A high rate of turnover on both sides of the ball makes it tougher than usual to compile an early 2024 Buffalo Bills 53-man roster projection. Yet expectations in Western New York remain high as the franchise attempts to hunt down its fifth consecutive AFC East division title and sixth straight playoff berth.
Superstar quarterback Josh Allen, who was the only player besides award-winning Baltimore Ravens signal-caller Lamar Jackson to receive a first-place vote for NFL MVP last season, returns but the cast of playmakers around him has changed dramatically.
Allen’s top two targets in recent years, wide receivers Stefon Diggs and Gabe Davis, left Buffalo en route to the Houston Texans and Jacksonville Jaguars, respectively. Other notable offensive departures included starting center Mitch Morse, backup running back Latavius Murray and a pair of depth receivers, Trent Sherfield and Deonte Harty.
The Bills defense, which ranked fourth in points allowed per game in 2023 (18.3), wasn’t immune from the front office’s roster overhaul. The longtime safety tandem of Micah Hyde and Jordan Poyer headlined the high-profile exits, though Hyde remains unsigned and recently told reporters he’ll only play for Buffalo if he continues his football career. Cornerback Tre’Davious White and defensive end Leonard Floyd also departed.
Now, as the Bills prepare for the final phase of their offseason workouts with OTAs and a mandatory minicamp in June, here’s an updated breakdown of how their new-look roster is shaping up for the 2024 campaign.
2024 Buffalo Bills 53-Man Roster Projection (v1.0; Pre-June OTAs, Minicamp)
Quarterbacks (2): Josh Allen, Mitchell Trubisky
Allen faces the urgent challenge of getting up to speed with his new group of wideouts, but he should remain among the top contenders in the MVP race. Trubisky returns for his second stint as Allen’s backup, a role he previously filled in 2021.
Shane Buechele likely won’t make the roster barring an injury, but he’s a strong bet to land on the practice squad.
Running Backs (4): James Cook, Ray Davis, Ty Johnson, Reggie Gilliam (FB)
Cook is locked in as the Bills lead back after a breakout 2023 season where he accumulated 1,567 yards from scrimmage and six total touchdowns. Davis should enter training camp with an inside track on a roster spot after being selected in the fourth round of the 2024 NFL draft. Gilliam is also safe in his role as the starting fullback.
The last spot will probably come down to Ty Johnson, who averaged 4.4 yards per carry in limited reserve work last year, or rookie Frank Gore Jr. Gore joined the Bills as an undrafted free agent five years after his future Hall of Fame father played for the organization in 2019.
Wide Receivers (6): Khalil Shakir, Keon Coleman, Curtis Samuel, Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Justin Shorter, KJ Hamler
Receiver will garner the most attention of any position leading up to Buffalo’s Week 1 clash with the Arizona Cardinals in September. Shakir, Coleman, and Samuel are locks, and MVS is the likely choice as the No. 4 WR if he can keep his drop problems under control throughout camp.
The last two (or potentially three) spots are truly up for grabs. One will probably go to an outside boundary option (Shorter, Mack Hollins or Chase Claypool), while the other should be a smaller slot target (Hamler or Andy Isabella).
Tight Ends (3): Dalton Kincaid, Dawson Knox, Quintin Morris
Although there are no changes to the tight end room from last season, there’s pressure on Knox to bounce back from a lackluster 2023 to avoid creating an even larger gap in snap share between himself and Kincaid, who hauled in 73 passes as a rookie.
Offensive Line (9): Dion Dawkins, David Edwards, Connor McGovern, O’Cyrus Torrence, Spencer Brown, Sedrick Van Pran-Granger, La’el Collins, Ryan Van Demark, Gunner Britton
Dawkins (LT), Torrence (RG), and Brown (RT) are overwhelming favorites to start at their respective positions. While McGovern will also be in the lineup, it could be at either center or left guard depending on the development of Van Pran-Granger, a fifth-round pick out of Georgia who could make a case to take over at center immediately. Any struggles by Edwards at LG could also push Buffalo’s coaching staff to shift McGovern back there, further opening the door for the rookie.
There will be an extended camp battle for the other reserve spots between Collins, Van Demark, Britton, and a massive group of other offensive linemen on the current 90-man roster.
EDGE (5): Greg Rousseau, A.J. Epenesa, Von Miller, Dawuane Smoot, Javon Solomon
While most of the offseason focus has centered around who will replace the team’s marquee departures, the single biggest thing that could impact the team’s fortunes in 2024 is a return to form by Miller, an eight-time Pro Bowler who recorded no sacks and just three combined tackles in 12 games last year. He racked up eight sacks in 11 appearances for Buffalo in 2022 before suffering a torn ACL.
Smoot and Casey Toohill will likely battle for one reserve spot, while the Bills give Solomon every chance to make the squad after tallying 31.5 sacks across his final three college seasons.
Defensive Tackles (4): Ed Oliver, DaQuan Jones, DeWayne Carter, DeShawn Williams
The depth here isn’t as strong as it was last season, but Oliver and Jones make up one of the league’s best tackle tandems when they’re both operating at full capacity. Carter should see immediate snaps as a third-round pick. Williams and Austin Johnson figure to fight for the last spot.
Linebackers (6): Matt Milano, Terrel Bernard, Deion Jones, Dorian Williams, Nicholas Morrow, Edefuan Ulofoshio
Buffalo only uses two linebackers in its base defense—the dynamic duo of Milano and Bernard—so it’s possible they only carry five linebackers if there are tough decisions elsewhere on the roster. As a whole, the Bills’ linebacker group is deeper than it’s been in most recent seasons.
Cornerbacks (7): Rasul Douglas, Christian Benford, Taron Johnson, Kaiir Elam, Daequan Hardy, Kyron Brown, Ja’Marcus Ingram
This is an area the Bills may still look to upgrade, at least from a depth perspective, before the regular season. The starting trio of Douglas, Benford, and Johnson (slot) is among the NFL’s best, but all the options behind them are either underwhelming or unproven.
Elam is a virtual lock to make the roster within its current construction, but the 2022 first-round pick needs a breakthrough year to ensure his future with the franchise for 2025 and beyond after a couple of mundane seasons to open his NFL career.
Safeties (4): Mike Edwards, Cole Bishop, Taylor Rapp, Cam Lewis
Edwards, Rapp, and Bishop will compete to fill out the two starting safety spots. Rapp-Bishop would be the pairing with the highest upside, but a veteran presence like Edwards may be needed after losing the decorated Poyer-Hyde combination.
Lewis will challenge Damar Hamlin for the other reserve spot unless Hyde decides to return.
Kicker (1): Tyler Bass
It’s a bit surprising the Bills haven’t signed another kicker to compete with Bass, who missed five field goals during the regular season and three more in the postseason last year. That includes a failed 44-yard attempt in the final minutes of the team’s 27-24 playoff loss to the Kansas City Chiefs. If he struggles early in camp, some veteran competition may be brought in for motivation if nothing else.
Punter (1): Sam Martin
Martin will battle with rookie Jack Browning to retain his role as Buffalo’s punter. He has the incumbency advantage but isn’t a lock to win the job after a mediocre 2023.
Long Snapper (1): Reid Ferguson
Ferguson is one of the best in the business and could be a candidate for a contract extension before the season as he prepares to enter the final year of his current deal.
As always, things can change rapidly with a roster as fluid as this one, so look for another 2024 Buffalo Bills 53-man roster projection before training camp opens in July.
Main Image: Jamie Germano/Rochester Democrat and Chronicle / USA TODAY NETWORK
