Bills 53-Man Roster Prediction: OTAs Edition

My first 53-man projection of the 2026 season is here, fellow rumblers. Let me be upfront: this is a way-too-early look, before a single preseason snap has been played and before training camp opens in late July. Things will change. That’s precisely what makes this exercise worth doing.

What I can tell you right now is that Brandon Beane built this roster with more genuine depth than the Bills have had in years — particularly along the defensive front — and that identifying the final ten roster spots is legitimately difficult. Positions that were afterthoughts in previous offseasons are now actual competitions. Welcome to OTAs, where the picture starts to come into focus.

Here’s my initial 53, the guys I would pick. In the next predictions, it’ll change to what I believe the Bills will do. For now, this is the starting point.

Buffalo Bills’ current depth chart (90 players)

Offense (44): 11 personnel

Quarterback (3) Josh Allen, Shane Buechele, Kyle Allen

Running Back (5) James Cook, Ty Johnson, Ray Davis, Frank Gore Jr., Desmond Reid

Fullback (2) Ben VanSumeran, Jackson Acker

Wide Receiver (X) (3) DJ Moore, Keon Coleman, Tyrell Shavers,

Wide Receiver (Z) (6) Skyler Bell, Joshua Palmer, Mecole Hardman, Stephen Gosnell, Ja’Mori Maclin, Max Tomczak

Wide Receiver (Slot) (4) Khalil Shakir, Trent Sherfield, Jalen Virgil, Gabriel Benyard

Tight End (5) Dalton Kincaid, Dawson Knox, Jackson Hawes, Keleki Latu, Shane Zylstra

Left Tackle (3) Dion Dawkins, Tylan Grable, Jude Bowry

Left Guard (3) Alec Anderson, Austin Corbett, Nick Broeker

Center (3) Connor McGovern, Sedrick Van Pran-Granger, Lloyd Cushenberry III

Right Guard (2) O’Cyrus Torrence, Ar’Maj Reed-Adams

Right Tackle (5) Spencer Brown, Chase Lundt, Travis Clayton, Bruno Fina, Da’Metrius Weatherspoon

Defense (42): Base 3-4

Nose Tackle (5) Deone Walker, DeWayne Carter, Phidarian Mathis, Tommy Akingbesote, Zion Logue

Defensive Tackle/End (5) Ed Oliver, TJ Sanders, Landon Jackson, Zane Durant, Kody Huisman

Outside Linebacker / EDGE (8) Greg Rousseau, Bradley Chubb, Michael Hoecht, Javon Solomon, TJ Parker, Mike Danna, Andre Jones Jr., Cade Denhoff

Inside Linebacker (7) Terrel Bernard, Dorian Williams, Joe Andreessen, Keonta Jenkins, Kaleb Elarms-Orr, Jimmy Ciarlo, Theron Gaines

Cornerback (9) Christian Benford, Maxwell Hairston, Davison Igbinosun, Toriano Pride, MJ Devonshire, Daryl Porter Jr., Dorian Strong, Kani Walker, Jordan Dunbar

Slot / Nickel Cornerback (3) Dee Alford, Jordan Hancock, Te’Cory Couch

Safety (7) Cole Bishop, CJ Gardner-Johnson, Jalon Kilgore, Sam Franklin, Damar Hamlin, Geno Stone, Wande Owens

Special Teams (5)

Kicker (2) Tyler Bass, Maddux Trujillo

Punter (2) Mitch Wishnowsky, Tommy Doman

Long Snapper (1) Reid Ferguson

Buffalo Bills 2026 projected 53-man roster

Offense (23 total players)

Quarterback (2)

Analysis: Josh Allen is the guy. The unquestioned best player on this team, an MVP-level quarterback even when you feel like he could’ve been playing better, and the primary reason this franchise is among the contenders every year. The system around him changes — Joe Brady is now the head coach, not the offensive coordinator, and the offense should look and feel different in his year one with full command — but the foundation is unchanged.

