In an effort to get below the NFL’s new roster limit of 80 (plus International Pathway Participant Christian Wade) by August 10th, the Buffalo Bills released two young veterans on Monday. WR Ray-Ray McCloud III and OL Garrett McGhin were the first casualties of the NFL’s roster limits related to COVID-19. NFL teams can get to 80 players immediately or run split practices until the 10th.
McCloud was drafted by Buffalo in 2018 and played in 10 games but found himself on the outside looking in during 2019 after the Bills upgraded their WR corps. After a few months with the Carolina Panthers, the Bills added him to their practice squad where he notably played the role of Lamar Jackson in practice. It would have been another tough climb to the roster in 2020.
McGhin was originally signed as an undrafted free agent in 2019. He was re-signed just before the 2020 NFL Draft to provide depth after playing two games for the Carolina Panthers in 2019. With the additional depth on the team, they didn’t feel the need to keep the young offensive lineman.
The Bills’ roster sits at 86 players right now. If they want to practice together, they need to cut five more players before later this week when returning veterans clear their second COVID-19 screening.