NFL roster cuts will begin rolling in today, and as you're aware by now, the Buffalo Bills must release 27 players by 6:00 PM this evening to reach the NFL's 53-man roster limit. After a long and tumultuous pre-season, our final roster prediction is after the jump - and we expect to see yours in the comments section.
I'll try to head off some of the inevitable questions about this final projection first.
- Even before yesterday's rumors - which may yet prove to be true - Terrence McGee was atop my list of "surprise cut" contenders due to his age, injury issues and salary. However, I'm still predicting he'll be on the team thanks to the inconsistencies of Leodis McKelvin. McGee can still very obviously help the Bills.
- On the flip side, I don't think Geoff Hangartner makes the team. It'd be tough to keep a guy, at that salary, that might be inactive for several weeks.
- Everything else is pretty par for the course compared with what I've projected in previous weeks. The exception is the addition of a practice squad. Of course, if you do have any questions about my rationale, I'd be happy to explain below.
Pos. | # | Starter | # | Backup | # | Reserve |
WR | 19 | Donald Jones | 86 | David Nelson | 18 | Naaman Roosevelt |
LT | 77 | Demetrius Bell | 71 | Ed Wang | ||
LG | 67 | Andy Levitre | 76 | Chad Rinehart | ||
C | 70 | Eric Wood | ||||
RG | 60 | Kraig Urbik | ||||
RT | 79 | Erik Pears | 75 | Chris Hairston | ||
TE | 84 | Scott Chandler | 80 | David Martin | ||
WR | 13 | Stevie Johnson | 11 | Roscoe Parrish | 81 | Marcus Easley |
QB | 14 | Ryan Fitzpatrick | 4 | Tyler Thigpen | 16 | Brad Smith |
RB | 22 | Fred Jackson | 28 | C.J. Spiller | 35 | Johnny White |
FB | 38 | Corey McIntyre | ||||
LE | 99 | Marcell Dareus | 72 | Kellen Heard | ||
NT | 95 | Kyle Williams | 96 | Torell Troup | ||
RE | 98 | Dwan Edwards | 91 | Spencer Johnson | ||
SLB | 90 | Chris Kelsay | 92 | Alex Carrington | ||
MLB | 54 | Andra Davis | 58 | Kirk Morrison | 55 | Kelvin Sheppard |
WLB | 50 | Nick Barnett | 52 | Arthur Moats | 94 | Chris White |
JLB | 56 | Shawne Merriman | 57 | Danny Batten | 59 | Antonio Coleman |
LCB | 21 | Leodis McKelvin | 24 | Terrence McGee | 27 | Reggie Corner |
SS | 37 | George Wilson | 43 | Bryan Scott | 25 | Da'Norris Searcy |
FS | 31 | Jairus Byrd | ||||
RCB | 29 | Drayton Florence | 23 | Aaron Williams | 42 | Justin Rogers |
K | 9 | Rian Lindell | ||||
P | 8 | Brian Moorman | ||||
LS | 65 | Garrison Sanborn |
Practice Squad: QB Levi Brown, RB Jehuu Caulcrick, WR Kamar Aiken, TE Mike Caussin, OG Colin Brown, NT Michael Jasper, OLB Robert Eddins, S Josh Nesbitt
Cuts: QB Levi Brown, RB Bruce Hall, FB Jehuu Caulcrick, WR Buster Davis, WR Felton Huggins, WR Kamar Aiken, WR Ruvell Martin, TE Mike Caussin, TE Shawn Nelson, TE Zack Pianalto, OT Cordaro Howard, OT Jason Watkins, OG Mansfield Wrotto, OG Colin Brown, C Geoff Hangartner, C Michael Switzer, DE Lionel Dotson, DE T.J. Langley, NT Michael Jasper, OLB Jammie Kirlew, OLB Robert Eddins, ILB Brandon Hicks, CB Doyle Miller, S Jon Corto, S Sidney Glover, S Josh Nesbitt, LS Danny Aiken