Bills Rookie Minicamp starts today - May 09, 2025
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The Athletic: Bills 53-man roster projection: Where new and returning players could fit in this season
Bills 53-man roster projection: Where new and returning players could fit in this season
New and returning faces could shake up some starting positions.
www.nytimes.com
The 2025 NFL Draft is well in the rearview mirror and the Bills added significantly to their defense in the hopes that it will catch up to their offensive prowess from 2024. And with the player acquisition phase of the offseason mostly over, the Bills are getting ready to start their on-field practices this week.
It begins with their rookie minicamp on Friday, featuring all the defensive players who made up the beginning of the Bills’ 2025 class. A little over two weeks later, the first of two straight weeks of Organized Team Activities begins on May 27, leading up to the only offseason event where attendance is required — mandatory minicamp. That scheduled three-day practice window begins June 10.
Even without a single second of practice completed, the Bills are faced with several difficult choices for their 53-man roster. So, let’s take a hard look at those choices; it’s time for an obnoxiously early Bills 53-man roster projection as to how it could look by Week 1 and some of the nuances behind each decision.
Quarterback (2)
Josh Allen, Mitchell TrubiskyTrubisky sticks as the backup in this early projection because it was his spot last year, but it’s not as open and shut of a case as 2024. This summer, he has legitimate competition for the backup job in Mike White, and Trubisky doesn’t have a heavy guarantee on his deal that would sway the battle in his favor. The Bills would save more cap space by keeping White over Trubisky, but not enough to sway it into White’s favor, either. It will be a flat-out competition, with potentially only one spot on the 53-man roster on the line.
Cut: Mike White, Shane Buechele
Running back (4)
James Cook, Ray Davis, Ty Johnson, Reggie Gilliam (FB)The Bills brought back Ty Johnson and didn’t add anyone this offseason to challenge any of their top three, so the running backs will likely remain steady for another year. The bigger question is whether the team will continue to deploy their three backs in the same way it did last year, especially with Cook’s contract situation and Davis potentially being ready for a bigger role in his second year. Davis and Johnson could also reprise their late-year role as the kickoff return duo.
Cut: Frank Gore Jr., Darrynton Evans
Wide receiver (5)
Khalil Shakir, Keon Coleman, Joshua Palmer, Curtis Samuel, Elijah MooreAlthough the Bills didn’t add a star piece to the receiver room this offseason, they definitely boosted the group from where it was at the end of last season. Palmer is an upgrade to both Amari Cooper and Mack Hollins, offering the team the separation skills they didn’t have from their boundary receivers in 2024. Palmer’s inclusion could pave the way for more defined roles on offense this year rather than a constant rotation. Moore was an instant post-draft addition, which is usually a strong sign of intent from the team that the player is in their plans. However, the exact contract details have not been revealed to this point, and if it’s low on guaranteed money, it could open up the race for WR5 a bit more. There is a definite possibility that one of Laviska Shenault, Tyrell Shavers or Jalen Virgil could start to play their way on the team if they provide enough special teams value.
Cut: Laviska Shenault, Tyrell Shavers, Jalen Virgil, Kaden Prather, KJ Hamler, Kelly Akhariyi*, Stephen Gosnell*, Hal Presley*
Tight end (3)
Dalton Kincaid, Dawson Knox, Jackson HawesThe Bills waved goodbye to Quintin Morris this offseason and replaced him with a fifth-round pick in Hawes, who will be on a four-year, cost-controlled rookie deal. Zach Davidson, who they’ve kept around in Buffalo for the last three years, has a pretty big mountain to climb to make the team as the third tight end, or to force his way on as a fourth tight end. He would need to show a lot more special teams potential to do so.
Cut: Zach Davidson, Keleki Latu*
Offensive line (9)
Dion Dawkins, David Edwards, Connor McGovern, O’Cyrus Torrence, Spencer Brown, Alec Anderson, Tylan Grable, Sedrick Van Pran-Granger, Chase LundtThe top eight seems set right now with the starting five and the trio of reserves in Anderson, Grable and Van Pran-Granger. But there is one bubble battle setting up, and weirdly enough, it’s between two players who once started together on the same college team. Lundt, a sixth-round pick out of UConn, will battle Ryan Van Demark for the ninth and potentially final offensive line roster spot this year. Van Demark has been a practice squad success story, having made the 53-man roster the last two years. However, struggles while playing at right tackle last year took away some of the swing tackle potential they may have seen for him, and he was instead passed on the depth chart by Grable. Lundt’s four-year rookie deal gives him a leg up to be the team’s healthy scratch offensive lineman this year as they’d try to get Van Demark back to the practice squad for elevations throughout the year.
