90 Buffalo Bills players in 90 days

[Woodman]

90 Buffalo Bills player scouting reports in 90 days- CB Kyler McMichael - Buffalo Rumblings (https://www.buffalorumblings.com/2023/5/20/23728328/90-buffalo-bills-players-in-90-days-cornerback-kyler-mcmichael-2023-nfl-offseason)

Financial situation (per Spotrac): McMichael signed a reserve/futures deal on January 23 of this year. The two-year contract is worth a total of $1.665 million, of which $9,000 is guaranteed. For the 2023 season, McMichael carries a cap hit of $754,500.

2022 Recap: McMichael appeared in three preseason games for Tampa Bay, notching six total tackles in those contests. He was waived at the end of August as part of final cuts, and he signed with Buffalo’s practice squad on September 1. That’s where he remained all season, as he has yet to make his regular-season debut.

Positional outlook: McMichael faces an uphill battle for time in what is a deep, talented secondary for the Bills. The top six corners, not necessarily in order, are Tre’Davious White, Kaiir Elam, Christian Benford, Dane Jackson, Taron Johnson, and Siran Neal. After that, McMichael is battling Cam Lewis, Alex Austin, and Ja’Marcus Ingram.

2023 Offseason: McMichael is healthy and ready for the offseason program.

2023 Season outlook: Barring injuries or some spectacular play on McMichael’s part, the second-year man is auditioning either for a place on Buffalo’s practice squad or a spot on another team’s roster. The Bills under Sean McDermott have been outstanding at finding defensive backs in all areas and rounds of the draft, so this is a good place for a young player to develop. If he’s looking for time in real games, though, he’s not likely to find it with the Bills this year.

[Woodman]

90 Buffalo Bills player scouting reports in 90 days- G Connor McGovern - Buffalo Rumblings (https://www.buffalorumblings.com/2023/5/19/23728291/90-buffalo-bills-players-in-90-days-guard-connor-mcgovern-2023-dallas-cowboys)

2023 Season outlook:Given the contract figures, it’s quite likely that McGovern is one of the two starters at guard this season. However, once the real games start, the team isn’t going to play people based on money, so he’ll definitely have to earn his place — especially after the Bills were able to steal Torrence in Round 2 of the 2023 NFL Draft. McGovern isn’t one of the best guards in the league, but he isn’t one of the worst, either — which is what Rodger Saffold was by some metrics last season. McGovern has played both left and right guard, and most of his time in Dallas was spent on the left side given that Zack Martin occupied the right guard slot. If the team thinks that Ryan Bates would be better served by a move back to the left side, however, they could easily have McGovern play on the right given his versatility. Overall, this is a very Brandon Beane signing along the offensive line: McGovern is a versatile piece, and the Bills are betting on him maxing out his potential in Orchard Park, NY.

[swiper]

Dallas coach Mike McCarthy on new Bills left guard Connor McGovern: 'Best football in front of him' (https://buffalonews.com/sports/bills/dallas-coach-mike-mccarthy-on-new-bills-left-guard-connor-mcgovern-best-football-in-front/article_dcbc1fa2-d599-11ed-b607-93f4e18b060d.html)

[Woodman]

90 Buffalo Bills player scouting reports in 90 days- RB Jordan Mims - Buffalo Rumblings (https://www.buffalorumblings.com/2023/5/21/23731739/90-buffalo-bills-players-in-90-days-running-back-jordan-mims-damien-harris-james-cook)

2022 Recap: Mims set career highs in attempts, rushing yards, and rushing touchdowns in his senior season, carrying 261 times for 1,372 yards and 18 touchdowns. That touchdown total was the most in school history. He did that while playing in all 14 of the Bulldogs’ games. In Fresno State’s 29-6 victory over Washington State (https://www.cougcenter.com/) in the Jimmy Kimmel LA Bowl, Mims carried 18 times for 209 yards and two touchdowns.

2023 Season outlook:While it’s unlikely that Mims makes the roster and contributes on game day, it’s quite likely that he becomes a preseason darling and shows well this summer. Mims is a big, bruising runner who isn’t terribly fast, but he offers versatility in the passing game and a nose for the end zone. He also hasn’t fumbled an offensive touch since his freshman year at Fresno St. in 2017, something that’s sure to make his coaches happy in the pros if he can continue that streak. With Cook, Hines, and Harris all likely to make the team, Mims is probably fighting Murray for the last spot on the active roster.

