The [Buffalo Bills](https://www.syracuse.com/buffalo-bills/) are on summer break until the start of training camp at St. John Fisher University.
With a Super Bowl-quality roster, many spots are locked up. Of course, that doesn’t mean that there won’t be some fun battles to monitor, or a surprise player or two who make their case for a roster spot.
While those battles will unfold in due time, here’s our projection for the Bills’ 53-man roster ahead of training camp.
**QUARTERBACK (2):** Josh Allen, Mitch Trubisky
_Cut:_ Mike White, Shane Buechele
Don’t count out Mike White for the backup job. Right now, this projection is based on the Bills likely feeling that they could get White onto their practice squad. If the veteran outperforms Trubisky this summer, Buffalo could save some cap space by naming White as Josh Allen’s backup.
**RUNNING BACK/FULLBACK (4):** James Cook, Ray Davis, Ty Johnson, Reggie Gilliam
_Cut:_ Darrynton Evans, Frank Gore Jr.
No surprises here. James Cook reported to mandatory minicamp and will be at training camp as he looks to secure a long-term deal with the Bills or another team at the conclusion of the 2025 season. The depth behind Cook is strong with Ray Davis likely assuming a larger role in year two and Ty Johnson taking third-down duties.
Gore Jr. is a good candidate for the practice squad.
**WIDE RECEIVER (5):** Khalil Shakir, Keon Coleman, Joshua Palmer, Curtis Samuel, Elijah Moore
Cut: Kaden Prather, Tyrell Shavers, Laviska Shenault Jr., Jalen Virgil, K.J. Hamler, Kristian Wilkerson, Kelly Akharaiyi, Stephen Gosnell
Buffalo continues to go light at wide receiver. Elijah Moore was the talk of the spring and a solid training camp should help him secure the fifth and final spot in the wide receiver room.
If the Bills keep a sixth receiver, Prather, Shavers, Shenault Jr. and Virgil could all be vying for one job.
**TIGHT END (3):** Dalton Kincaid, Dawson Knox, Jackson Hawes
_Cut:_ Zach Davidson_,_ Keleki Latu
Hawes comes in as the team’s blocking tight end and takes on the special teams role that Quintin Morris played.
Davidson and Latu are both practice squad candidates.
**OFFENSIVE LINE (9):** Dion Dawkins, David Edwards, Connor McGovern, O’Cyrus Torrence, Spencer Brown, Tylan Grable, Alec Anderson, Ryan Van Demark, Sedrick Van Pran-Granger
_Cut:_ Chase Lundt, Travis Clayton, Richard Gouraige, Kendrick Green, Mike Edwards, Jacob Beyer, Rush Reimer
The talent and depth on Buffalo’s offensive line is impressive. Unfortunately, that means a lot of talented players will be let go. Buffalo will likely try to keep as many as possible on their practice squad, but other teams will be looking to address their depth in late August.
**DEFENSIVE END (5):** Greg Rousseau, Joey Bosa, Landon Jackson, A.J. Epenesa, Javon Solomon
_**Suspended:**_ _Michael Hoecht_
_Cut:_ Hayden Harris, Paris Shand
This position seems cut and dry to start the year. What they do when Hoecht comes off the suspension list will be interesting.
**DEFENSIVE TACKLE (5):** Ed Oliver, DaQuan Jones, T.J. Sanders, Deone Walker, DeWayne Carter
_**Suspended:**_ _Larry Ogunjobi_
_Cut:_ Casey Rogers, Zion Logue, Marcus Harris
Much like defensive end, the defensive tackle spot seems set in stone. Ogunjobi will provide a nice boost when he comes off the suspension list.
**LINEBACKER (5):** Terrel Bernard, Matt Milano, Dorian Williams, Joe Andreessen, Edefuan Ulofoshio
_Cut:_ Shaq Thompson, Baylon Spector
Joe Andreessen’s strong spring answered a lot of questions about the depth of Buffalo’s linebackers. Terrel Bernard and Matt Milano provide Buffalo with an excellent 1-2 punch at linebacker, with Dorian Williams and Andreessen offering strong depth. Ulofoshio claims the final spot and takes on a big special teams role.
Shaq Thompson has ties to Sean McDermott, but I can’t justify a roster spot for him at this point. The veteran has missed most of the past two seasons and will have to stay healthy to have any shot of making the initial 53-man roster. This summer should likely end the Baylon Spector experiment. He has talent, but cannot stay healthy.
**CORNERBACK (6):** Christian Benford, Maxwell Hairston, Taron Johnson, Tre’Davious White, Dorian Strong, Dane Jackson
_Cut:_ Ja’Marcus Ingram, Te’Cory Couch, Daequan Hardy, Daryl Porter Jr.
Dane Jackson claims the final cornerback spot in my pre-training camp 53-man roster projection, but it would not be a big surprise if Ja’Marcus Ingram beat him out for the sixth and final spot. Special teams play will matter and Ingram could have the edge there.
Te’Cory Couch stood out at times this spring and could be a priority addition on the practice squad along with the loser of the Jackson/Ingram battle and Daequan Hardy.
**SAFETY (5):** Taylor Rapp, Cole Bishop, Darrick Forrest, Damar Hamlin, Jordan Hancock
_Cut:_ Cam Lewis, Wande Owens
Taylor Rapp is a lock and it seems clear that the team wants Cole Bishop to start alongside the veteran. Bishop will need to stay healthy for that to happen.
Cam Lewis may have been the most difficult cut on the entire roster for me. He plays a big role on special teams and brings so much versatility to the secondary. How the depth behind Rapp and Bishop perform this summer could ultimately determine Lewis’ fate.
**SPECIAL TEAMS (4):** Tyler Bass, Jake Camarda, Reid Ferguson, Brandon Codrington
_Cut: Brad Robbins_
Codrington is technically a cornerback, but he’s not making the roster for his play at that position. If he makes the 53-man roster, it will be due to the return abilities that he flashed as a rookie.
Bass and Ferguson have no competition to speak of and the punter job is a coin flip at this point.