Cut: Ryan Van Demark, Kendrick Green, Richard Gouraige, Mike Edwards, Travis Clayton, Jacob Bayer*, Rush Reimer*
Defensive end (5)
Greg Rousseau, Joey Bosa, A.J. Epenesa, Landon Jackson, Javon SolomonRousseau, Bosa and Jackson are all guaranteed to make the team, and Hoecht will rejoin the 53-man roster in Week 7, which is why it makes what they do with Epenesa and Solomon especially interesting. If Solomon shows that he is a core-four special teams player to new coordinator, Chris Tabor, he will have a great chance to stick. Epenesa is an interesting one to track. On one hand, he’s the clear third-best defensive end in the room and good Bosa injury insurance. On the other, Epenesa is in the last year of his deal and could fetch something worthwhile in a trade if they need the roster spot. It might come down to how far along Jackson is in his first training camp, and if they’d feel comfortable with him in a top-three role through the first six games until Hoecht is back from suspension. The likeliest outcome is that Epenesa remains with the team through the season.
Suspended: Michael Hoecht
Cut: Hayden Harris*, Paris Shand*
Defensive tackle (5)
Ed Oliver, DaQuan Jones, T.J. Sanders, DeWayne Carter, Deone WalkerDefensive tackle is another complicated situation due to having six near locks for the 53-man roster at a position that offers nothing to special teams. The good news is they don’t have to feel the wrath of having that many defensive tackles on their roster and can keep a player at another position until Week 7, when Larry Ogunjobi’s suspension lifts. And should an injury strike to open a roster spot by Week 7, they may never have to feel the brunt of having six defensive tackles, but they don’t have many options. They could try to trade Carter, though that would be taking away a rotational option in 2025, and it would be general manager Brandon Beane giving up on a draft pick after only one year. Beane is extremely hesitant to do that since he traded Wyatt Teller in 2019. The most likely outcome is that the Bills keep all six in one way or another.
Suspended: Larry Ogunjobi
Cut: Zion Logue, Devin Brandt-Epps*
https://nytimes.com/athletic/the-beast/2025/player/tj_sanders-defensive_tackle-gfhHUKuQxztQhhS5
Linebacker (6)
Matt Milano, Terrel Bernard, Dorian Williams, Baylon Spector, Joe Andreesen, Edefuan UlofoshioThe Bills have not brought in any competition that carried a substantial offseason investment for the backend of their linebacker room. That should mean the majority of the six from last year are safe again in 2025. However, one thing to keep an eye on is if Ulofoshio, a 2024 fifth-round pick, could be susceptible to getting cut due to how many defensive linemen the Bills would need to keep on the 53-man roster. It all depends on Ulofoshio’s special teams impact, but he also might be a player they can sneak onto the practice squad.
Cut: Keonta Jenkins*
Nickel (2)
Taron Johnson, Cam LewisSome might wonder if Lewis’ days are numbered this summer for the Bills after they drafted the versatile Jordan Hancock in the fifth round, but Lewis played a pivotal role for them last year as their dime backer on third downs, an every phase special teams player and the primary backup to Johnson. On top of that, he could even moonlight at safety in a pinch. This could be the last season for Lewis in Buffalo because he’s a free agent in 2026, but planning to move on from a reliable special teams player on a manageable contract who took as many snaps as he did last year is not usually how Beane operates. If Lewis plays himself off the roster, that would be another story, but that’s not the expectation right now.
Cut: Te’Cory Couch
Cornerback (5)
Christian Benford, Maxwell Hairston, Tre’Davious White, Dane Jackson, Dorian StrongThe late-round pick of Dorian Strong makes this a semi-difficult situation for the Bills to navigate. Benford, Hairston and White are all either a lock (Benford and Hairston) or a pretty good bet (White) to be on the team this year. That leaves Jackson, Strong and Ja’Marcus Ingram, who could all be vying for two spots. Strong gets the benefit of the doubt as a draft pick for now, which brings it down to Jackson and Ingram. I went with Jackson, for now, due to his starting experience in the defensive scheme, but it is not an open-and-shut case. Part of me does wonder if Jackson might become the veteran player they’d like to stash on the practice squad for the season while preserving Ingram on his exclusive rights free agent (ERFA) status in the coming offseason and to use Ingram on special teams every week, but his lack of starting experience may be what gives Jackson the edge.