[Woodman]

90 Buffalo Bills players in 90 days: LB Travin Howard


2023 Season outlook:Howard is certainly talented, there’s no denying that fact. However, his inability to stay healthy has been a huge issue. During the Rams’ Super Bowl (https://www.sbnation.com/super-bowl) run in 2022 NFL Playoffs (https://www.sbnation.com/nfl-playoffs), Howard started two games and played on defense in three, totaling 10 tackles, two pass breakups, and a game-sealing interception in the NFC Championship (https://www.sbnation.com/nfc-championship-game) Game against the San Francisco 49ers (https://www.ninersnation.com/). If he can stay healthy, he has at least an outside shot to make the roster as a reserve and a special teams player, as he is more athletic than someone like Klein.

[Woodman]

90 Buffalo Bills players in 90 days: OT Ryan Van Demark

Financial situation (per Spotrac):Van Demark signed a two-year deal worth a total of $1.665 million in the offseason. That reserve/futures contract carries with it a total of $9,000 in guarantees. In he makes the roster this summer, he’ll carry a cap hit of $754,500.

2023 Season outlook:Buffalo is banking on bounce-back seasons from Dawkins and Brown, and with the lack of proven talent behind them, that is a tremendous gamble. The team has Doyle cross-training at guard, and he actually appeared more there last season than he did at tackle before tearing his ACL. If Van Demark can prove himself reliable in the preseason, the tackle position isn’t so deep that it’s impossible for someone who isn’t a household name to crack the roster. In college, Van Demark played left tackle almost exclusively, and he did so immediately, starting at the position as a true freshman.

[Woodman]

90 Buffalo Bills players in 90 days: S Jared Mayden


Financial situation (per Spotrac):Mayden has two years remaining on his contract, which is worth a total of $1.855 million. For the 2023 season, he carries a cap hit of $870,000 if he makes the roster. There is no dead-cap charge should the Bills decide to release him.

2023 Season outlook:This group, at least on paper and in an ideal world, seems to be pretty settled at the top. Poyer, Hyde, Hamlin, and Rapp figure to be the top four, though there are major question marks about three of those four players. How will Hyde perform in his return from major neck surgery? Will Poyer be able to remain healthy after battling injury all throughout his age-31 season? How will Hamlin handle a return to the field after nearly having his life end the last time he played in an NFL game? These questions definitely make the back end of the safety group a trio that needs to be watched more closely. Mayden has a lot to prove, but a strong showing could lead to a spot on the practice squad, where he could continue to develop for a shot at a larger role in 2024 and beyond. For this year, though, he’s unlikely to make the 53-man roster unless someone in front of him is injured.

[Woodman]

90 Buffalo Bills players in 90 days: DE Shane Ray


Financial situation (per Spotrac): Ray’s contract numbers haven’t been released by either Spotrac or Over the Cap, but we can assume that it’s a one-year deal at the veteran’s minimum with minimal, if any, guaranteed money.

2023 Season outlook: Given all the investment along the defensive line over the last few years, I’d like to be able to look at the group up front and assume that Ray has no chance at making the roster. However, with the jury still out on whether Epenesa and Basham can be solid, consistent contributors, I don’t think it’s entirely impossible for Ray to make the roster. With that said, he hasn’t been with an NFL team since the 2019 preseason, and he hasn’t played in an NFL game since 2018. So while it may not be impossible, it is incredibly unlikely that Ray makes the roster. Perhaps he’ll have a spot on the practice squad waiting for him, but it would take a ridiculously strong preseason for him to make the team.

[Woodman]

90 Buffalo Bills players in 90 days: TE Zach Davidson


Financial situation (per Spotrac):Davidson signed a reserve/futures contract on January 23 at the conclusion of Buffalo’s season. That two-year deal is worth a total of $1.665 million, of which just $9,000 is guaranteed. If he makes the roster in 2023, Davidson carries a cap hit of $754,500.