What has changed from last year is the backup. I’m going with two quarterbacks and dropping Buechele to the practice squad. Kyle Allen, signed as a free agent in March, gets the job. Buechele signed a reserve/futures deal and has been around this organization long enough to be an effective scout team option — that’s a practice squad role, not a 53-man role. That roster spot makes a difference somewhere else on this roster.

Cut: Shane Buechele

Running Back / Fullback (4)

Starters: James Cook, Jackson Acker (FB)

Backups: Ty Johnson, Ray Davis

Analysis: Cook has established himself as one of the league’s more dynamic weapons. He demands a specific game plan from every defensive coordinator who faces him, and there’s still room for improvement as a pass catcher coming from the backfield, something new OC Pete Carmichael should bring to the system to maximize his skill set. Ty Johnson handles the third-down and change-of-pace duties reliably, and Ray Davis is the physical runner who does the hard work without fanfare.

And then there’s Jackson Acker, the undrafted fullback who earns a spot I think most fans haven’t underestimated. This offense has the design and the personnel to use a genuine lead blocker in specific packages — Reggie Gilliam succeeded there. Having that option on the active roster gives the play-action game a nice wrinkle. The Bills have consistently carried a dedicated fullback in recent years, but Gilliam contributed heavily on special teams and didn’t have a big number of snaps on offense. Acker must contribute on teams as well if he’s gonna make this team.

Cuts: Frank Gore Jr., Desmond Reid, Ben VanSumeran

Wide Receiver (5)

Starters: DJ Moore, Khalil Shakir, Keon Coleman
Backups: Skyler Bell, Trent Sherfield

Analysis: The elephant in the room is Josh Palmer, and I won’t sugarcoat it: his first season in Buffalo was a failure (as I expected). Twelve games, 22 catches, 303 yards, zero touchdowns. That’s not the production this offense requires from a player on a three-year, $29 million contract — and the cap situation in 2026 makes a clean break not just sensible but financially intelligent. His cap hit jumps to $11.8 million this year; a post-June 1 trade saves Buffalo $10.2 million in space. I have him traded for whatever you can get. This room works without him. Way too expensive to be a depth guy.

Tyrell Shavers starts the year on Injured Reserve, which opens the path for Trent Sherfield to make this 53 from day one. He contributes on special teams, and he can play inside and out when needed. Skyler Bell is the fourth WR as the fourth-round pick who has the tools to contribute immediately in the rotation — and even give Coleman a run for his money. This WR room might look thin, but Shavers will be a contributor when fully recovered, and the upgrade with Moore and Bell is real.

Cuts: Josh Palmer (trade), Tyrell Shavers (IR), Mecole Hardman, Stephen Gosnell, Jalen Virgil, Max Tomczak, Ja’Mori Maclin, Gabriel Benyard

Tight End (3)

Backups: Dawson Knox, Jackson Hawes

Analysis: When healthy, Kincaid is one of the most dangerous receiving tight ends in the NFL — a player who creates genuine matchup problems regardless of who’s covering him. Knox brings the veteran leadership and reliability, being able to stay on the field on every down. Together, they form a legitimate one-two punch at the position.

Hawes impressed as a rookie, playing 43% of offensive snaps and flashing more receiving potential than his fifth-round draft position suggested. A full offseason in this system should unlock more of what he’s capable of doing as a receiver, but what he does as a blocker on a consistent basis is what makes him so special as the TE3.

Cuts: Keleki Latu, Shane Zylstra

Offensive Line (9)

Starters: Dion Dawkins (LT), Alec Anderson (LG), Connor McGovern (C), O’Cyrus Torrence (RG), Spencer Brown (RT)
Backups: Tylan Grable (T), Sedrick Van Pran-Granger (C), Austin Corbett (G), Jude Bowry (T/G)

Analysis: The starting five has a new starter for the first time in two years. Dawkins and Brown are the bookend tackles. McGovern provides veteran stability as the center. Torrence enters his contract year as a powerful RG who doesn’t miss games. The question mark is at the LG spot after David Edwards left in free agency — will Alec Anderson take over this spot and never look back? He looked good as the first option off the bench, but now it’s a different responsibility. I’m confident he can keep the run game going at a high level, but there are questions about his pass blocking.

