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Buffalo Sports News

Bills Roster: Updated Buffalo Depth Chart After OTAs, Minicamp

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The Buffalo Bills concluded their offseason program last week with mandatory minicamp, which marked the return of James Cook. The two-time Pro Bowl running back had sat out the voluntary portion of organized team activities (OTAs) as he continues to seek a long-term contract extension.

Buffalo also made what could be its final notable addition before training camp by signing longtime Carolina Panthers linebacker Shaq Thompson. The 2015 first-round pick is returning from a torn Achilles, but he’ll provide valuable depth once back up to full speed.

Let’s take a position-by-position look at how the Bills’ projected lineup is shaping up around MVP quarterback Josh Allen, before the start of camp in late July. There are some changes since the last iteration of the roster outlook in late April.

Jun 11, 2025; Orchard Park, NY, USA; Buffalo Bills running back Frank Gore Jr. (20) works out with running back James Cook (4) during Minicamp at Highmark Stadium.

Updated Bills Roster, Depth Chart Ahead of 2025 NFL Season

Bills Roster — Offense

Quarterback: Josh Allen (Mitchell Trubisky)

Allen should enter the new campaign as the favorite to capture his second straight MVP trophy. Nobody in the league carries more importance to their team’s success than the 29-year-old California native, who’s often asked to carry the entire offense on his shoulders. Mike White hasn’t done enough during the offseason work to think he’s set to overtake Trubisky for the backup role.

Running Back: James Cook (Ray Davis, Ty Johnson)

Cook’s appearance at minicamp was a clear indicator that he’s willing to play this season without an extension. That’s terrific news for the Bills, who aren’t going to come anywhere close to his asking price of $15 million annually. Davis and Johnson will both have weekly reserve roles.

Wide Receiver (X): Josh Palmer (Elijah Moore)

Buffalo is going to give Palmer every chance to win a starting spot after signing him to a three-year, $29 million contract in free agency. That said, Moore has been impressive throughout the offseason and, at minimum, figures to carve into Palmer’s snap share.

Wide Receiver (Z): Keon Coleman (Tyrell Shavers)

A lot of people are overlooking Shavers in the battle for a roster spot. He’s a big body (6’4”, 211 pounds) with strong blocking skills. Those are traits otherwise lacking at the position for the Bills. A strong preseason could lock down a place on the 53-man squad as Coleman’s backup.

Wide Receiver (Slot): Khalil Shakir (Curtis Samuel)

Shakir remains one of the NFL’s most underrated players. He doesn’t possess elite physical traits and won’t make a ton of highlight-reel plays, but he’s consistently effective. His ability to get open on third down is vital to the Bills’ offensive success.

Tight End: Dalton Kincaid (Dawson Knox)

Buffalo desperately needs a breakout year from Kincaid. He hasn’t emerged as a go-to target for Allen, which is a concern given the first-round investment. He looked good throughout OTAs and minicamp, so there’s reason for optimism.

Left Tackle: Dion Dawkins (Ryan Van Demark)

Dawkins has a case as the Bills’ second-most important player. Not only is he one of the NFL’s best pass-blocking tackles, thus protecting Allen’s blindside, but the lack of quality depth behind him makes his durability tremendously important.

Left Guard: David Edwards (Alec Anderson)

Barring injury, the Bills aren’t going to make any changes up front to start the season. Edwards is the lineman with the highest probability of losing his spot at some point during the year. Connor McGovern may slide over the guard in that scenario.

Center: Connor McGovern (Sedrick Van Pran-Granger)

McGovern and Allen endured some snap-exchange issues at this time last year, but they were ironed out in time for the regular season. It was mostly a smooth transition to the middle of the line. The continued development of Van Pran-Granger could cause a line shake-up in 2026, though.

Right Guard: O’Cyrus Torrence (Kendrick Green)

Torrence hasn’t met expectations since Buffalo selected him in the second round of the 2023 draft. He received a lackluster 54.9 overall grade from Pro Football Focus last season, which matched the eye test. The Bills will stick with him while he’s on a team-friendly rookie deal, but the results aren’t encouraging.

