Pre-free agency Buffalo Bills depth chart

The Buffalo Bills enter the 2019 offseason with many holes on their roster. As the free agency legal tampering window gets under way Monday, here is where the Buffalo Bills roster stands:

Note: Players are listen in alphabetical order in the body of the article but an unofficial depth chart appears at the end of the article.

Quarterback

Josh Allen
Derek Anderson
Matt Barkley

This position would seem to be set with the “franchise quarterback,” veteran backup, and veteran mentor roles all neatly slotted. They will likely bring in a fourth quarterback at some point for minicamp or training camp.

Running Back

Patrick DiMarco
Keith Ford
Chris Ivory
LeSean McCoy
Marcus Murphy

Will LeSean McCoy be the lead back in 2019 or will Buffalo add a free agent or draft a player to be the top dog? Buffalo needs to get younger here, but will they wait a year to do it? DiMarco is seemingly entrenched as the fullback.

Wide Receiver

Victor Bolden, Jr.
Robert Foster
Zay Jones
Ray-Ray McCloud III
Isaiah McKenzie
Cam Phillips
Da’Mari Scott
Duke Williams

One position where Buffalo needs some top-line talent, Buffalo is throwing a bunch of stuff against the wall at wide receiver. Jones had a good end to 2018, Foster carved out a role as a favorite target of Josh Allen, and McKenzie felt like a gadget player. The rest are easily replaceable.

Tight End

Jason Croom

Well then, that’s a short list. Croom hasn’t proven anything at the NFL level. Buffalo could have a completely new set of tight ends by the time the 2019 season rolls around with free agents and draft picks.

Interior O-line

Russell Bodine
Ike Boettger
Vlad Ducasse
Spencer Long
Wyatt Teller

Teller, Bodine, and Ducasse all started games in 2018 but Long signed for decent money and Boettger received some playing time. It’s wide open on the inside of the line and they still might be looking to add a starter at center and guard.

Offensive tackle

Dion Dawkins
Conor McDermott
Jeremiah Sirles

A position without a starter, Buffalo could add a left tackle and move Dawkins to the right side or add a guy for the right side and keep Dawkins at left tackle. Either way, Buffalo needs a starter. McDermott hasn’t developed as Buffalo had hoped when they stashed him on the roster two years ago. Sirles is a Swiss Army Knife reserve.

Defensive End

Jerry Hughes
Shaq Lawson
Mike Love
Trent Murphy
Eddie Yarbrough

Buffalo has a lot of uncertainty around this group, as Hughes, Lawson, and Yarbrough aren’t under contract past 2019. Buffalo could add a free agent, draft a player, trade one of these guys, or release guys. It’s low-key wide open at defensive end this offseason.

Defensive Tackle

Star Lotulelei
Kyle Peko
Harrison Phillips
Jordan Phillips
Robert Thomas

Jordan Phillips just signed a medium-sized contract extension to be a major part of the rotation following the retirement of Kyle Williams. Buffalo will likely add a piece here through free agency or the draft to act as a penetrating pass-rush presence in the absence of the veteran.

Linebacker

Lorenzo Alexander
Tremaine Edmunds
Deon Lacey
Matt Milano
Julian Stanford
Corey Thompson

There’s a gulf between defense linebackers and special teams linebackers. Alexander will probably play some defensive line as a pass-rushing specialist in addition to his role at linebacker. With two young studs, this position might be the most set on the roster.

Cornerback

Taron Johnson
Ryan Lewis
Lafayette Pitts
Denzel Rice
Levi Wallace
Tre’Davious White

Another sneaky position of need, Buffalo could use a player who could play meaningful snaps at either outside cornerback or inside cornerback. Johnson’s injury meant a safety was playing nickel cornerback a year ago and Wallace was the team’s fourth choice at outside cornerback behind Vontae Davis, Phillip Gaines, and Ryan Lewis. Not only does Buffalo need to guard against injury, they have no idea if Wallace is going to be targeted or regress in his second season.

Safety

Rafael Bush
Micah Hyde
Dean Marlowe
Siran Neal
Jordan Poyer

Bush was the team’s third safety in 2018 and played Big Nickel cornerback, as well. Buffalo could upgrade at that spot if they want or keep this group status quo.

Specialists

Corey Bojorquez (punter)
Cory Carter (punter)
Reid Ferguson (long snapper)
Stephen Hauschka (kicker)

The Bills are going to have a Cory/Corey battle at punter, it would seem. Both ended the year on injured reserve after different injuries. Hauschka was also hurt and struggled down the stretch, but we’d be surprised if they moved on from him. Ferguson just signed an extension.

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Unofficial depth chart

With 56 players on the roster, Buffalo has room to add 34 more to the roster between free agency, the NFL Draft, and undrafted free agents. Upgrades, replacements, and a whole lot more depth is coming.