Austin Corbett, ideally, is the versatile veteran who steps in anywhere inside without the offense losing a step. However, he can find himself in a battle for the starting LG spot. Rookie third-round pick Jude Bowry might be able to impress early and also put himself in this conversation, we’ll see.

Grable is someone I’m excited about, he just needs to stay healthy. Talented swing tackle who can show he might be able to become a serious candidate for a starting LT spot, if Dawkins leaves the team in the near future. Van Pran-Granger is McGovern’s backup, and Chase Lundt is the odd man out, landing on the practice squad — that’s a hard cut but the right one.

Cuts: Chase Lundt, Travis Clayton, Nick Broeker, Lloyd Cushenberry III, Ar’Maj Reed-Adams, Da’Metrius Weatherspoon, Bruno Fina

Defense (27 total players)

Defensive Tackle/End and Nose Tackle (6)

Starters: Ed Oliver (DT/DE), Deone Walker (NT), TJ Sanders (DT/DE)
Backups: Zane Durant (DT/DE), Phidarian Mathis (NT), Landon Jackson (DE/DT)

Analysis: Six interior players. With the changes in the defensive schemes, new DC Jim Leonhard should use base defense more often than Sean McDermott used to. The base 3-4 adds an extra big body at the line, and Beane went out and added some pieces here. I’m keeping most of them.

Oliver, when healthy, looked disruptive last year. Walker’s size and quick feet make him an intriguing nose tackle for the new DC. Sanders gets a chance to justify the high investment made in him a year ago. With his first true offseason in the NFL, the expectations are sky high. Jackson bulked up and is expected to have success playing a position he played in college. Durant, the draft pick, brings more athleticism and youth to a room that has moved on from several veterans from a year ago.

And then there’s Mathis over Carter at the backup nose tackle spot. I want to be clear: DeWayne Carter gets the entire offseason to make this projection look foolish, and I genuinely hope he does, because that would justify the third-round pick invested in him two years ago. However, Mathis has been the player who has contributed more so far, earning a new deal. He has more experience playing nose tackle, eating blocks without getting embarrassed. Mathis does it, and Carter is bulking up to play this role, one that he hasn’t played in his career yet. Advantage Mathis.

Cuts: DeWayne Carter, Tommy Akingbesote, Zion Logue, Kody Huisman

Outside Linebacker (6)

Starters: Greg Rousseau, Bradley Chubb
Backups: TJ Parker, Mike Danna, Michael Hoecht, Javon Solomon

Analysis: Six edge rushers. I know that raises eyebrows, but hear me out: the two main vets from this group have some health-related questions — Chubb with his injury history, and Hoecht simply coming back from a tough Achilles injury from last season. Ideally, both can stay healthy all season long and play at their best, not opening any windows for snaps for the 5th and 6th option to see the field. Hard to count on it, though, especially with Hoecht, who should take some time to be back at his best.

Chubb is coming from a very good season, posting 8.5 sacks and 48 quarterback pressures for Miami in 2025 before signing a three-year, $43.5 million deal with Buffalo. He should offer what Bosa did before injuring his wrist — and it’s very good. Rousseau should benefit from his presence. He’s developed into a very good player, especially when he has a better pass rusher playing opposite him. There’s still untapped potential in his game, in my opinion, as Rousseau is entering the prime of his career.

Rookie second-round pick TJ Parker is expected to be a major contributor from day one. I’m excited to see what he can do in the rotation. Mike Danna offers experience as a guy who sets the floor in this room. Solomon has a chance to get more opportunities on defense if he can impress in the new scheme. Carrying six EDGEs means Hoecht doesn’t have to be at 100% in Week 1, which is exactly how this should be handled.

