Projection for the Buffalo Bills 53-Man Roster

The Buffalo Bills will play the Denver Broncos in their second preseason game tomorrow at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park. Kickoff is at 1 pm.

In case you haven't heard, the Bills will be playing many of their starters a "healthy amount," according to head coach Sean McDermott. That includes Josh Allen. The Denver Broncos, however, will be playing mostly backups according to head coach Nathaniel Hackett.

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The Bills will have to make a few roster decisions by this Tuesday.

The team needs to cut the current 84-man roster to 80 players. The next cutdown will be the following Tuesday, August 30th, when all NFL teams need to cut the roster to 53 players.

The Bills have arguably the best roster in the NFL, which means it's that much harder for players to make the roster, especially undrafted free agents.

Projecting the Bills roster is both easy and hard, if that makes any sense. Easy because you can pen-in all the star players, but hard because there are a few spots that are truly up for debate, particularly at wide receiver, offensive line and cornerback.

Let's start with quarterback.

Josh Allen
Case Keenum
Matt Barkley

All three will be on the team, as Barkley is more or less an extra coach who is expected to be inactive most games.

Running back:

Devin Singletary
James Cook
Zack Moss
Taiwan Jones

I think free agent signing Duke Johnson is in tough to make the roster. He was insurance as a pass-catching back after the J.D. McKissic free agent debacle and in case the Bills couldn't land another back in the draft, which they did.

Zack Moss offers them something Singletary and Cook aren't and that's strength. Raheem Blackshear will likely be a practice squad candidate. Taiwan Jones could be a surprise cut, but he's a special teams ace and the Bills value that.

Wide receiver:

Stefon Diggs
Gabriel Davis
Isaiah McKenzie
Jamison Crowder
Khalil Shakir
Isaiah Hodgins
Jake Kumerow

In this scenario, both Kumerow and Hodgins make the team. That would be seven , which is more than for a normal NFL team, but for a pass-heavy team, it makes more sense. Kumerow also adds value on special teams.

I think Marquez Stevenson might go to the injured reserve list to start the season (he could also be waived), which means he would not count towards the active roster. Tavon Austin is cut outright with Tanner Gentry and Neil Pau'u on the practice squad.

Tight End:

Dawson Knox
O.J. Howard
Reggie Gilliam (fullback)

The Bills simply have too many other positions which need depth to keep more than two pure tight ends. Tommy Sweeney is cut and Quintin Morris could be brought back on the practice squad.

Gilliam is the team's fullback hybrid.

Offensive line:

Dion Dawkins
David Quessenberry
Spencer Brown
Mitch Morse
Rodger Saffold
Ryan Bates
Tommy Doyle
Greg Mancz

Ike Boettger (PUP)

Boettger starting on PUP would mean he wouldn't count on the active roster. Greg Van Roten and Luke Tenuta are on the bubble but don't make the roster here. Tenuta on the practice squad, as will Alec Anderson. Cody Ford is cut, as is Bobby Hart.

Defensive end:

Von Miller
Gregory Rousseau
A.J. Epenesa
Boogie Basham
Shaq Lawson

This is pretty easy but there's a small chance Shaq Lawson is a surprise release.

Defensive tackle:

Ed Oliver
Tim Settle Jr.
DaQuan Jones
Jordan Phillips

Again, easy here. Brandin Bryant and Eli Ankou for the practice squad.

Linebacker:

Tremaine Edmunds
Matt Milano
Terrel Bernard
Tyrel Dodson
Tyler Matakevich (special teams ace)

Baylon Spector has been impressive but the Bills decide to keep added numbers at WR and CB. He will be on the practice squad, unless he gets claimed.

Andre Smith is suspended the first few games of the season for violating the NFL's PED policy, so he will be interesting. They could save a spot for him on that exempt list or could be a veteran release.

Cornerback:

Tre'Davious White
Dane Jackson
Kaiir Elam
Taron Johnson
Christian Benford
Siran Neal (special teams ace)
Cam Lewis

Siran Neal gets a spot because he's their best special teams player and a good depth secondary piece. Cam Lewis could be a release but with White's injury, he makes the team here. The rest are locks.

This is assuming White comes off PUP in time for week 1.

Safety: