Fill out the defensive roster for '13

[YardRat]

Looking at the Jets roster from last season and simply adding up the number of games played by each position, it appears the defensive unit was comprised of...

8 D-linemen
7 LBers
5 Cornerbacks
4 Safeties

Here is the Bills current roster of signed players, with '13 UFA's in parenthesis....

DE-M.Williams/Anderson/J.Gilbert (Moore)
DT-Williams/Dareus/Carrington/T.Troup/C.Bryant/J.Ross (S.Johnson)
OLB-Bradham/Manny Lawson/Moats/White/B.Scott/B.Smith (Morrison)
ILB-Sheppard/G.Lloyd
CB-Williams/Gilmore/Brooks/Rogers/C Butler/TJ Heath/McKelvin
SS-Searcy
FS-Byrd/M.Silva/D.Ellis

Considering the 8-7-5-4 make-up from last year's Jets team, and using the above along with any FA acquisitions and draft picks, what do you envision the defensive roster to look like for this year?

[EDS]

I see a need for at least 2 linebackers, 1 defensive lineman and a safety.

[The Jokeman]

LDE/OLB Mario Williams*, Kyle Moore (re-signed)
NT Kyle Williams, Sione Pouha (UFA NY Jets) Torell Troupe
DT Alex Carrington
RDE Marcell Dareus*, Mark Anderson,
*Mario starts at OLB in 3-4 fronts and LDE in 4-3 fronts, Dareus can slide in to DT in 4-3 fronts.

LOLB/DE Mario Williams**, Brandon Sharpe (UDFA -Syracuse)
LILB Nigel Bradham** Chris White,
RILB Kelvin Sheppard, Rocky McIntosh (UFA -St Louis Rams)
ROLB Manny Lawson, Michael Buchannan** (3rd Round draft pick)
**Mario shifts to LDE on 4-3 formations, Bradham to WLB, Buchannan could also play DE, and Bryan Scott could also be a factor as a nickel/dime LB.

SS DeNorris Searcy, Bryan Scott
FS Jerius Byrd, Aaron Williams
CB Stephon Gilmore, Justin Rodgers,
CB Leodis McKelvin, Ron Brooks, Chibuikem Okoro (6th Round draft pick)

I could also see us signing Eric Smith as an UFA due to his ties to the Jets and flexibility to play FS/SS

[Don't Panic]

Gonna need another ILB for sure, and a DE/OLB type who can play in space. Probably a SS too. I'd like to see the first two come in the draft, the third in FA.

[The Jokeman]

Gonna need another ILB for sure, and a DE/OLB type who can play in space. Probably a SS too. I'd like to see the first two come in the draft, the third in FA.

My plan calls for us to re-sign DE Kyle Moore, sign UFA ILB McIntosh, draft OLB/DE tweener Mike Buchannan, sign undrafted tweener DE/OLB Brandon Sharpe and shift Scott to SS and/or sign Eric Smith.

[Mski]

LDE/OLB Mario Williams*, Kyle Moore (re-signed)
NT Kyle Williams, Sione Pouha (UFA NY Jets) Torell Troupe
DT Alex Carrington
RDE Marcell Dareus*, Mark Anderson,
*Mario starts at OLB in 3-4 fronts and LDE in 4-3 fronts, Dareus can slide in to DT in 4-3 fronts.

LOLB/DE Mario Williams**, Brandon Sharpe (UDFA -Syracuse)
LILB Nigel Bradham** Chris White,
RILB Kelvin Sheppard, Rocky McIntosh (UFA -St Louis Rams)
ROLB Manny Lawson, Michael Buchannan** (3rd Round draft pick)
**Mario shifts to LDE on 4-3 formations, Bradham to WLB, Buchannan could also play DE, and Bryan Scott could also be a factor as a nickel/dime LB.

SS DeNorris Searcy, Bryan Scott
FS Jerius Byrd, Aaron Williams
CB Stephon Gilmore, Justin Rodgers,
CB Leodis McKelvin, Ron Brooks, Chibuikem Okoro (6th Round draft pick)

I could also see us signing Eric Smith as an UFA due to his ties to the Jets and flexibility to play FS/SS
i really like the way you laid that out with the pick up of pouha and moving williams to safety

[ServoBillieves]

Hole, other hole, more holes, and a hole.

[jpdex12]

all we need is Bobby Bouche!

[YardRat]

Here's my shot at it...

DE-M.Williams/Anderson/K.Moore re-signed/DeMontre Moore, 1st Rd
DT-Williams/Dareus/S.Pouha FA/Carrington
OLB-Bradham/Manny Lawson/B.Scott/J.Knott UDFA
ILB-Sheppard/J.Bostic 4th Rd/G.Lloyd
CB-Gilmore/McKelvin/Brooks/Rogers/T.Howard 6th Rd
SS-Searcy/Leonhard FA
FS-Byrd/A.Williams moved from CB

Three draft picks, two free agents, one re-signing and one UDFA. Obviously some of these guys can't be plugged in to one spot (as Jokeman pointed out). I also like re-signing Moore, moving Williams to safety and bringing in Pouha. I could live with Smith over Leonhard, I just feel like they have to bring in a couple of former Jets to help with the defense and I don't see the LBers having any value left on the field. I wouldn't be completely surprised if B.Scott actually earned a starting safety spot to begin the season.