Cuts: Andre Jones Jr., Cade Denhoff

Inside Linebacker (4)

Starters: Terrel Bernard, Dorian Williams

Backups: Kaleb Elarms-Orr, Joe Andreessen

Analysis: Bernard can still be the heartbeat of this defense. When healthy and at his best, he communicated assignments, compensated for mistakes around him, and operated at a very high level for two consecutive seasons before struggling with injuries last year. I’m confident he can be back at that level in this new defense. Williams played well alongside him when Milano was out injured, and can play the “thumper” role with physicality next to Bernard.

Andreessen is a solid depth piece — middle linebacker experience and special teams value. Elarms-Orr, the draft pick, is a really exciting prospect. He projects as an immediate special teams contributor and a player with the athleticism to push for defensive snaps sooner than expected, offering coverage for Bernard, or even fighting for a starting place next to him.

This is a young room, and I wouldn’t be surprised to see Shaq Thompson or Matt Milano coming back if the young players don’t take advantage of the opportunity during the training camp and preseason.

Cuts: Keonta Jenkins, Jimmy Ciarlo, Theron Gaines

Outside Cornerback (4)

Starters: Christian Benford, Maxwell Hairston
Backups: Davison Igbinosun, Toriano Pride

Analysis: Benford started slowly in 2025 but regained his form as one of the best CBs in the AFC as the season progressed. He’s the team’s CB1 until one of the young players shows us otherwise. Hairston’s rookie year showed promise. The athletic profile is there for him to develop into a legitimate starter in this league, and this offseason is critical for that progression. Being able to stay healthy is a genuine concern.

Igbinosun brings the physical outside presence that the new scheme demands. Can he take advantage of Hairston’s fragility and become a starter? We’ll see. Pride, the seventh-round pick, can be a steal — like Dorian Strong was a year ago, or even Benford was before that. He has the athletic ability and the flexibility to play him inside or outside, depending on the need. Suddenly, the CB room has a lot of speed, youth, and most importantly, talent.

Cuts: MJ Devonshire, Daryl Porter Jr., Dorian Strong, Kani Walker, Jordan Dunbar

Slot / Nickel Cornerback (2)

Analysis: Alford is one of the more underrated players on this entire defense. A slot corner who plays within the scheme, makes smart decisions in coverage, and provides the kind of quiet stability at a position that can unravel a defense quickly. His professionalism and consistency are invaluable to a unit going through a significant coordinator transition.

Hancock, a fifth-round pick in 2025, rotated in as a safety last season, but should be well-suited for the nickel CB role in Leonhard’s defense. His versatility is an asset that helps his chances of seeing playing time.

Cuts: Te’Cory Couch

Safety (5)

Starters: Cole Bishop, CJ Gardner-Johnson
Backups: Jalon Kilgore, Geno Stone, Sam Franklin

Analysis: Bishop enters 2026 on the cusp of becoming one of the best up-and-coming safeties in the game. I think he’s ready to prove it, especially under the tutelage of Jim Leonhard, a former safety himself. Gardner-Johnson is the experienced vet of this group — vocal, physical, capable of operating in any coverage shell, and versatile to play on both safety spots and as the nickel CB if needed. Together, they can form a very strong starting safety duo for Buffalo.

Kilgore might become the biggest steal of this draft. Athletic and versatile, don’t be surprised if he becomes Cole Bishop’s long-term partner at the position, maybe even sooner than expected. Sam Franklin re-signed on a three-year deal this offseason, and that tells you exactly how this coaching staff values him. He’s a special teams core player, though — not a piece who can be counted on defense. Stone, on the other hand, rounds out the room as an experienced option who can create turnovers at will. Five safeties might look aggressive, but the talent on this group is deep enough to justify it.