2023 Season outlook: What Davidson lacks in production, he makes up for in intrigue, as he presents a tall, athletic target who has the raw tools to develop into at least a good situational target. In a positional group that composes two roster locks in Knox and Kincaid, however, that means Davidson would need to beat out someone with more experience, like Morris, in order to make the roster. I don’t think that’s going to happen, although I do think he’d be a great player to keep on the practice squad as a developmental “F” tight end.

[Woodman]

Financial situation (per Spotrac):Cline enters the final year of the last contract he signed with the Colts. For the 2023 season, he carries a cap hit of $870,000 if he makes the team. No money on the contract is guaranteed.

2023 Season outlook:While the Bills do like versatility in their linemen, it’s hard to see Cline cracking the roster given the amount of talent ahead of him. He probably isn’t big enough to handle consistently fighting in the trenches, nor is he bendy or speedy enough to warrant much time on the edge. He seems, at least to me, to be a classic ‘tweener who probably needs to add a little mass in order to have a shot. He’ll be worth a look for a spot on the practice squad, but barring a tremendously successful preseason, he likely has little shot at making the final roster.

[Woodman]

90 Buffalo Bills players in 90 days: LB Baylon Spector


Financial situation (per Spotrac):Spector enters the second year of his rookie contract, a four-year deal that totals $3,763,724 overall. In 2023, Spector carries a cap hit of $895,931, and the Bills would be on the hook for a dead-cap charge of $77,793 if he were to be cut.

Positional outlook: Spector is one of quite a few linebackers vying for space on the 53-man roster, and he’s also one of quite a few players hoping to replace Tremaine Edmunds in the starting lineup. Matt Milano is written into the lineup with Sharpie, but Terrel Bernard, Dorian Williams, Tyrel Dodson, A.J. Klein, and Travin Howard all could see time next to him. Tyler Matakevich might, as well, but he’s really a special teams-only player.

[Woodman]

90 Buffalo Bills players in 90 days: TE Joel Wilson


Financial situation (per Spotrac):Wilson signed his contract, a three-year deal worth a total of $2.695 million, in mid-May. Should he make the 53-man roster, he carries a cap hit of $754,000 in the 2023 season.

2023 Season outlook:While not entirely impossible, it’s quite unlikely that Wilson makes the final roster. Given that Knox and Kincaid are locks, there’s one hypothetical spot open here, and Morris would probably have the inside track there given that he was the second tight end last season. However, Buffalo only carried two active tight ends for much of last season, and while it’s likely that the team will have a third tight end given a probable shift to more “12” personnel in 2023, it’s not yet a guarantee.

[Woodman]

90 Buffalo Bills player scouting reports in 90 days- OT Alec Anderson - Buffalo Rumblings (https://www.buffalorumblings.com/2023/6/7/23750778/90-buffalo-bills-players-in-90-days-offensive-tackle-alec-anderson-brandon-shell)

The Buffalo Bills (https://www.buffalorumblings.com/) have added plenty of offensive line depth over the last few seasons. While in previous years the team seemed to focus more on the tackles, this offseason, Buffalo has focused on bolstering the interior offensive line group.

2023 Season outlook: Though Anderson has some versatility and athleticism, he isn’t a serious contender to make the 53-man roster. Especially after the acquisition of Shell, the offensive tackle group seems much more settled. Anderson could see plenty of playing time in preseason games, but he’s likely auditioning for a spot on someone else’s roster or on the Bills’ practice squad for 2023.

[Woodman]

90 Buffalo Bills players in 90 days: S Dean Marlowe


Financial situation (per Spotrac):Marlowe’s one-year contract is worth a total of $1,232,500 overall, of which $252,500 is guaranteed. Thanks to the veteran’s minimum exception, Marlowe carries a cap hit of $1,092,500 if he makes the 53-man roster, and Buffalo is on the hook for the entirety of his guarantee if they decide to release him.

2023 Season outlook: Barring injury, Marlowe is likely on the outside looking in this season, as the top four safeties are probably Hyde, Poyer, Rapp, and Hamlin. Given that three of four players in that list have dealt with significant injury issues over the last year, though, it’s quite possible that Marlowe is given a good look this summer. Buffalo knows what they have in the veteran safety, and he knows that he has a place here if he can’t find a gig elsewhere. Marlowe could also stick around on the practice squad, which I think is his ceiling with the team this season.

[swiper]

So this is going to be 90 posts by Woodman.

