The Buffalo Bills entered the 2020 offseason with many holes on their roster. After a flurry of signings, a big trade, and the 2020 NFL Draft. here is where the Bills’ roster stands. New free-agent signings and traded-for players are marked with an asterisk while draft picks have a plus sign. Undrafted free-agent signings are not yet official and weren’t included.
Note: Players are listed in alphabetical order in the body of the article but an unofficial depth chart appears at the end of the article.
Quarterback
Josh Allen
Matt Barkley
Jake Fromm +
Davis Webb
This position would seem to be mostly set with the “franchise quarterback” and veteran backup. Buffalo added Fromm this offseason, who has potential to stick on the roster long-term as the backup to Allen. The Bills have been rolling with only two quarterbacks on the final roster, but this could be the year the QB room gets bigger.
Running Back
Patrick DiMarco
Taiwan Jones *
Zack Moss +
Devin Singletary
Christian Wade
T.J. Yeldon
Jones was added in free agency for his special teams prowess, while Moss is going to come in and be expected to handle a large load right away as a third-round pick. Using back-to-back high picks on running backs, the Bills appear to be set with a one-two punch for years to come. Anything they can get from Yeldon is a bonus and Wade’s athleticism will once again make him a preseason darling, but he has a free spot on the practice squad this fall.
Wide Receiver
Cole Beasley
John Brown
Gabriel Davis +
Stefon Diggs *
Nick Easley
Robert Foster
Isaiah Hodgins +
Isaiah McKenzie
Ray-Ray McCloud III
Andre Roberts
Duke Williams
The Bills made a huge splash trading for Stefon Diggs to round out the top of the wide receiver corps, but it cost them a first-round pick. With questions about the long-term effectiveness of Williams and Foster, the team went out and drafted two guys who could replace them in Davis and Hodgins. Roberts is likely to make the team in a special teams role once again behind starters Brown and Beasley, leaving not much room for McKenzie, McCloud, and Easley.
Tight End
Nate Becker
Jason Croom
Dawson Knox
Tyler Kroft
Lee Smith
Tommy Sweeney
The Bills have completely rebuilt this position group over the last 14 months, with Croom as the only holdover from the start of that time frame. It’s telling that they didn’t add anyone this offseason after two free agents and two draft picks a year ago.
Interior O-line
Evan Boehm *
Ike Boettger
Jon Feliciano
Spencer Long
Mitch Morse
Quinton Spain
Buffalo added a bunch of players here last offseason, as well. Spain played well enough to garner a contract extension and the top five are all in place heading from 2019 into 2020. Boehm has starting experience in the NFL and adds depth and competition.
Offensive tackle
Ryan Bates
Dion Dawkins
Cody Ford
Ty Nsekhe
Victor Salako
Darryl Williams *
Dawkins solidified himself as the starting left tackle last year after a shaky 2018. Ford, drafted in the second round last year, still has work to do to be an NFL-caliber tackle but could shift inside to guard and be elite. Nsekhe is old while Bates is green. They did add the former All-Pro Williams to the mix, but he’s been underwhelming in more recent seasons. Like Nsekhe, he only has one year left on his deal so they’ll need to address this position next offseason.
Defensive End
Mario Addison *
Jerry Hughes
A.J. Epenesa +
Quinton Jefferson *
Darryl Johnson Jr.
Mike Love
Trent Murphy
Jonathan Woodard
The Bills signed Addison, who has nine sacks or more in each of the last four seasons, to address this group with the departure of Shaq Lawson and the underwhelming play of Murphy. Add in Hughes’s advancing age and the draft was a perfect place to improve with the addition of second-rounder Epenesa who will likely back up the vet. The rookie had poor testing numbers at the Combine but his tape is outstanding. Jefferson is a versatile piece who could pull snaps from Murphy, as well.
Defensive Tackle
Vernon Butler *
Star Lotulelei
Ed Oliver
Harrison Phillips
Vincent Taylor
After losing Jordan Phillips, the Bills added Butler to the mix along with Quinton Jefferson, who can slide inside from DE. Ed Oliver is the man at 3-tech DT, now. Lotulelei agreed to a pay cut in order to stick in 2020 and Harrison Phillips is returning from injury.