Cuts: Damar Hamlin, Wande Owens

Special Teams (3)

Kicker (1)

Analysis: Bass missed all of 2025 with an injury and returns to reclaim a job that was his before the injury. He was coming from a good postseason before getting hurt last year, and I’m not confident he can play at the high level Matt Prater played last season. Since he’s the only option on the roster right now, I don’t have a choice here.

Punter (1)

Analysis: Doman wins this competition, and I think it’s not particularly close by the time August ends, unless the rookie struggles a lot. Jeff Rodgers came to Buffalo from Arizona with a specific vision for what this special teams unit needed at the punter position. He did the scout work on Doman specifically, and the Bills used a seventh-round pick on him rather than competing for a veteran in the undrafted free agent pool. You don’t spend draft capital on a punter just to give him a practice squad role.

Doman led all of FBS in hang time in 2025 at 4.5 seconds per punt. He averaged 44.0 yards and placed 17 of his 50 attempts inside the 20-yard line. He has experience as a kickoff specialist and as a holder — versatility that matters to a new special teams coordinator building something from the ground up. Wishnowsky avoided big blunders, but ranked 26th in the league last year at 45.3 yards per punt. He’s solid, but Doman is supposed to be more than that.

Cut: Mitch Wishnowsky

Long Snapper (1)

Analysis: Ferguson is, as always, invisible in the best possible way — a model of consistency who has earned every year of trust this organization has placed in him. Nothing to see here.

Final Thoughts

This roster is better constructed than the one that took the field in 2025. The defensive front has real depth for the first time in years. The offensive line has nine legitimate NFL players competing for eight active-roster spots. The special teams unit has a punter competition driven by real conviction in a young player. The wide receiver room is leaner than it looked on paper in the past — but it’s also more talented and honest about who’s actually contributing.

Brandon Beane reshaped and rejuvenated the roster, built depth along the defensive front that this franchise has been lacking, and gave Joe Brady the tools to run a more versatile offense than what we saw a year ago, with the addition of some actual weapons to Josh Allen.

This roster is improved from last season. Now it’s on the coaches to get the best out of the young talent added to this team.

TLDR: Projected 2026 Buffalo Bills 53-Man Roster (OTAs Edition)

Offense (23)

QB (2): Josh Allen, Kyle Allen
RB (3): James Cook, Ty Johnson, Ray Davis
WR (5): DJ Moore, Khalil Shakir, Keon Coleman, Skyler Bell, Trent Sherfield
TE (3): Dalton Kincaid, Dawson Knox, Jackson Hawes
OL (9): Dion Dawkins, Connor McGovern, O’Cyrus Torrence, Alec Anderson, Spencer Brown, Tylan Grable, Sedrick Van Pran-Granger, Austin Corbett, Jude Bowry

Defense (27)

OLB (6): Greg Rousseau, Bradley Chubb, Michael Hoecht, Javon Solomon, TJ Parker, Mike Danna
DE/NT (6): Ed Oliver, Deone Walker, TJ Sanders, Landon Jackson, Zane Durant, Phidarian Mathis
ILB (4): Terrel Bernard, Dorian Williams, Joe Andreessen, Kaleb Elarms-Orr Outside
CB (4): Christian Benford, Maxwell Hairston, Davison Igbinosun, Toriano Pride
Slot CB (2): Dee Alford, Jordan Hancock
S (5): Cole Bishop, CJ Gardner-Johnson, Jalon Kilgore, Sam Franklin, Geno Stone

Special Teams (3)

K (1): Tyler Bass

P (1): Tommy Doman

LS (1): Reid Ferguson

On IR: Tyrell Shavers (WR)

Notable Practice Squad Candidates: Shane Buechele (QB), Frank Gore Jr. (RB), Desmond Reid (RB), Mecole Hardman (WR), Keleki Latu (TE), Chase Lundt (OL), DeWayne Carter (IDL), Keonta Jenkins (ILB), Daryl Porter Jr. (CB), Damar Hamlin (S)

Catch up on all this and more with the latest edition of Leading the Charge!

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