[sukie]

Post totals are paramount

[Woodman]

90 Buffalo Bills players in 90 days: LB Terrel Bernard

Financial situation (per Spotrac): Bernard enters the second year of his rookie contract, a four-year pact worth a total of $5,042,992. For the 2023 season, Bernard carries a cap hit of $1,116,560, and Buffalo is on the hook for a dead-cap charge of $684,744 if they release him.

2023 Season outlook:In theory, Bernard has just as a good a chance as anyone to start games this year, and he should have a better chance than a rookie like Williams thanks to his year of experience in the system. However, Bernard is more a Matt Milano-esque replacement than he is a second linebacker on all three downs, so I think it’s unlikely that he wins the starting gig. In the early going, it’s been Williams taking reps at middle linebacker, which suggests to me that the team hopes that it’s Williams next to Milano come September. Buffalo could also rotate that spot based on down, distance, and field position — as there are things that Williams, Bernard, and Klein all do well, but each player has glaring weaknesses, as well.

[Woodman]

90 Buffalo Bills players in 90 days: WR Marcell Ateman

Financial situation (per Spotrac):Ateman signed a one-year deal worth a total of $940,000. That contract contains no guarantees. If he makes the roster, that full amount will be his 2023 cap hit, and if Buffalo cuts him, he won’t count at all against their salary cap.

2023 Season outlook: Ateman is one of five pass-catchers added to the roster this offseason who is at least 6’4” (wideouts Patmon, Shavers, and Coulter, as well as tight end Dalton Kincaid), which signifies a shift from smaller, shiftier players to bigger targets. I’m not sure that it’s going to translate into a roster spot for Ateman, who will need to show that he can not only handle boundary receiver duties this preseason, but he’ll likely need to show himself a worthy contributor on special teams in order to make the final roster. I assume that Justin Shorter has the advantage among the “trees” that Buffalo has added this summer given his draft status, but that doesn’t necessarily need to be the case. Ateman is probably auditioning for a spot on the practice squad this summer.

[Woodman]

90 Buffalo Bills players in 90 days: DE Leonard Floyd


Financial situation (per Spotrac):Floyd signed a one-year deal worth $7 million fully guaranteed, and he can earn upwards of $9 million. For the season, he carries a cap hit of $2,623,750. There are three void years on the contract to spread out the overall money.

2023 Season outlook:This was a really good move for the Bills, as the pass rush absolutely disappeared late in the season last year. Adding more quality depth to go with the defensive ends on the roster was necessary, and adding a player with Floyd’s overall ability so late in the free-agency game is a great get for general manager Brandon Beane. At worst, Floyd is a great rotational player who occupies the brain space of offensive linemen and defensive coordinators all year long. At best, he’s another disruptive force to add to Miller and Rousseau along the edge. His presence is also sure to free up someone like Ed Oliver in the middle.

[Woodman]

90 Buffalo Bills players in 90 days: DE Boogie Basham

Financial situation (per Spotrac):Basham enters the third year of his four-year rookie contract, a deal worth a total of $5,624,943 overall. For the 2023 season, Basham carries a cap hit of $1,534,075 and a dead-cap number of $725,434 if the Bills decide to move on this summer.

2023 Season outlook: Basham is a player who definitely does things the coaching staff likes — he’s big enough to set the edge against the run, and he’s also versatile enough to kick inside as a pass-rusher on 3rd & Long situations — but he has shown so few flashes throughout his first two seasons that it’s hard to be excited about him at this point.

[TigerJ]

Joee Buscaglia of the Athletic thinks that Boogie Basham is a trade candidate. Three roster spots at DE are set unless Von Miller is not ready to go early in the season. The other two are Floyd and Rousseau. Basham is fighting Epenesa, Shaq Lawson and a scrub or three for one roster spot. Basham has not distinguished himself enough to keep him safe.

[Woodman]

Joee Buscaglia of the Athletic thinks that Boogie Basham is a trade candidate. Three roster spots at DE are set unless Von Miller is not ready to go early in the season. The other two are Floyd and Rousseau. Basham is fighting Epenesa, Shaq Lawson and a scrub or three for one roster spot. Basham has not distinguished himself enough to keep him safe.

If anybody is interested I'd agree he's teetering.

Could we get a 6th rounder or better?

