Editor’s note: This is the first of a five-part roundtable series previewing Buffalo Bills training camp. Which notable players start camp on the roster bubble?
Katherine Fitzgerald: It’s time for Bubble Watch. I’ll put Ryan Van Demark and Dane Jackson on there to start camp. In Van Demark’s case, the swing offensive tackle played in 14 games last season, with two starts, including the regular-season win over Kansas City when Spencer Brown was injured (right ankle).
The Bills have excellent continuity on their offensive line and Van Demark’s experience may help him make his case. However, in a numbers game, he’ll have to make sure he’s not outplayed during camp.
As for Jackson, the Bills have deep trust in the veteran cornerback who they brought back after his one-year stint with the Carolina Panthers. Still, the cornerback room has been refreshed, and there’s some real competition.
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It’s quite possible Jackson ends up on the practice squad, where he can still help the team out and use his understanding of the defense to benefit younger players. He also could play his way onto the active roster given that experience in the system. Put him squarely on the bubble to start.
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Bills cornerback Brandon Codrington was the team’s returner throughout the regular season before being a healthy scratch in the playoffs. Derek Gee, Buffalo News
Jay Skurski: Offensive tackle Chase Lundt and cornerback Brandon Codrington.
Katherine went with Van Demark, so I’ll go with his primary competition for a roster spot. Lundt was a sixth-round pick by the Bills in April, and it’s never easy to cut a drafted rookie. Lundt made 49 career starts at UConn, all of them coming at right tackle. He’ll need to show in training camp that he can back up both tackle spots, because the Bills require that versatility in their reserve linemen.
The risk that comes with cutting Lundt is that another team might claim him off waivers, especially if he has a strong preseason. Otherwise, the Bills would likely add him to their practice squad.
As for Codrington, it wasn’t a good sign for him that he was a healthy inactive in the postseason. He doesn’t bring enough to the table defensively to force his way into the game day lineup, meaning he’ll need to show in training camp and the preseason that he’s such a good punt returner that the team has to find a way to keep him. That’s a pretty big ask. It would greatly help his case if Codrington also could be the kick returner, although the Bills have other players they may want to try in that job first.
Lance Lysowski: Receiver Laviska Shenault and linebacker Baylon Spector.
Buffalo Bills cornerback Christian Benford finds new ways to give back to community
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Shenault is an obvious cut candidate. The Bills’ receiver room is crowded, especially after they signed Elijah Moore. Shenault was given a one-year contract because he’s a fast, experienced returner who may be able to help Buffalo take advantage of the dynamic kickoff rules. He’s never returned a punt in the NFL, though, and he hasn’t had a consistent role in an offense since he was targeted 100 times with the Jaguars in 2021.
For Shenault to make the 53-man roster, he’ll need to prove that he can be a useful chess piece for offensive coordinator Joe Brady. The type of role that suits Shenault is already occupied by Curtis Samuel, whose $6.91 million salary is guaranteed.
The Bills didn’t draft a linebacker, and they didn’t add experienced competition for Spector until mandatory minicamp when they signed Shaq Thompson, who’s coming off an Achilles injury. Spector needs to stay healthy. He missed time this spring because of an undisclosed injury, and he had three stints on injured reserve over the past two seasons.
Spector has made an impact on special teams, but he may lose the backup middle linebacker job to Joe Andreessen. Thompson, 2023 third-round pick Edefuan Ulofoshio or undrafted rookie Keonta Jenkins are currently Spector’s competition for a roster spot.
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Bills quarterback Mitchell Trubisky enters the final season of a two-year contract. Harry Scull Jr., Buffalo News
Ryan O’Halloran: Backup quarterback Mitchell Trubisky and nickel/safety Cam Lewis.
Trubisky carries a $3.25 million cap hit in the final year of his contract and if he’s cut, it would create only $1.5 million of space. But that money could be allocated to a deal at the trade deadline. To make Trubisky expendable, though, Mike White needs to have a solid preseason in what could be limited work. White has seven career regular-season starts (2-5 record).
Lewis getting cut would be a semi-surprise, but as soon as the Bills used a fifth-round pick on Jordan Hancock, they said he would learn the nickel and safety spots, a tall football intelligence challenge. But if Hancock proves to be a quick study, Lewis could be expendable.
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