Right Tackle: Spencer Brown (Chase Lundt)

Look no further than Brown if there’s reason to believe Torrence can turn a corner. The tackle struggled during the early stages of his NFL career before developing into a dependable starter. He combines with Dawkins to give the Bills one of the league’s best tackle duos.

Bills Roster — Defense

Defensive End: Joey Bosa (Landon Jackson)

The fact that Bosa, injury-prone from his days with the Los Angeles Chargers, is already dealing with a calf injury isn’t a promising sign. Buffalo will bring him along slowly, knowing his involvement in January is more crucial than September. Whether he can stay healthy is a serious question mark, though.

Defensive Tackle: Ed Oliver (DeWayne Carter)

Oliver is locked into a starting role despite an up-and-down career so far. Don’t overlook Carter, though. He was putting together a promising rookie campaign in 2024 before suffering a wrist injury. He should represent a better option behind Oliver than the Bills have had in years.

Defensive Tackle: DaQuan Jones (Deone Walker)

Jones still gets the nod here, but it’s far from set in stone. He’s coming off a forgettable season, and it’s not a lock he’ll bounce back at age 33. An impressive camp from Walker could push Jones into the cut zone if the veteran looks sluggish again.

Defensive End: Greg Rousseau (A.J. Epenesa)

A healthy Bosa would create a lot more one-on-one opportunities for Rousseau, who struggled to produce with an ineffective Von Miller at the other edge-rushing spot last season. A double-digit sack campaign could be within reach.

Linebacker: Matt Milano (Shaq Thompson)

Milano has dealt with countless injuries over the years. He looked a step or two slow upon his return last season. It’s likely the cumulative toll of all those ailments. That’s why picking up a battle-tested reserve like Thompson was a wise move by Buffalo general manager Brandon Beane.

Linebacker: Terrel Bernard (Joe Andreessen)

Andreessen, a Buffalo-area native, continues to impress after signing as an undrafted free agent last year. It’s unclear whether head coach Sean McDermott and his staff view him as a long-term option to start, but he’s never looked out of place when called upon.

Cornerback: Christian Benford (Tre’Davious White)

Benford, who was PFF’s fifth-ranked corner last year, will be tasked with locking down the opponent’s top receiver all season. The Bills are going to shelter first-round pick Maxwell Hairston as much as possible, and the reserve options at the position are underwhelming despite White’s return to Buffalo.

Cornerback: Maxwell Hairston (Dane Jackson)

The Bills have rarely given extensive playing time to rookies in the Beane-McDermott Era. They may not have much choice in this case. Although Hairston has all the tools to become a high-end playmaker in the NFL, there will be growing pains along the way.

Slot Corner: Taron Johnson (Jordan Hancock)

Johnson wasn’t quite as effective in 2024 while fighting through a series of injuries. Buffalo will expect a rebound campaign from one of the league’s best slot cornerbacks. Meanwhile, Hancock could take over the multifaceted role typically played by Cam Lewis.

Safety: Taylor Rapp (Damar Hamlin)

Hamlin is one of sports’ most inspirational stories. He shouldn’t be in the starting lineup for a team with legitimate Super Bowl aspirations, though. He’s fine as a reserve and special-teams contributor, but last season proved he’s a liability when playing full-time snaps.

Safety: Cole Bishop (Darrick Forrest)

It’s time for Bishop to earn a starting spot after playing a minor role as a rookie. His high-IQ skill set makes him an ideal complement to Rapp’s high-risk, high-reward play style. Forrest is a sleeper contender to start if Bishop can’t make the leap.

Bills Roster — Special Teams

Kicker: Tyler Bass

Bass finished the 2024 campaign on a high note after some early-season struggles that carried over from 2023. The Bills will hope he remains consistent throughout 2025.

Punter: Jake Camarda

Camarda will face competition from Brad Robbins for the punter spot. Buffalo was tied for the ninth-fewest punts in the league last season.

Return Specialist: Brandon Codrington

Codrington and Laviska Shenault Jr. are hoping to win the opportunity to return kicks and punts for the Bills.

Long Snapper: Reid Ferguson

Ferguson returns for his 10th season as the Bills’ long snapper.

Main Photo: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

The post Bills Roster: Updated Buffalo Depth Chart After OTAs, Minicamp appeared first on Last Word on Pro Football.