The Buffalo Bills have seen a great deal of change this offseason, not limited to the locker room. Coaching changes, front office staff, all the way down to both field and roster philosophy. It's a time of true difference for the Bills. Training camp is finally kicking off, and we'd like to see that final 53-man team as soon as possible. This roster projection should help with the excitement.
In 2025, the team had a balanced build by the numbers, and we can expect something similar this season. Position-by-position, here's the Buffalo Bills projected 53-man roster breakdown.
Projecting Bills' 53-man roster going into training camp
Offense
Joe Brady's two seasons as offensive coordinator for this group mean there's less change here than on defense. He will be calling the shots on offense as head coach, but for who?
QB (2)
Josh Allen, Kyle Allen
The Bills QB room is easy to settle, with Josh Allen and the clear QB2 Kyle Allen filling the two spots. Kyle Allen beats out Shane Buchele in camp, but he already owns the inside track.
RB (4)
James Cook, Ty Johnson, Ray Davis, Ben VanSumeren (FB)
The RB room is also familiar, with a one-for-one swap of Ben VanSumeren taking over for FB Reggie Gilliam. James Cook is a premier running back, Ty Johnson is an excellent third-down back, and Ray Davis offers elite upside as a returner.
Some may have wished for Frank Gore Jr. to make the squad, but he just doesn't offer VanSumeren's size and utility.
WR (6)
D.J. Moore, Khalil Shakir, Keon Coleman, Joshua Palmer, Skyler Bell, Mecole Hardman Jr.
This WR core is an easier area to predict. The moves for D.J. Moore and Skyler Bell put them naturally on the roster, and Khalil Shakir is a given.
Joe Brady's insistence on Keon Coleman, and the Bills' doubling down by shutting down trade calls, makes for a confusing guarantee. The uncertainty that surrounds him, and lack of production history, places Joshua Palmer right next to Coleman on the depth chart.
Lastly, Mecole Hardman Jr. rounds out the group with special teams upside.
TE (3)
Dalton Kincaid, Dawson Knox, Jackson Hawes
If the WR core was easy to predict, this one could have been skipped entirely. The Bills will retain their entire TE group from 2025, when they were one of the best such units in the NFL. This trio is versatile and comfortable.
OL (9)
Dion Dawkins, Alec Anderson, Connor McGovern, O'Cyrus Torrence, Spencer Brown, Jude Bowry, Ar'Maj Reed-Adams, Sedrick Van Pran-Granger, Chase Lundt
Buffalo obviously chooses to keep and start the 4 of 5 starters remaining from 2025, but the rest of the group is harder to decipher. We start with a stop-gap; Alec Anderson has been a reliable extra OL for the Bills, and his return on a one-year deal could mean he slots into the open LG spot.
Behind the starters we find 2026 7th-round pick Ar'Maj Reed-Adams, who needs time but projects as a solid guard next season. Sedrick Van Pran-Granger had hopes of being the new starting center but now falls to a capable interior swing role.
Chase Lundt and Jude Bowry both offer upside across the line, with the physical traits to progress into major roles in the near future. Buffalo has more experienced backups to fill in those positions, but it would mean losing the young talent they have on board for the future.
Defense
With Jim Leonhard taking over as defensive coordinator, there's major change afoot. Switching from a 4-3 defense to a 3-4 means making adjustements across the entire defense. The most immediate and noticeable ones will be in the front seven.
DL (5)
Ed Oliver, Deone Walker, T.J. Sanders, Zane Durant, DeWayne Carter
The two clear winners here are the two obvious starters; Ed Oliver and Deone Walker. Next to them, T.J. Sanders offered great snaps last season and a great role projection for the defensive scheme switch.
Behind that group lies Zane Durant, the Bills 2026 5th rounder. He draws fair comparisons to Ed Oliver coming out of the draft, minus the pedigree.
Lastly, DeWayne Carter finally gets a fresh chance to make an impact in Year 3. He's put on mass this offseason, and could make for a solid anchor in the new scheme.
OLB (6)
Bradley Chubb, Greg Rousseau, T.J. Parker, Michael Hoecht, Javon Solomon, Landon Jackson
With the scheme change, the Buffalo Bills carry an extra OLB on the roster this season. Typically they'd host 5 DEs, but no longer. Bradley Chubb and T.J. Parker are the natural 3-4 OLBs, and Greg Rousseau is uncuttable by standards for both contract and performance. It's not the most flattering reason to stay, but he does offer upside with the position switch.
Michael Hoecht returns from injury, with the impossible standard or replicating his impact through 6 quarters played last season. He is experience at the pro level in a 3-4 scheme, and could be a major impact player in 2026.
Javon Solomon and Landon Jackson round out the unit, offering a combo of rangy athleticism and speed-to-power conversion. The duo make this group deep and varied.
LB (5)
Terrel Bernard, Kaleb Elarms-Orr, Dorian Williams, Joe Andreessen, Keonta Jenkins
The linebacker position is only getting more interesting with time, but Terrel Bernard and Kaleb Elarms-Orr still cap off the unit. Elarms-Orr has the opportunity to make the biggest impact of any Bills 2026 draftee, and it should be on display Week 1.
Dorian Williams is consistent and trustworthy, making him the natural depth choice, accompanied by hometown hero 'Buffalo Joe' Andreessen. Keonta Jenkins finishes off the bundle.
CB (6)
Christian Benford, Dee Alford, Maxwell Hairston, Davison Igbinosun, Te'Cory Couch, Toriano Pride Jr.
The extra OLB comes at a cost, but the group of cornerbacks is top-heavy enough for it to make little difference here.
Christian Benford and Dee Alford are the clear starting CB1 and NCB, but CB2 is a major debate. Maxwell Hairston starts with the chance, coming off a decent partial season as a rookie. Davison Igbinosun is a contender, however, and one of the two of them should be getting the lion's share of snaps this season. The other becomes incredible value as a rotaional/backup cornerback.
Te'Cory Couch and Toriano Pride Jr. are both adequate young corners, largely unproven but versatile enough to make for solid special teamers and acceptable backups.
S (4)
Cole Bishop, C.J. Gardner-Johnson, Jalon Kilgore, Jordan Hancock
The 2025 Buffalo Bills were paralyzed by their inability to shore up the safety spot. Cole Bishop has grown into an admirable starter, but the team failed to produce a full-time companion for him. Enter C.J. Gardner-Johnson. The Super Bowl-winning veteran brings a fire that's been missing on defense.
Geno Stone isn't going to be kept with no starting job available, making way for Jalon Kilgore and Jordan Hancock to finish off the set.
Special Teamers
LS (1)
Reid Ferguson
Reid is the only LS on the roster, and there's no reason to expect change.
K (1)
Tyler Bass
Tyler Bass is also the lone placekicker on the team, following his year off to recover from injury. He takes his job back without competition.
P (1)
Tommy Doman Jr.
The rookie Tommy Doman Jr. wins the battle against Mitch Wishnowsky, and becomes the Bills' lone punter.
Injured Reserve
WR Tyrell Shavers
Tyrell Shavers has proven himself capable of being a valuable part of this offense, but his injury will affect this season. Though he may well be 100% ready by September, no-one needs to know that but the Bills. Their ability to stash him until 2027 may be the only thing keeping him in the league, so we're all for it.
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