http://gty.im/460963276
With the draft and undrafted free agency in the books, the Bills currently sit at the league-maximum 90 players going into training camp. While there are some events that can change their composition noticeably (La’el Collins sweepstakes, re-signing Brandon Spikes, signing Dawan Landry off the top of my head) now would be a good time to take a breath and examine the depth chart as it stands today. Today will focus on offense – defense will be covered this weekend. Each position will have the current players, as well as who I think is “safe” from being cut or traded this year.
Quarterback (4): EJ Manuel, Matt Cassel, Tyrod Taylor, Jeff Tuel.
Safe: Cassel. With the quarterback competition not truly underway until camp, the strides any of the others make can only help them make it interesting. I’d put money on EJ eventually starting (put the pitchforks down!); but should Cassel or Taylor win it, I’d expect that EJ is traded to ensure Whaley doesn’t have his shared 1st round pick QB (dubbed a ‘failure’ at that point) on the roster to be a constant media/fan reminder that Whaley had a hand in his drafting as well.
Running Back (5): LeSean McCoy, Fred Jackson, Boobie Dixon, Bryce Brown, Karlos Williams.
Safe: McCoy, Williams. No Jackson you say? Well, with the addition of Karlos Williams, as well as John Conner yesterday, the lineup for running back / full back is quite full. Terry Pegula allegedly came in at the eleventh hour to stop a cut earlier – would he really do it again at the expense of a player the coaches need more? Dixon would be of the three the next safest of the possible cuts due to his special teams prowess, prior experience in the Roman system and overall awesomeness personality wise. Bryce has been in the doghouse since Ryan has gotten to Buffalo, with comments on his prior fumbling being a ‘thing’. I would think of the three I’d expect either Brown or Jackson to be traded – with Fred possibly being the co-lead horse Jerry Jones needs in Dallas? Being from Texas it’d be similar to the Johnson trade to San Francisco…..
Full Back (2): Jerome Felton, Corey Knox, John Conner.
Safe: Felton. After Conner’s signing I’m pretty sure he’s going to be on the roster as well as a “Rex Ryan Player” (Heretofore known as RRP). Given the ground and pound nature of offense, coupled with special teams experience by both, I think some of the wideouts/non-Clay/O’Leary tight ends should rent.
Tight End (6): (H) Charles Clay, Chris Gragg, MarQueis Gray. (Y) Nick O’Leary, Chris Manhertz, Clay Burton.
Safe: Clay, O’Leary. Outside of those two, take your pick. Because Manhertz is quite young in his career at tight end (played basketball mostly in college) he is a developmental project at best. Gragg and Gray are essentially fighting for the same job, especially if the Bills keep additional running / full backs. Burton will most likely have to flash in camp / pre-season as a true “Y” to get a shot sticking on the main roster.
Wide Receiver (13): (X) Sammy Watkins, Marcus Easley, Dezmin Lewis. (Z) Percy Harvin, Chris Hogan, Deonte Thompson, Caleb Holley, Andre Davis. (Slot) Robert Woods, Marquise Goodwin, Marcus Thigpen, Tobias Palmer, .
Safe: Watkins, Woods, Harvin, Easley. The first three were easy; If anything the Bills will need them to make the most of their (probably) limited opportunities. Easley I added because of his outstanding play in special teams. So, with four players already the question is, do the Bills retain 6 receivers? If that is the magic number at receiver, you have to separate the remaining players by ability moreso than positions: Speed (Goodwin/Thompson), Size (Lewis) and Special Teams (Thigpen/Hogan/Holley). Given the special teams leanings with other positions, I’d presume the size of Lewis gets his foot in the door, with the Speed and ST guys fighting for that last spot.
Offensive Tackle (5): (Left Tackle) Cordy Glenn. (Right Tackle) Seantrel Henderson, Cyrus Kouandjio, Tyson Chandler, Jermaine Barton.
Safe: Glenn, Henderson, Kouandjio. With the reports out that Henderson is playing both sides of the line, Glenn could be playing right tackle or guard and Kouandjio being…there, there’s possibility this position would be the most chaotic, next to QB of course. Despite all of this chaos, if I were a betting man, I’d say Glenn stays where he is, Henderson or Kouandjio right tackle and the other is a swing tackle. Cyrus has spent the off-season getting himself ready mentally and physically for the rigors of the position, so I have high hopes that he’ll emerge somewhere on the line. Chandler and Barton are big bodies with long wingspan, so perhaps one sticks or both go to the practice squad?
Guard (9): (Left Guard) John Miller, Chris Williams, Cyril Richardson, DJ Morrell, Alex Kupper, Darryl Johnson. (Right Guard) Richie Incognito, Kraig Urbik, William Campbell.
Safe: Incognito, Urbik, Miller. With his pay-cut and being the only other person on the roster that can professionally snap the ball at center, Kraig Urbik has kept himself in the conversation and in my opinion made himself untouchable for this year. Incognito is the first RRP brought in as a reclamation project so I’d doubt he’s gone, as is new RRP John Miller, who is already running with the ones in OTAs. Chris Williams’ back injury and relative…uselessness has put him squarely on the “first dude out” list, pending any other late line additions such as Brian De La Puente, a cheap interior depth option that knows Kromer. Cyril Richardson will be one to watch at camp – not only for staying on assignment, but how well he’s adapted to a year in a pro-style strength and conditioning program. The rest are candidates for practice squad and/or outright release.
Center (1): Eric Wood.
Safe: C’mon. Only true center on the roster. Not going anywhere. If the Bills see anything amiss this season at the center position, they can draft a replacement candidate in 2016.
Ultimately, fans should be open to a roster combination that is reflective of this staff – so a FB/TE laden group over WR for special teams / run game purposes may be on the menu.
Thoughts? Anyone stand out as ‘safe’ going into training camp outside of the people I listed – or is there anyone you think I picked that’s still a camp cut? Comment or tweet @ me and we’ll chop it up.
Up Next: The Defense.
Add The Sports Daily to your Google News Feed!