Cut: Ja’Marcus Ingram, Brandon Codrington, Daequan Hardy, Daryl Porter Jr.*
Safety (4)
Taylor Rapp, Cole Bishop, Damar Hamlin, Jordan HancockThe Bills will likely make Bishop earn the starting role this summer, but odds are that they will give him the opportunity and leeway to do so as a second-round investment. Hamlin’s return in free agency is quite likely to be the experienced backup should an injury happen to one of Rapp or Bishop, as well as plenty of special teams reps. The Bills haven’t finalized where Hancock’s eventual role will be, only saying they’d give him reps at both safety and nickel, but what is clear is that his spot on the roster would have to come from somewhere. At this point, that spot is most likely to be free agent Darrick Forrest, who signed a veteran minimum deal with only a small dead cap charge for his signing bonus. It would leave the Bills with Hancock and Lewis on the 53-man roster, who could play safety if they suffer two injuries or more to their top safety trio.
Cut: Darrick Forrest, Wande Owens*
Specialists (3)
Tyler Bass (K), Jake Camarda (P), Reid Ferguson (LS)#Puntapalooza 2025 is ready to take the stage, with Camarda up against Brad Robbins for the job this year. It’s also going to be quite a scene because it features two punters wearing non-traditional punter jersey numbers. Unless they change before camp, Camarda will sport jersey No. 32 and Robbins No. 40. At this point, the Bills’ earlier investment in Camarda gives him the inside track to the job this year.
Cut: Brad Robbins
*Denotes a rookie undrafted free agent agreement, according to a league source, that has yet to be announced by the team.
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Read the good news on Day #1: Size, athleticism on display at Bills rookie minicamp
The Athletic: Tills rookie minicamp: First looks at speedy Maxwell Hairston, huge Landon Jackson, and more
Bills rookie minicamp: First looks at speedy Maxwell Hairston, huge Landon Jackson, and more
Plus, T.J. Sanders' quick moves and testing out Jordan Hancock.
www.nytimes.com
As the NFL shifts away from the player acquisition stage of the offseason and into preparing for the 2025 season, Friday afternoon offered up the first glimpse of Bills football of the upcoming campaign. It marked the beginning of the team’s two-day rookie minicamp, featuring all of the players the team drafted only two weeks ago.
The rookie minicamp was made up of a total of 51 players — 25 who are on the 90-man active roster, and another 26 who were rookie minicamp tryout invites. The 25 rostered players included the entire nine-player Bills draft class, four practice squad players from 2024, and all 12 of their undrafted free agent rookie signings.
Although it wasn’t a full-team practice, it was the first chance to see the Bills’ initial vision for their newest players. Here’s what stood out from the session.
Maxwell Hairston shows off his speed
When it comes to Maxwell Hairston, the team’s first-round pick, it was easy to see what they liked about him. He’s an effortless mover and can get himself running to full speed from a standstill extremely quickly. As long as head coach Sean McDermott and general manager Brandon Beane have been in charge, they have never had a highly-rated boundary cornerback with Hairston’s movement skills and explosiveness, giving them a different flavor to the defense than they have ever had. During positional drills, watching Hairston get out of his transitions, sticking his foot in the ground and driving forward, he was clearly the best athlete among the defensive back group. On top of that, Hairston was highly engaged and talkative throughout the drills. Even when the staff was coaching him hard, Hairston stayed right in it and responded well to their requests, which certainly checks an early box for the first-round pick.As for the on-the-field portion, Hairston’s day was a bit up and down in coverage. There were some occasions where he played a hunch and exploded toward the catch point to force a contested situation. Other times, he was just a snap of a finger too slow to drive toward the ball. But this early on, those reps should not be a concern. The Bills’ defensive scheme can be complex and take a while to master for boundary cornerbacks, so not being the quickest to read and react on his first day of on-field action is not the end of the world. That sort of thing comes with time, but showing some recognition to push toward the catch point on his first day is an encouraging sign.
Hairston wasn’t the only boundary cornerback of note, as sixth-round pick Dorian Strong flashed some easy-to-see athleticism in a taller frame. Strong being available where he was in the draft was a slight surprise, and he’s someone who has potential as a long-term depth and special teams option. Strong is a bit on the leaner side, which means the Bills are likely going to want him to bulk up a bit with some functional strength to hold up on defense and special teams. With so many boundary cornerbacks looking like a solid bet to make the 53-man roster, Strong’s 2025 future could be as a weekly healthy scratch while the Bills focus on getting more weight on him throughout the season.