If the answer is yes he's a goner JMO.

[Woodman]

90 Buffalo Bills players in 90 days: CB Alex Austin


Financial situation (per Spotrac):Austin signed his rookie contract, a four-year pact worth $3,917,776 overall. For the 2023 season, he carries a cap hit of $769,444 if he makes the roster. Buffalo will carry a dead-cap number of $77,776 if they release him. That total represents the signing bonus on the contract.


2023 Season outlook: The cornerback group is stacked at the top, with White, Elam, Benford, and Johnson all shoe-ins to see time on defense, and Neal certain to be one of the team’s top special teams players yet again. That basically leaves the remaining players fighting for one spot on the 53-man roster.

Can Austin be better on defense than Jackson while also being better than Lewis on special teams? That’s the question the team is going to have to discover an answer to this summer, and it’s what Austin is going to have to prove to make the roster. My guess is that he’ll start off a little worse than both of the incumbent players at their respective strengths, but he’s going to be a little better than each of them at their respective weaknesses, which is a long-winded way of saying that he’ll be better than Lewis on defense and Jackson on special teams.

[Night Train]

FWIW, I'm still impressed with the number of quality players Beane signed for camp.

Real competition at many positions over just camp bodies. Many cannot assume they have a roster spot locked up, regardless of name recognition.

[Woodman]

I'm glad we extended him as well.

:gobills:

[Woodman]

90 Buffalo Bills players in 90 days: RB Latavius Murray

Financial situation (per Spotrac): Murray’s one-year contract is worth a total of $1,317,500 overall. Of that total, $802,500 is guaranteed. That number is the dead-cap charge Buffalo would be responsible for if he were to be released prior to the start of the season. As a vested veteran, the entirety of Murray’s base salary, which is $1.165 million, becomes guaranteed if he’s on the roster for Week 1. Murray’s cap hit is $1,092,500 if he makes the team.

2023 Season outlook: Murray’s case for a roster spot is an interesting one. He’s not going to top the depth chart (that’s Cook’s probable role), nor would he be the top short-yardage back (that’s probably Harris) or the top receiving back (that’s probably Hines). However, he might be the most well-rounded back of the bunch, and given the fact that he’s an absolute unit who’s showing no signs of slowing down, I wouldn’t be surprised if he makes the team out of camp.

The question, then, would be what position loses a player if Murray were to make the roster, which is where I start to waffle. Is it at tight end, where Buffalo would have to cut Quintin Morris and use Gilliam as the third player there? Is it at wide receiver, where Buffalo could choose to go with five wideouts instead of six?

[Woodman]

90 Buffalo Bills players in 90 days: DT Kendal Vickers


Financial situation (per Spotrac):Vickers signed his reserve/futures deal at the conclusion of last season. That contract is a one-year deal worth a total of $1,012,500. That number represents his cap hit if he makes the 53-man roster. The Bills will carry a dead-cap charge of $2,500 — the value of Vickers’ signing bonus, if he’s released.

2023 Season outlook:With the top of the DT depth chart looking fairly settled, it’s hard to imagine someone like Vickers breaking camp with the team. Barring injury, some combination of Oliver, Phillips, Jones, Ford, and Settle are in the mix to be the top group, with one player from that grouping a potential cut or trade candidate, as well, if the team only goes with four players at the position. Vickers has some potential to play dual roles on defense, as he could fill in as both a 1-tech and a 3-tech, so a trip to the practice squad again could be in his future.

[Woodman]

90 Buffalo Bills players in 90 days: DE Shaq Lawson


Financial situation (per Spotrac):Lawson re-signed with Buffalo once again this offseason, inking a one-year deal worth a total of $1,317,500 overall. Of that total, $452,500 is fully guaranteed. Thanks to the veteran’s minimum exception, Lawson’s cap hit is lower than his contract total, sitting at $1,092,500 for the year. If he’s released prior to the start of the season, Buffalo would be responsible for a dead-cap hit of $452,500. However, as a vested veteran, the entirety of his base salary becomes guaranteed if he’s on the roster to start the league year. His base salary is $1.165 million.

