Is the Bills' roster strong enough? Jay Skurski breaks down the team, position by position
They have a revamped defense, a reshuffled receiving corps and Josh Allen at the controls. Here's a position-by-position look at the Bills' roster.
OFFENSE
QUARTERBACKQB1: Josh Allen
QB2: Mitch Trubisky
Strengths: The league MVP is a pretty good strength, right? Allen averaged 233.2 passing yards per game, which was his fewest since 2019, but he improved his efficiency, ball protection and sack avoidance. His 7.7 yards per pass attempt were his highest since 2020, and his 12.2 yards per completion were his highest since his rookie season. His 1.2% interception rate and 2.8% sack rate were career bests.
Concerns: There aren’t many. You’ve got to dive pretty deep into the advanced stats to find many statistical weaknesses, although the Bills’ passing success rate of 42.6% on first down ranked just 26th in the NFL. That’s not solely a quarterback stat, of course, but it’s an area that can improve.
WIDE RECEIVER
XWR1: Keon Coleman
ZWR1: Joshua Palmer
Slot WR1: Khalil Shakir
WR4: Curtis Samuel
WR 5: Tyrell Shavers
WR 6: Elijah Moore
Strengths: Khalil Shakir developed into the reliable target many thought he would be in 2024 by catching 76 of 100 targets for 821 yards and four touchdowns. Keon Coleman averaged 19.2 yards per catch and had eight targets in the red zone. He put together a solid summer and must take a significant step forward. Josh Palmer ranked 10th last season among qualifying wide receivers in route win rate last year. That ability to separate could be huge for the offense.
Concerns: The Bills threw to their wide receivers 59.6% of the time in 2024, which ranked 19th in the NFL. The group collectively had 190 receptions for 2,407 yards and 18 touchdowns. Mack Hollins, thought to be an addition primarily for special teams, ended up being on the field for 70.7% of Allen's dropbacks, which led all receivers. That was not the plan. Coleman caught barely more than 50% of his targets (29 of 57). As a contested-catch specialist, that number is never going to be great, but it has to be better than what it was as a rookie.
Buffalo Bills tight end Dalton Kincaid (86) makes a catch for a first down during the third quarter at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park on Oct. 20, 2024.
Joshua Bessex/Buffalo News
TIGHT END
TE1: Dalton Kincaid
TE2: Dawson Knox
TE3: Jackson Hawes
Strengths: A concussion, collarbone injury and knee injury all contributed to Kincaid missing four games last year, but he was still targeted on a team-high 27.2% of his routes, despite running a route on 62.9% of the dropbacks in games he played. That shows Allen is willing to look his way. Dawson Knox stayed healthy, playing 16 games last season for the first time in his career.
Concerns: Will Kincaid ever be the difference-maker many though he would be when the team traded up for him in the first round of the 2023 draft? With a decision on his fifth-year option looming after this year, it’s time for him to step up. Although he stayed healthy, Knox caught just 22 passes for the second straight season. Third tight end Jackson Hawes is a rookie known primarily for his blocking, so it’s a bit of an unknown what he’ll provide.
Running back James Cook (4) and tight end Dalton Kincaid (86) will be a big part of the Buffalo Bills' offense during the 2025 season.
Joshua Bessex/Buffalo News
RUNNING BACK
RB1: James Cook
RB2: Ray Davis
RB3: Ty Johnson
FB: Reggie Gilliam
Buffalo Bills quarterback James Cook (4) rushes against the Baltimore Ravens during the first half of an NFL football AFC divisional playoff game
at Highmark Stadium on Jan. 19, 2025. Harry Scull Jr./Buffalo News
Strengths: Cook is coming off a monster season, tying the franchise single-season rushing touchdowns record with 16. Ray Davis had 130 combined touches for 631 yards and six touchdowns, proving to be a reliable No. 2 option. Allen calls Ty Johnson the best third-down back in the NFL. Johnson averaged 8.4 yards on his 59 touches.
Concerns: Just like last year, there aren’t many. Can Cook become a better pass protector, and thus stay on the field for more than 50% of the offensive snaps? Can offensive coordinator Joe Brady find a way to use Gilliam more in the offense?
Buffalo Bills offensive tackle Dion Dawkins gets set to block during a game against the New England Patriots on Dec. 6, 2021, in Orchard Park.
Jeffrey T. Barnes, Associated Press
TACKLE
LT1: Dion Dawkins
RT1: Spencer Brown
OT3: Ryan Van Demark
OT4: Chase Lundt
Strengths: Under the leadership of offensive line coach Aaron Kromer, who is one of the best in the NFL at his job, this unit has become one of the strongest in the league. According to analytics website Pro Football Focus, Dawkins and Brown combined to allow just four sacks in the regular season.
Concerns: Both Dawkins and Brown took too many penalties last year. Dawkins was called for 16 penalties in the regular season, and Brown was whistled 13 times. Those numbers need to go down. Last year’s swing tackle, rookie Tylan Grable, will start this season on injured reserve with a concussion, so he’ll miss at least the first four games of the season.
GUARD
LG1: David Edwards
RG1: O’Cyrus Torrence
OG3: Alec Anderson
Strengths: The Bills believe Torrence can be a star going into his third season. He started every game his first two years and did not allow a sack in nearly 600 pass-blocking snaps. Edwards took over as the starting left guard in 2024 and delivered a great season, allowing no sacks and just two quarterback hits.
