NFL Cuts 2012: Final Buffalo Bills 53-Man Roster Projection

The Buffalo Bills have wrapped up their pre-season schedule, and they must trim their roster to 53 players by 9:00 this evening (Eastern Time). As such, Friday will be dedicated to endless speculation about who the Bills may or may not keep - and the bulk of that conversation will focus on the backup quarterback situation.

After the jump, you'll find my final 53-man roster projection of the summer - as well as another depth chart built from an "if I were making these decisions" perspective.

Let's start with the opinion, and leave the guess work for later. Here's how I would structure the roster if I were making the final cuts today (and clearly, I'm very glad I'm not):

To answer some inevitable questions:

• I can't justify keeping Tyler Thigpen at $2.5 million regardless of how ill-prepared Tarvaris Jackson may be. The Bills won't hear a peep from me if they cut Thigpen and try to re-sign him at a much lower salary for a few weeks, knowing that he's not in their long-term plans.
• Ruvell Martin over Derek Hagan: there's only room for three receivers in this offense as it is. If they're trotting a fourth receiver onto the field, I firmly believe that player should be T.J. Graham. That fifth spot could easily go to one of the young receivers everyone talks about all the time, but I'd just as soon stash my favorite of that group - Kamar Aiken - on the practice squad and keep a guy like Martin that can help out on game days as a specialist.
• I cut both Dwan Edwards and Alex Carrington in favor of Kellen Heard. I just like the idea of having a wide-bodied fourth defensive tackle, knowing that the Bills have guys that can rush on the interior. The Bills need all the heft they can get to defend the run, and Heard can get push.
• Kirk Morrison doesn't make the cut for me, and there's a strong chance he won't be a Bill by day's end, as well. There's a lot to be said about keeping him around as veteran insurance for Kelvin Sheppard, but Sheppard is only a two-down 'backer as it is, and I'd rather them keep a bunch of young linebackers that can help on teams than play it safe and keep Morrison.
• The team could use a fourth safety. I haven't been impressed with Da'Norris Searcy of late. They need a guy with range that can play center field. I don't think either Nick Saenz or Delano Howell fit that profile.

Now, let's get onto the actual roster projection - the one that y'all can hold against me and judge me by. I offer it with no inside information; it's purely guesswork. Have fun!

CUTS (22): QB Tyler Thigpen, RB Johnny White, RB Zach Brown, WR Ruvell Martin, WR Marcus Easley, WR Kamar Aiken, WR Naaman Roosevelt, TE Kevin Brock, OT Sam Young, OT James Carmon, OG Mark Asper, OG Keith Williams, OG David Snow, DE Robert Eddins, DT Alex Carrington, DT Kellen Heard, LB Scott McKillop, LB Chris White, CB Isaiah Green, FS Nick Saenz, SS Delano Howell, P Shawn Powell