Linebacker
Tyrel Dodson
Tremaine Edmunds
Vosean Joseph
A.J. Klein *
Tyler Matakevich *
Matt Milano
Del’Shawn Phillips
Corey Thompson
Klein’s signing shows the Bills were concerned about adding a veteran presence to replace Lorenzo Alexander at linebacker and Matakevich is the likely special teams replacement for Zo. With a lot of depth from veterans, they stayed put in the draft.
Cornerback
E.J. Gaines *
Dane Jackson +
Taron Johnson
Cam Lewis
Josh Norman *
Levi Wallace
Tre’Davious White
The Bills added Norman, who was released by Washington, and Gaines, formerly of the Bills, to compete for the CB2 job. Johnson, the nickel cornerback, just received a boost in the coaching department as the team added a dedicated nickel coach. Like Norman and Gaines, Wallace has one year left on his deal and Buffalo used just a seventh-round pick to address the position, so they’ll have work to do a year from now.
Safety
Micah Hyde
Jaquan Johnson
Dean Marlowe
Siran Neal
Jordan Poyer
The Bills made no changes to their depth chart this year, instead re-signing Poyer to a contract extension. A priority UDFA here would make sense over the next couple days to add youth and potential to the position, but they have good experience here.
Specialists
Tyler Bass (kicker) +
Corey Bojorquez (punter)
Reid Ferguson (long snapper)
Stephen Hauschka (kicker)
Kaare Vedvik (punter/kicker)
The Bills are going to have a Kaare/Corey battle at punter, it would seem. Vedvik bombed in his regular-season placekicking role and is presumably shifting back to punter. Hauschka rebounded for a decent 2019 season, but with his age and declining leg power, Buffalo added a big-legged kicker in the draft.
Unofficial depth chart
2020 Offseason Bills’ depth chart
Position | Starter | Backup | Reserve | Reserve |
---|---|---|---|---|
Position | Starter | Backup | Reserve | Reserve |
QB | Josh Allen | Matt Barkley | Jake Fromm+ | Davis Webb |
RB1 | Devin Singletary | T.J. Yeldon | Christian Wade | |
RB2 | Zack Moss+ | Taiwan Jones* | ||
FB | Patrick DiMarco | |||
WR1 | Stefon Diggs* | Gabriel Davis+ | Duke Williams | Ray-Ray McCloud |
WR2 | John Brown | Isaiah Hodgins+ | Robert Foster | Nick Easley |
SWR | Cole Beasley | Isaiah McKenzie | Andre Roberts | |
TE1 | Dawson Knox | Tyler Kroft | Jason Croom | |
TE2 | Lee Smith | Tommy Sweeney | Nate Becker | |
LT | Dion Dawkins | Ryan Bates | Victor Salako | |
LG | Quinton Spain | Evan Boehm* | ||
C | Mitch Morse | Spencer Long | ||
RG | Jon Feliciano | Ike Boettger | ||
RT | Ty Nsekhe | Cody Ford | Darryl Williams* | |
RE | Jerry Hughes | Trent Murphy | Darryl Johnson, Jr. | |
NT | Star Lotulelei | Harrison Phillips | Vincent Taylor | |
DT | Ed Oliver | Quinton Jefferson* | Vernon Butler* | |
LE | Mario Addison* | A.J. Epenesa+ | Mike Love | Jonathan Woodard |
SLB | A.J. Klein* | Tyler Matakevich* | ||
MLB | Tremaine Edmunds | Corey Thompson | Tyrel Dodson | |
WLB | Matt Mliano | Vosean Joseph | Del'Shawn Phillips | |
CB | Tre'Davious White | E.J. Gaines* | Cam Lewis | |
FS | Jordan Poyer | Jaquan Johnson | ||
SS | Micah Hyde | Dean Marlowe | ||
NB | Taron Johnson | Siran Neal | ||
CB | Josh Norman* | Levi Wallace | Dane Jackson+ | |
K | Stephen Hauschka | Tyler Bass+ | ||
P | Corey Bojorquez | Kaare Vedvik* | ||
LS | Reid Ferguson | |||
KR | Andre Roberts | |||
* 2020 Free Agent/Trade | ||||
+ NFL Draft pick |