesa and Solomon might be fighting for a spot as well.  Bills might be able to trade AJ or they can just cut him after June 1.

 

For Daquan to get cut - the rookie DT’s and Carter really need to stand up in the preseason.  
 

If I had to guess, I would assume Carter gets cut. 

I think they may keep Solomon over Carter.

Epenesa has been great with his limited reps. The guy's a lock for 6+ sacks a year. I expect him to effectively start over Bosa, as they try to keep Bosa fresh. Solomon on the other hand has shown nothing and they have no investment in him. I can't see a scenario where everyone else is healthy and he makes the team. Similarly, Carter has to be no better than #5 on the DT depth chart right now. Only way I see him on the team is if they shut Walker down for the year trying to get him to peak form for 2026.

Cutting Jones would seem to be a big mistake after finally getting depth at the position unless he's washed. Even if he isn't the guy he was, and say he plays 30% of the snaps, that's still a valuable role.

[GASabresIUFan]

Beane really doesn’t have to worry about this until 5 weeks into the season.  By that time we’ll know how all the current guys and rookies are doing, who is healthy and who isn’t and whether the two suspended idiots are able to get into game shape.  
 

I honestly don’t think Beane is going to worry about it too much about it until week 5.  Remember Beane decided to keep both players even after learning about their suspensions.  I understand why he kept Hoecht as he signed him for 3 years, but Ogunjobi was only signed for this coming season.  Beane and McD must believe he brings a skillset we’ll need or he would have moved on.  

[BigAl2526]

34 minutes ago, JohnNord said:

It’s going to get really tough after the suspended players get back.  Ogunjobi’s money is guaranteed and Hoecht has a multi-year deal so they are safe.  
 

I think that the draft put DeWayne Carter on notice.  Beane essentially drafted two players which could be replacement.  He now needs to stick on as a 1TDT.  He was not good at this  position last season, so I feel it’s an upward climb for him.  He really needs to show something.

 

I think Epinesa and Solomon might be fighting for a spot as well.  Bills might be able to trade AJ or they can just cut him after June 1.

 

For Daquan to get cut - the rookie DT’s and Carter really need to stand up in the preseason.  
 

If I had to guess, I would assume Carter gets cut. 

I think they may keep Solomon over Carter.

I agree on Solomon over Carter.  There's nobody like Solomon on the roster, a smallish edge rusher with great explosion and bend on the edge

[Mikie2times]

5 hours ago, BigAl2526 said:

I don't think so myself.  It's not that he's a great player, and maybe not even a good one anymore, but he's the only veteran guy on the team that has natural 1 tech size. Hopefully, Deone Walker has a very bright future, but I can't see the Bills trusting him to be "the man" right out of the gate.  The Bills have a history of trusting what they know, even if what they know is only average or a little less.  If Jones falls on his face, the Bills may be forced to dump him and try something different, but they are not going to let Walker start until they are sure he can handle it. They sure aren't going to start Carter or Zion Logue and I'm pretty sure they are planning for TJ Sanders to be in a rotation with Oliver at 3 tech.

I think the same with Jones. I know a lot of these guys can play that role if asked but I would think a guy whose main role being run support is still important. Games like Philly and Baltimore still present significant stress to the run defense even with all these acquisitions. 

[JohnNord]

5 hours ago, BullBuchanan said:

Epenesa has been great with his limited reps. The guy's a lock for 6+ sacks a year. I expect him to effectively start over Bosa, as they try to keep Bosa fresh. Solomon on the other hand has shown nothing and they have no investment in him. I can't see a scenario where everyone else is healthy and he makes the team. Similarly, Carter has to be no better than #5 on the DT depth chart right now. Only way I see him on the team is if they shut Walker down for the year trying to get him to peak form for 2026.

Cutting Jones would seem to be a big mistake after finally getting depth at the position unless he's washed. Even if he isn't the guy he was, and say he plays 30% of the snaps, that's still a valuable role.

AJ has been a decent pass rusher.  His problem is he stinks at setting the edge and has often been a liability in the run game.   He’s also a free agent at the end of the season and I’d argue he could have some lower level trade value.  Solomon is probably a better pass rusher than AJ while also being worse against the run.   The difference is that he has potential as a pass rush specialist and he’s under contract for 2 seasons. 
 

