By any measure, the Buffalo Bills 2024 roster is not deeper nor stronger than the 2023 team that won its fourth consecutive AFC East division title.
In fact, it’s probably not as top-to-bottom talented as any of the division-winning teams since 2020, but that does not mean the initial 53-man iteration that the club announced Tuesday − which will almost certainly be altered in the coming days − can’t win double-digit games and make it five straight AFC East crowns.
When you have Josh Allen as your quarterback, you’ve always got a chance in every game, and it’s not like general manager Brandon Beane didn’t add some key pieces in free agency and the draft.
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Many of the free agents have proven track records and there are some intriguing rookie additions, so because of that, the Bills remain the team to beat in the AFC East. The gap is shrinking, but they’re still ahead of the improved Jets and Patriots, and the talented Dolphins who have provided the toughest competition the last two years.
Still, it’s undeniable that when you move on from Stefon Diggs, Gabe Davis, Mitch Morse, Leonard Floyd, Micah Hyde, Jordan Poyer, and Tre’Davious White, and to a lesser degree Shaq Lawson, Tyrel Dodson, Dane Jackson and special teams standouts Tyler Matakevich and Siran Neal, a step back is certainly possible.
Buffalo Bills initial 53-man roster
At the close of business Tuesday, here is the initial 53-man roster put out by the Bills:
- QB: Josh Allen, Mitchell Trubisky;
- RB: James Cook, Ty Johnson, Ray Davis, Reggie Gilliam (FB);
- WR: Curtis Samuel, Khalil Shakir, Keon Coleman, Mack Hollins, Marquez Valdes-Scantling;
- TE: Dalton Kincaid, Dawson Knox, Quintin Morris;
- IOL: Connor McGovern, O’Cyrus Torrence, David Edwards, Alec Anderson, Sedrick Van Pran-Granger;
- OT: Dion Dawkins, Spencer Brown, Ryan Van Demark, Tylan Grable;
- DE: Greg Rousseau, AJ Epenesa, Von Miller, Dawuane Smoot, Casey Toohill, Javon Solomon;
- DT: Ed Oliver, DaQuan Jones, Austin Johnson, DeWayne Carter;
- LB: Terrel Bernard, Dorian Williams, Nicholas Morrow, Baylon Spector, Edefuan Ulofoshio, Joe Andreessen;
- CB: Rasul Douglas, Christian Benford, Taron Johnson, Kaiir Elam, JaMarcus Ingram, Brandon Codrington;
- S: Taylor Rapp, Mike Edwards, Cole Bishop, Damar Hamlin, Cam Lewis;
- ST: Tyler Bass (K), Sam Martin (P), Reid Ferguson (LS).
Daequan Hardy release a surprise but Bills trade for Brandon Codrington
Perhaps the most interesting decision the Bills made was to cut rookie sixth-round pick Daequan Hardy because it seemed like he was in line to be the return man. However, once the team announced their acquisition of Brandon Codrington in a trade from the Jets, that doomed Hardy, though he should end up back on the practice squad.
Linebacker Matt Milano and running back Darrynton Evans were both placed on injured reserve with the eligible to return designation, meaning they aren’t done for the season. It was interesting to see them use one of those spots on Evans because he will now count as one of only eight players who can be designated to return.
The Bills kept three tight ends, so Quintin Morris beat out Zach Davidson and Tre McKitty, meaning his shoulder injury must be fine. Same for Mitchell Trubisky’s knee because he wasn’t placed on injured reserve, at least not yet. That could still happen Wednesday.
It was a bit surprising that underwhelming Casey Toohill made the team as a sixth edge rusher as opposed to DeShawn Williams as a fifth defensive tackle.
Josh Allen isn’t devoid of weapons
The Bills have been one of the most prolific offenses in the NFL for four years running, and while losing Diggs and Davis is difficult, Allen will get plenty of help from the 2024 cast.
James Cook, one of the most productive running backs in the NFL, is heading into his third season primed for a repeat performance, and the depth should be better with Ty Johnson and rookie fourth-round pick Ray Davis.
At receiver, yes, there’s massive turnover and it’s unlikely that the Bills can completely replace all the targets and catches that Diggs and Davis accrued. But Khalil Shakir, Curtis Samuel and Marquez Valdes-Scantling bring a diversified set of skills, and rookie Keon Coleman has shown flashes of promise as he negotiated his first NFL training camp.
That’s not even taking into account the potential of Dalton Kincaid and Dawson Knox as the Bills will likely deploy more two-tight end sets to take advantage of the matchup problems those two could create, Kincaid in particular.
Bills defense has some work to do
On defense, the Bills should be better up front, even though they lost their top sacker in Floyd. Greg Rousseau and AJ Epenesa need to continue to mature and become more impactful as pass rushers, and Von Miller just needs to provide a glimmer of his former self to be an upgrade over 2023.
In the middle of the line, getting DaQuan Jones back was important, and so was signing veteran free agent Austin Johnson who joins Ed Oliver to give Buffalo a solid grouping. We’ll see if rookie third-round pick DeWayne Carter can contribute but as a fourth option, who might play 20% of the snaps, that’s not bad.
The questions, of course, are in the back seven. Losing linebacker Matt Milano is a blow and the Bills really need Dorian Williams to settle into that spot alongside Terrel Bernard. Bernard made a quantum leap last year in his first season as a starter, so the precedent is there for Williams to follow.
And then at safety, the Bills had Poyer and Hyde back there for seven straight seasons and replacing both in one fell swoop was always going to be a challenge. Add to that the injury problem with Mike Edwards, Cole Bishop and Damar Hamlin all missing much of the summer and Sean McDermott and defensive coordinator Bobby Babich will have their work cut out for them.
Buffalo Bills roster cuts
- QB: Ben DiNucci, Anthony Brown;
- RB: Darrynton Evans, Frank Gore Jr.;
- WR: Tyrell Shavers, Justin Shorter, KJ Hamler, Andy Isabella, Xavier Johnson, Deon Cain, Damiere Byrd;
- TE: Zach Davidson, Tre McKitty;
- IOL: Mike Edwards, Kevin Jarvis, Gunner Britton, Keaton Bills, Will Clapp, Lael Collins;
- OT: Richard Gouraige;
- DE: Kameron Cline, Kingsley Jonathan, Rondell Bothroyd;
- DT: DeShawn Williams; Eli Ankou, Gable Steveson, Branson Deen;
- LB: Deion Jones, Shayne Simon;
- CB: Daequan Hardy, Kyron Brown, Te’Cory Couch, Keni-H Lovely;
- S: Kareem Jackson, Kendall Williamson;
- ST: None
- Injured reserve: LB Matt Milano, RB Darrynton Evans, OL Travis Clayton, S Terrell Burgess, S Dee Delaney.
There are obviously several players on this list who will be back at One Bills Drive Wednesday as members of the practice squad.
In my view, the leading candidates are DiNucci, Gore Jr., Shavers, Shorter, Hamler, Edwards, Gouraige, Jonathan, and Couch.
Sal Maiorana has covered the Buffalo Bills for four decades including 35 years as the full-time beat writer for the D&C, and he has written numerous books about the history of the team. He can be reached at maiorana@gannett.com, and you can follow him on Twitter @salmaiorana.https://profile.democratandchronicle.com/newsletters/bills-blast