2023 Season outlook: The defensive line is going to be an interesting battle overall, as the Bills have stockpiled plenty of talent both at defensive tackle and at defensive end. There’s an argument to be made for almost all of the defensive ends making the roster here, and Lawson is sure to have a great chance to reprise his role as veteran sage-slash-solid role player this year.
With Miller’s status a question mark to begin the season, some of what the team does may depend on whether he starts on the PUP list or not. Miller, Rousseau, and Floyd are roster locks, leaving Lawson, Basham, and Epenesa to fill out the rest. Can the Bills justify keeping six defensive ends if Miller starts the year on the active roster?

[Woodman]

90 Buffalo Bills players in 90 days: CB Siran Neal


Financial situation (per Spotrac): Neal enters the second year of a three-year contract extension, a pact worth $9 million that he signed ahead of last season. Neal’s 2023 cap hit is $3,313,333 if he makes the roster, and Buffalo will carry a dead-cap charge of $1,066,067 if he’s released prior to the start of the year. As a vested veteran, the entirety of his base salary ($1.94 million) becomes guaranteed if he’s on the Week 1 roster.

2023 Season outlook:Neal is one of those guys who feels like he’s close to a roster lock, but then I look at the talent and depth the team has at the position and I wonder if they’ll go in a different direction. They certainly love Neal’s ability as a gunner on special teams, and his ability to play in the slot, as an outside corner, and at safety is helpful in a pinch. However, he’s not particularly good on a consistent basis in the context of the actual defense, which does limit his usage.

[Woodman]

RB Damien Harris


Financial situation (per Spotrac): Harris signed a one-year deal with Buffalo this offseason, a pact that totals $1.77 million overall. Of that total, $1 million is guaranteed, and that number represents the dead-cap charge that Buffalo would accrue if they chose to release Harris prior to the start of the year. His contract value is the cap hit that he carries if he makes the squad. As a vested veteran, the entirety of his base salary becomes guaranteed if he’s on the roster for Week 1. That number is $1.12 million.

2023 Season outlook: Harris is definitely going to be a big part of Buffalo’s offense this season, whether as the lead back or a 1B to Cook’s 1A. He doesn’t provide much value in the passing game, but that’s where both Cook and Hines excel, so he doesn’t really have to provide anything more than solid pass protection in that regard.

While last season was definitely a down year, Harris is a very tough, talented runner who finishes his carries with violence. He’s run for 20 touchdowns in his career, and he always had a ton of success against the Bills; in fact, he has more rushing yards (364), rushing touchdowns (5), yards per carry (6.91), and rushing yards per game (91) against Buffalo than against any other opponent.

[Woodman]

P Sam Martin
Financial situation (per Spotrac):Martin enters the first year of his contract, a three-year deal worth a total of $6 million. If he makes the roster, he carries a cap hit of $1.665 million. If Buffalo releases him prior to the start of the season, the team is responsible for a dead-cap charge of $2.365 million. Martin’s entire base salary, a total of $1.165 million, becomes guaranteed if he’s on the roster for Week 1.


2023 Season outlook: Barring some unforeseen circumstances, Martin should reprise his role as the team’s punter this season. His leg looked plenty strong last year, and given the comfort he and Bass seemed to have in the kicker-holder chain of command, there’s no real need to shake things up at this moment, especially given the dead-cap figure associated with releasing him this year. While his cap number seems high for a punter, it’s just No. 15 overall, which is commensurate with his production last year. As with Buffalo’s other specialists, there’s probably no change coming here.

[Woodman]

Financial situation (per Spotrac): Doyle enters the third year of his rookie contract, a four-year pact worth $3,795,724 overall. For the 2023 season, he carries a cap hit of $1,018,931 if he makes the roster. Buffalo is responsible for a dead-cap charge of $157,862 if he’s released.

2023 Season outlook: Doyle was the second of two offensive tackles Buffalo drafted in 2021, joining Spencer Brown as gargantuan tackles looking to make the squad as rookies. They’ve both been with the team and on the 53-man roster since, but Doyle’s spot could be in jeopardy this year. Even with his cross-training at guard,

[Woodman]

Financial situation (per Spotrac):Hines enters the second year of the three-year deal he signed with the Colts in September 2021. His 2023 cap hit is $3.5 million, and the Bills would be responsible for a dead cap charge of $2 million if he were released or traded prior to the season. As a vested veteran, the entirety of his base salary becomes guaranteed if he’s on the roster for Week One. That value is $2.56 million.

