The Buffalo Bills entered the 2020 offseason with many holes on their roster. After a flurry of signings and a big trade, here is where the Bills’ roster stands. New free-agent signings and traded-for players are marked with an asterisk.
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
Davis Webb
This position would seem to be mostly set with the “franchise quarterback” and veteran backup. They also have a depth option, but could still bring in someone to compete with Barkley or supplant Webb as the third QB. At a minimum, they will likely bring in a fourth quarterback at some point for minicamp or training camp.
Running Back
Patrick DiMarco
Taiwan Jones*
Devin Singletary
Christian Wade
T.J. Yeldon
There are a lot of folks who would like to see Wade get a shot at the active roster, but it’s a long shot. Buffalo is still likely in the market for a starting-type running back in free agency or the draft to pair with Singletary. Yeldon is JAG (just a guy) and could be their third running back or off the roster by the time training camp rolls around, while Jones is likely only going to see snaps on special teams.
Wide Receiver
Cole Beasley
John Brown
Stefon Diggs *
Nick Easley
Robert Foster
Ray-Ray McCloud III
Andre Roberts
Duke Williams
The Bills made a huge splash trading for Stefon Diggs to roudn out the top of the wide receiver corps, but it cost them a first-round pick. Beyond that, what are their long-term plans for Williams and Foster?
Tight End
Nate Becker
Jason Croom
Dawson Knox
Tyler Kroft
Lee Smith
Tommy Sweeney
Croom was literally the only name on the list at this point last year, but the Bills have built solid depth and could just stay status quo in 2020.
Interior O-line
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.
Offensive tackle
Ryan Bates
Dion Dawkins
Cody Ford
Ty Nsekhe
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. This whole position could be overhauled or completely left alone.
Defensive End
Mario Addison *
Jerry Hughes
Quinton Jefferson *
Darryl Johnson Jr.
Mike Love
Trent Murphy
Jonathan Woodard
The Bills signed Addison, who has 9 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 is a perfect place to improve. Jefferson is a versatile piece that 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. They will probably add more deth in the late rounds of the drafts and in the undrafted time frame.
Cornerback
Taron Johnson
Cam Lewis
Josh Norman *
Levi Wallace
Tre’Davious White
The Bills already added Norman, who was released by Washington, to compete for the CB2 job. This is another position Buffalo likes to stockpile, so don’t be surprised if they add another cornerback with starting experience but question marks to create a three-way race with Norman and Wallace. Johnson, the nickel cornerback, just received a boost in the coaching department as the team added a dedicated nickel coach.
Safety
Micah Hyde
Jaquan Johnson
Dean Marlowe
Siran Neal
Jordan Poyer
The Bills have been quick to add veteran depth over the last several offseasons, but not early on in free agency. With Neal playing mostly in the slot as the Big Nickel, they’ll likely add a pair of safeties this offseason.
Specialists
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.
Unofficial depth chart
2020 Free Agency Depth Chart
Position | Starter | Backup | Reserve | Reserve |
---|---|---|---|---|
Position | Starter | Backup | Reserve | Reserve |
QB | Josh Allen | Matt Barkley | Davis Webb | |
RB | Devin Singletary | T.J. Yeldon | Taiwan Jones* | Christian Wade |
FB | Patrick DiMarco | |||
WR1 | Stefon Diggs* | Duke Williams | Ray-Ray McCloud | |
WR2 | John Brown | Robert Foster | Nick Easley | |
SWR | Cole Beasley | Andre Roberts | ||
TE1 | Dawson Knox | Tyler Kroft | Jason Croom | |
TE2 | Lee Smith | Tommy Sweeney | Nate Becker | |
LT | Dion Dawkins | Ryan Bates | ||
LG | Quinton Spain | Spencer Long | ||
C | Mitch Morse | |||
RG | Jon Feliciano | Ike Boettger | ||
RT | Ty Nsekhe | Cody Ford | Victor Salako | |
RE | Jerry Hughes | Quinton Jefferson* | Darryl Johnson, Jr. | |
NT | Star Lotulelei | Harrison Phillips | Vincent Taylor | |
DT | Ed Oliver | Vernon Butler | ||
LE | Mario Addison* | Trent Murphy | Mike Love | Jonathan Woodard |
SLB | A.J. Klein* | Tyler Matakevich* | Tyrel Dodson | |
MLB | Tremaine Edmunds | Corey Thompson | ||
WLB | Matt Mliano | Vosean Joseph | Del'Shawn Phillips | |
CB | Tre'Davious White | Cam Lewis | ||
FS | Jordan Poyer | Jaquan Johnson | ||
SS | Micah Hyde | Dean Marlowe | ||
NB | Taron Johnson | Siran Neal | ||
CB | Josh Norman* | Levi Wallace | ||
K | Stephen Hauschka | Kaare Vedvik | ||
P | Corey Bojorquez | Kaare Vedvik | ||
LS | Reid Ferguson | |||
KR | Andre Roberts | |||
* - 2020 Free Agent |
Buffalo has room to add more than two dozen to the roster between the second wave of free agency, the NFL Draft, and undrafted free agents. (They are allowed 91 players due to Christian Wade’s International Player Pathway exemption.) Upgrades, replacements, and a whole lot more depth is coming.