Concerns: There is not a clear-cut backup guard on the roster with Alec Anderson working all over the line. He’d be the first one into the lineup in case of an injury. Torrence and Edwards combined for 13 penalties, which the offense will want to eliminate.
CENTER
OC1: Connor McGovern
OC2: Sedrick Van Pran-Granger
Strengths: Kromer likes size and power. McGovern gave the Bills added stoutness last season. He had big shoes to fill replacing Mitch Morse, but he did so admirably.
Concerns: Van Pran-Granger missed all of training camp and preseason with a calf injury, but that’s about it.
DEFENSE
The Bills and defensive end Greg Rousseau have agreed to a four-year contract extension.
Harry Scull Jr., Buffalo News
DEFENSIVE END
DE1: Greg Rousseau
DE2: Joey Bosa
DE3: A.J. Epenesa
DE4: Landon Jackson
DE5: Javon Solomon
Strengths: Rousseau got paid this summer, which shows the Bills believe he can take his game to another level. Bosa stayed healthy throughout training camp and showed flashes as an edge rusher and run defender. For now, that looks like a good, low-risk gamble on a one-year contract.
Concerns: Can Jackson contribute as a rookie? He seemed overwhelmed at times during training camp. Solomon will contribute on special teams, but can he add anything as a speed rusher?
DEFENSIVE TACKLE
1TDT: DaQuan Jones
3TDT: Ed Oliver
DT3: T.J. Sanders
DT4: Deone Walker
Strengths: The starters have shown an ability at times to be dominant in games. The rookie backups are an improvement over last season and should bring some juice to the pass rush.
Concerns: Consistency and inexperience. Oliver has had a tendency to disappear in the biggest moments, and Jones is 33, so it’s fair to wonder how much he has left. DeWayne Carter showed some versatility but was lost for the season when he suffered a torn Achilles tendon last week.
LINEBACKER
MLB1: Terrel Bernard
WLB1: Matt Milano
MLB2: Joe Andreessen
WLB2: Dorian Williams
LB5: Shaq Thompson
Strengths: Milano is back and he’s healthy. He looked superb during training camp. If he can recapture his old form, it will give the Bills a dynamic one-two punch at the position next to Bernard, who has a knack for making big plays.
Concerns: Health will always be a worry for Milano at this stage of his career. Bernard is undersized and has been beat up at times, too.
Buffalo Bills cornerback Christian Benford (47) and safety Taylor Rapp (20) line up during the fourth quarter against the Miami Dolphins
at Highmark Stadium on Oct. 1, 2023. Joshua Bessex/Buffalo News
CORNERBACK
CB1: Christian Benford
CB2: Tre’Davious White
SLOT CB: Taron Johnson
CB4: Dorian Strong
CB5: Ja’Marcus Ingram
Strengths: Benford was rewarded in the offseason with a big-money contract extension. He prefers to keep a low profile but is one of the more underrated players in the NFL. The return of White after one year away was a feel-good story during training camp.
Concerns: Rookie Maxwell Hairston, the team’s first-round draft pick, begins the year on injured reserve because of the knee injury he suffered in training camp. Complicating matters is that White is dealing with a lower leg injury that could impact him early in the season. Strong is a rookie, and Ingram’s primary responsibility is special teams. In other words, depth is lacking.
Bills safety Taylor Rapp makes an interception during the first quarter Sunday at Highmark Stadium.
Harry Scull Jr., Buffalo News
SAFETY
S1: Taylor Rapp
S2: Cole Bishop
S3: Damar Hamlin
S4: Cam Lewis
S5: Jordan Hancock
Strengths: Rapp is a trusted veteran. Lewis has proven to be a versatile defensive back who can work in different roles. Hancock, a rookie fifth-round draft pick, was having a nice preseason before a shoulder injury.
Concerns: They are numerous. Can Rapp stay healthy? He has a tendency to play a bit reckless. Can Bishop make the jump to quality starter? It was not a good summer for him, as he again missed too much of training camp with an injury. He was repeatedly challenged publicly by the staff; coach Sean McDermott openly wondered whether the team has an answer next to Rapp. Jordan Poyer wouldn’t be here on the practice squad if this group didn’t need help.
Bills kick returner Brandon Codrington. Harry Scull Jr., Buffalo News
SPECIALISTS
PK: Tyler Bass
P: Brad Robbins
LS: Reid Ferguson
PR: Brandon Codrington
KOR1: Brandon Codrington
KOR2: Ty Johnson
Buffalo Bills cornerback Brandon Codrington (29) returns a kickoff during the first quarter against the Arizona Cardinals at Highmark Stadium on Sept. 8, 2024.
Joshua Bessex/Buffalo News
Strengths: Ferguson remains one of the best in the NFL at his job. Bass ended last season on a high note, going a combined 13 for 13 on field goals and extra points in the postseason. Codrington held off Laviska Shenault Jr. and KJ Hamler in training camp to win the return job.
Concerns: Bass missed most of training camp with pelvic soreness. He returned to kick against the Buccaneers in the preseason finale, but inexplicably missed a 26-yard field goal late in the game. That was just enough of a reminder of some of his early struggles last season. Robbins’ numbers weren’t great in his previous stop with the Bengals.