T.J. Sanders flashes plus movement ability; Walker not going through team drills
As Day 2 of the draft unfolded, the Bills saw a priority add in defensive tackle T.J. Sanders and jumped up 15 spots to secure him on their team. Sanders, seen as a three-technique by the Bills as his home position, also has the run-defending ability to slide over to one-technique when they need him to. Even with his all-around skill set, the big draw to him was his pass-rushing upside and potential to turn into a three-down player for them. Although you can’t glean too much from defensive line play in a non-padded, non-physical, rookie-only practice setting, the things that carry over are how the player moves. Sanders, even in a bigger frame, looks extremely quick moving laterally when bouncing off one blocker and attacking another. He also did a nice job of keeping the blockers away from his jersey, enabling him to stay clean enough to make those side-to-side moves. The team’s vision for him, both in 2025 and into the future, will be quite intriguing to track as their defensive tackle room evolves.The Bills double-dipped at defensive tackle by selecting Deone Walker in the fourth round, though they didn’t overload him in his first practice setting with the team. Walker was going through positional drills and the defensive install portion of the day, but during team drills, he stood to the side. McDermott didn’t talk with reporters after practice, so no reason was given. Maybe it’s merely a case of the team working Walker in slowly. However, there was no way you could miss Walker from the crowd, who is a mountain of a human being. By his mass alone, you’d have to guess the Bills would like Walker to train with his home base at one-technique, though only time will tell if his game can translate well enough there.
Landon Jackson is every bit the Bills’ prototype
It was expected that you could see Walker from anywhere around the practice fields, but almost unexpectedly, their third-round pick, defensive end Landon Jackson, has the size and wingspan that makes nearly everyone else on a football field look small. Sixth-round rookie offensive tackle Chase Lundt is listed at a very tall 6-foot-7, and Jackson was at eye level with him every time they took a rep against each other. Jackson is every bit of his listed height of 6-foot-6, and the length he has working in his favor will help make his job a bit easier at the NFL level. The Bills have always favored a certain height, weight, length combination with most of the edge rushers they’ve drafted early, and Jackson is no exception. Given his stature and skills being a closer match to starter Greg Rousseau, you’d have to wonder if the defensive left side might be his best spot initially in the Bills’ scheme. For now, Jackson looked the part and looked solid during team drills on Friday.Bills already putting a ton on Jordan Hancock’s plate
After an extended wait following their pick of Walker in the fourth round, the Bills used their first of three quick selections in the late fifth and early sixth round on defensive back Jordan Hancock. Immediately after they picked him, general manager Brandon Beane said they’d give him some reps at both nickel and at safety to see where he’s best. That plan began on Day 1 for Hancock.“Safety, some nickel, so we’re going to see,” Hancock said after practice. “I just want to create value to the team.”
Hancock remarked that, between the two positions, he’d gotten more reps as a slot corner than at safety in college, but he gave a slight hint that he might have a preference between the two.
“Safety is natural to me,” he said before being asked why it comes so naturally to him. “I don’t know. I just like playing safety. So it’s cool, you have more depth just reading plays and things like that.”
Hancock, who played basketball throughout high school and was previously looking to pursue a basketball scholarship, believes it’s that background, most notably in tracking the ball for rebounds, that helped him begin to get a bit of the crossover effect to his abilities as a safety. That multi-sport ability can definitely help play safety in the Bills’ defensive scheme, where they covet instincts and recognition over raw athleticism.
Looking at Hancock’s story at Ohio State, having played all three positions of boundary cornerback, nickel and at safety, and having the multi-sport background, it’s certainly reminiscent of Micah Hyde’s overall skill set when he entered the NFL in 2013. Hyde had similar versatility, similar on-field instincts, along with similar questions about his athleticism as to where his eventual positional home in the NFL would be. And like Hancock, Hyde dropped to the fifth round. This is not to say that Hancock will turn into Hyde, or even come close to the type of career that Hyde had. However, the parallels are, at the very least, interesting, especially if Hancock sticks at safety throughout this cross-training.
Other quick hit standouts
TE Jackson Hawes — The team’s fifth-round pick was as sure-handed as could be during team drills while catching the ball in traffic, showing the ability to make catches outside of his frame. Although Hawes doesn’t offer a ton after the catch, it was an encouraging first showing, considering his role for the foreseeable future is as the third tight end. With that spot on the depth chart, you want dependability above all else in case of injuries.UDFA WR Kelly Akhariyi — Potentially projecting as either a Z receiver or in the slot for the Bills, Akhariyi was a smooth and easy mover throughout his routes. He worked against some of the team’s drafted corners and won on his reps, while also showing to be strong on the ball. There is some definite ability there, and some real practice squad potential down the line based on raw talent alone.