2023 Season outlook:Hines figures to be the team’s primary return man once again this season, but his role on offense is the big question for me. He has proven throughout his career to be a dynamic receiving threat out of the backfield, as he has 240 receptions for 1,778 yards and 8 touchdowns across his five NFL seasons.

[Frenchman]

Really seems the team that signed players like Tyler and Sam on ST, they are all set.

[Woodman]

Financial situation (per Spotrac):Hines enters the second year of the three-year deal he signed with the Colts in September 2021. His 2023 cap hit is $3.5 million, and the Bills would be responsible for a dead cap charge of $2 million if he were released or traded prior to the season. As a vested veteran, the entirety of his base salary becomes guaranteed if he’s on the roster for Week One. That value is $2.56 million.

2023 Season outlook:Hines figures to be the team’s primary return man once again this season, but his role on offense is the big question for me. He has proven throughout his career to be a dynamic receiving threat out of the backfield, as he has 240 receptions for 1,778 yards and 8 touchdowns across his five NFL seasons.

Well he's gone.

[Woodman]

Financial situation (per Spotrac):Sherfield signed a one-year contract with Buffalo in March. That deal is worth a total of $1.77 million. The contract includes a total of $750,000 in guarantees, which is also the dead-cap number the Bills would be responsible for if Sherfield were to be released prior to the season. As a vested veteran, the entirety of his base salary, which is $1.42 million, becomes guaranteed if he makes the roster for Week 1.


2023 Season outlook:This is a sneaky-good signing for the Bills, who struggled mightily to find consistent production from a third receiver last year. Sherfield gives Buffalo tons of versatility, as he can play in the slot and as a “Z” receiver. While some may suggest that his use as a “Z” is limited with Stefon Diggs, may I also remind those folks that Diggs is absolutely electric in the slot, as well, so a lineup consisting of Sherfield, Diggs, and Gabe Davis gives the Bills a lot of versatility. Khalil Shakir is another player who can travel both from the slot to the outside, so half of Buffalo’s projected top six wideouts can cause issues from multiple spots. That’s not even mentioning Harty’s versatility as a jet-sweep guy, too.

[Woodman]

Financial situation (per Spotrac):Morse enters the first year of a two-year extension he signed in March of last year. The contract is worth a total of $19.5 million, of which $12 million is guaranteed. More than 75% of the guarantees come due this year, as Buffalo would be responsible for a dead-cap charge of $8.36 million if they were to release him prior to the start of Week 1. Morse carries a cap hit of $11.36 million this year.

2023 Season outlook:The time may be approaching where the Bills will move on from their center, but it doesn’t look like this year is the one they’ll do it. Morse is still a fantastic player, and for my money, he’s the team’s best offensive lineman. Sure, Pro Football Focus graded him poorly last season, but I always take those numbers with a grain of salt.

[Woodman]

DT Poona Ford


Financial situation (per Spotrac):Ford signed a one-year contract with Buffalo. That deal is worth a total of $2.25 million, and $1.5 million of that total is guaranteed. Those numbers also represent his salary cap hit if he makes the roster and the dead-cap figure Buffalo will carry if he’s released, respectively.

2023 Season outlook: Ford’s addition was a big one, literally and figuratively, to the Bills’ defensive line. While he may not actually be the biggest defensive lineman, as his “smaller” stature was one of the reasons he went undrafted, it undoubtedly gives him some advantages at his position. As a one-tech, his job is to anchor his position and eat blocks. In a game where the low man wins, having someone as functionally strong as Ford is while also being a good four to six inches shorter than most other offensive linemen can be an advantage.

[Woodman]

OT Spencer Brown
Financial situation (per Spotrac):Brown enters the third year of his four-year rookie contract, a pact worth $4,834,697 overall. For the 2023 season, Brown carries a cap hit of $1,318,554 and a dead-cap number of $438,072 if Buffalo releases or trades him.

2023 Season outlook:Brown entered the NFL as a toolsy, raw project who needed some time to acclimate to higher-level competition. The third year is always a big one for young players in the NFL, and while the focus may go towards players at other positions, it’s no different for the guys protecting the franchise. Brown needs to take a big step this year in order to cement his place in the lineup for the future.