I don’t think Buffalo it will be as easy for Buffalo to cut ties with Solomon as you suggest.  But he is going to have to have a really strong preseason 

[BillsFanForever19]

On 4/28/2025 at 10:06 PM, Mikie2times said:

This seems to be a really interesting grouping not only thru training camp but also when Ogunjobi and Hoecht (can we please give nicknames?) return. It would seem Hoecht could be more of a hybrid as far as position allocation, so another layer with that factored in.   

 

How many do we typically keep each year is also not something I'm 100% on. So I'm curious what some people think as far as what they expect this to look like out of camp and what they expect this to look like when those two players return. 

 

Do you see any surprise cuts? I have heard Jones and Carter being tossed around, but those appear to be the likely 1 tech DT's? I know Ogunjobi can play that spot as well. Perhaps even Walker although most his draft feedback has said that isn't necessarily who he is.

 

 

I don't think you're going to see anyone Cut or Traded, before Week 7. Even then, it will only come if Landon Jackson is ahead of schedule at DE and/or Deone Walker is ahead of schedule at 1T AND everyone stays healthy through the first 6 weeks.

 

We keep 5-6 DE's (last year we ended at 5) and 5-6 DT's (last year we ended at 6). 

 

Right now for Week 1 - we have 5 of each. And I'd pretty much lock all of them in for now. As we're pretty much at the minimum we carry for each, so there's no need to cut anyone.

 

DE:

Greg Rousseau

Joey Bosa

AJ Epenesa

Landon Jackson

Javon Solomon

 

DT:

Ed Oliver 

Daquan Jones

TJ Sanders

Deone Walker

DeWayne Carter

 

Improving the D-Line meant improving the rotation. We rotate guys along the line heavily in our scheme. So having a strong 4 at each helps that. Having someone in there along the line at all times that is strong means the Line stays strong and fresh at all times.

 

If you trade Epenesa before Hoecht returns, then you're relying on Jackson to essentially start, as Bosa isn't taking more than 50% of snaps (likely less). That's a lot to ask of a 3rd Round Rookie that hasn't played a down in the NFL yet. And God forbid there's an injury, you're in an even worse place.

 

And moving on from Jones would have us starting a 4th Round Rookie, that again hasn't played a down of NFL Football and has a lot of concerns. Rotating in for him would be DeWayne Carter... yick. And an injury there? I don't even know what we'd do. The good news with Jones is he won't be taking as many reps this year with Sanders occasionally sliding over to rush alongside Oliver and Walker coming in for him often as well.

 

Long story short - I wouldn't expect anyone to be moved before Hoecht and Ogunjobi return. A lot can happen in 6 weeks. You don't want to move on from someone and then there's injuries that would have cleared room for them anyways and will leave us short handed. And there can always be injuries at other positions that will make room for them as well come Week 7.

 

Keep everyone and have the strongest Line we can before and after Week 6. Worry about moving someone if and when the time for it is necessary. Before Week 1 would leave us short handed, relying too strongly on Rookies, and having a weaker rotation.

Edited 6 hours ago by BillsFanForever19

[Redblood]

So excited to see Hoecht play

[BillsFanForever19]

14 hours ago, Logic said:

They simply don't have room on the roster for everyone. And even IF they find a way to play the first six games with those guys, they'll need to make room once Ogunjobi and Hoecht return.

 

What do you mean? We easily have room for everyone.

 

We carried 11 on the DL - 5 DE's (Groot, AJE, Miller, Smoot, and Solomon) and 6 DT's (Oliver, Jones, Johnson, Carter, Phillips, Jefferson) last season. 

 

Right now we stand at 10 on the DL - 5 DE's (Groot, Bosa, AJE, Jackson, and Solomon) and 5 DT's (Oliver, Jones, Sanders, Walker, and Carter).

 

When Hoecht and Ogunjobi return, it will be Week 7. There could, and very likely will be, injuries among the team that could make room. There could even be injuries along the DL itself that could make room (and those injuries would make us even more short handed without Hoecht/Ogunjobi and cutting/trading guys before having them). They could even value carrying 11 (like we did last season) or even 12 over depth at another position. 

 

Worry about making room then. In the meantime, be as deep and skilled as possible amongst all spots on the line. Especially with how often we rotate. And cover yourself for injuries that could come before they return. Especially when Bosa is historically a walking injury waiting to happen.

Edited 4 hours ago by BillsFanForever19