UDFA LB Keonta Jenkins — A college safety turned linebacker for the Bills, Jenkins certainly needs to get bigger (6-foot-2, 211 pounds) in the NFL, but he’s the type of outside linebacker project that’s seemingly perfect for a first year on the practice squad. Jenkins moved around extremely well on his first day, flashing the natural athleticism the Bills usually look for at that position. Think of it as this year’s version of Lewis Cine, a former safety who the Bills developed at linebacker on the practice squad last year before the Eagles signed him. Jenkins was the only linebacker move they made this offseason, so there is a clear path toward the practice squad if he earns it this summer.
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IDK, but the players that people were criticizing Beane for drafting apparently looked pretty good on day #1 of minicamp. That's all that matters.
sukie
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Depends on who signs them as free agents in 4 years
Maxwell Hairston makes his on-field debut for Bills at rookie minicamp
Maxwell Hairston makes his on-field debut for Bills at rookie minicamp
“It was exciting – finally got out there (to) get some action,” Hairston said. “It was a lot, just adjusting from the college game to this, but I enjoyed myself. A lot to work on, but just so good to get my feet wet again.”
Maxwell Hairston experienced the latest in a series of firsts Friday.
The cornerback’s first official practice as a member of the Buffalo Bills.
Rookie cornerback Maxwell Hairston went through his first practice as a member of the Buffalo Bills on Friday as part of rookie minicamp. Joshua Bessex, Buffalo News
Hairston, the team’s first-round draft pick out of Kentucky, is one of 51 players participating in the team’s rookie minicamp, a group made up of draft picks, undrafted free agent signings, select first-year players and a group of 26 players being looked at on a tryout basis.
“It was exciting – finally got out there (to) get some action,” Hairston said Friday. “It was a lot, just adjusting from the college game to this, but I enjoyed myself. A lot to work on, but just so good to get my feet wet again.”
Hairston, wearing No. 30, went through individual drills with a group of 11 defensive backs – the largest position group participating in the rookie camp. The on-field work represented his first chance to work directly with Bills cornerbacks coach Jahmile Addae.
For every player in attendance – be it one trying out or, in the case of Hairston, chosen in the first round – the minicamp provides the first real understanding of how much actually goes into transitioning from college to the professional game. Coaches intentionally throw a lot at the players in attendance to see just how quickly they can grasp the concepts asked of them.
To prepare himself, Hairston has reached out to old teammates, one of them being current Bills running back Ray Davis, who is going into his second NFL season.
“I’m just taking everything that I learned from the guys that have been here before me and trying to apply it to my game,” Hairston said. “Right now, I’m just trying to execute everything that my coach is teaching me.”
Receiver Kaden Prather, who was drafted in the seventh round, matched up against Hairston a couple times during practice, and came away impressed.
“Max is the guy,” Prather said. “Fast, patient, and most importantly, smart. He’s an even better guy. You think of first-rounders, and you think, ‘Oh, they too cool,’ but he hangs around with us. He’s a really good guy. We had a couple matchups, and we were going back and forth. It’s good competition.”
Hairston is one of three defensive backs the Bills drafted last month, with Ohio State’s Jordan Hancock and Virginia Tech’s Dorian Strong being the others. Hairston and Hancock bonded at the NFL scouting combine, so there was an immediate chemistry when the Bills drafted them both. Hairston said Friday he was impressed with Strong’s on-field work, adding that he plans to lean on his classmate during the onboarding process.
The list of tasks for a rookie cornerback adjusting to the NFL game is a long one. Hairston’s focus Friday was having his eyes in the right place, covering the right zone, getting used to the quarterback’s cadence and getting in and out of his breaks faster.
Rookie minicamp will be followed by voluntary, full-team spring practices, then a three-day mandatory minicamp before the team takes a break. After that, a long season begins in late July with training camp at St. John Fisher in Pittsford.
Every rep between now and then will be valuable as Hairston looks to make an immediate contribution to the Bills’ defense in 2025.
As such, now is the time to get the inevitable mistakes out of the way. Hairston is aware those will come, but also that he can fix them. He understands he’s back at square one, and is eager to make improvements day by day.
“I’m very anxious,” Hairston said. “I was like a little kid trying to go to sleep before Christmas last night. … It’s OK to be anxious, but to still go out there and be confident and know what I have, know what to do and execute. It’s all just a learning process.”
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Dorian Strong reportedly looked good at CB also (by Sal Capaccio). 6th round pick that trained with Hairston before the draft. Paul Hamilton is WGR's Sabres guy, but also does an occasional football article. He talks about Hairston and Strong: LINK