[Woodman]

LB A.J. Klein
Financial situation (per Spotrac):Klein inked a one-year deal worth $1,317,500 overall. Of that deal, just $100,000 is guaranteed, so that number represents the dead-cap charge if Buffalo releases him prior to the first week of the regular season. Klein carries a cap number of $1,092,500 if he makes the roster. Since he’s a vested veteran, his entire base salary becomes guaranteed if he makes the team out of camp. His base salary is $1.165 million.


2023 Season outlook: While I initially thought that Klein might see some run, albeit in a limited capacity, as the middle linebacker with the starting defense in training camp, that has yet to materialize in the first week of practices. That’s probably a good thing, as the Bills already know what they have in Klein, who’s a solid veteran who can be exposed in the modern game thanks to his limitations in coverage. Klein is a valuable special teams contributor and a smart reserve who can play any linebacker spot in a pinch.

[Woodman]

WR Deonte Harty
Financial situation (per Spotrac):Harty signed a two-year deal with Buffalo last spring, a pact worth $9.5 million overall. His $3.745 million cap hit this season is the second-highest figure among Buffalo receivers, trailing only Stefon Diggs. The Bills would carry a dead-cap number of $4.75 million if they were to release him.

2023 Season outlook: He’s not going to be the team’s primary slot wideout — that honor will probably be split between Trent Sherfield and tight end Dalton Kincaid, with some Khalil Shakir sprinkled in for good measure — but he’s definitely someone who can and will help the team in spread formations. Speed kills, and Harty has plenty of it. I expect that offensive coordinator Ken Dorsey will be able to use him on somewhere between 12-18 offensive snaps per game to stretch the field both vertically and horizontally. Harty is another solid weapon in the cache for quarterback Josh Allen.

[Woodman]

LB Matt Milano


Financial situation (per Spotrac): Milano signed a two-year contract extension in March. That deal is worth a total of $28.33 million overall. The previous extension he’d signed, a four-year pact, was set to expire at the conclusion of the 2024 season. What this most recent extension did was add two years to Milano’s time in Orchard Park, NY while also adding salary cap space for Buffalo in the present. Milano’s cap number for 2023 is $7.087 million, which is the tenth-highest number on the roster. If Buffalo were to release or trade him, they would be on the hook for a dead-cap number of $35.822 million.

2023 Season outlook:Milano is the anchor in the middle of the team’s defense. He is one of the league’s best linebackers, and he even landed on the NFL Top 100 list this offseason, coming in at No. 69 (https://www.buffalorumblings.com/2023/7/27/23810198/nfl-2023-top-100-list-buffalo-bills-lb-matt-milano-lands-at-69-news#comments). It’s nice that his peers recognize his ability, and it’s great that such a quiet player is able to shine as Milano has. He’s not someone who seeks the limelight, but he’s definitely someone who makes big-time plays for a great Bills defense. So long as he can stay healthy, Milano is set to wreak havoc on opposing offenses once again.

[Woodman]

TE Dawson Knox


Financial situation (per Spotrac):Knox enters the first year of the four-year, $52 million extension he signed in September of last year. That deal contains a total of $31.2 million in guarantees. For the 2023 season, Knox carries a cap hit of $6.425 million. Buffalo would be on the hook for a dead-cap number of $26.135 million if he were to be traded or released.

2023 Season outlook:Even with the addition of Kincaid, I don’t expect that it will impact Knox’s snap counts this year. Rather, it will impact the way that offensive coordinator Ken Dorsey uses his personnel — as most of us expect the Bills to run with Knox in-line and Kincaid lined up in the slot quite often. Knox saw 65 targets last season, and I wouldn’t be surprised if he surpassed that total this year even with Kincaid in the fold. If anything, adding Kincaid might make it even easier for Knox to find space in the flats, as teams will have to deal with the big rookie in the middle of the field as a much more effective player than Buffalo had there last year.

[Woodman]

RB Ty Johnson
Financial situation (per Spotrac): Given how recently Johnson signed, we don’t know exact details yet; however, we assume it’s a one-year deal with minimal or no guarantees at the veteran’s minimum salary. For someone with Johnson’s experience, that salary is $1.08 million.


2023 Season outlook:Johnson has shown flashes at the professional level. He has great speed (4.4-second 40-yard dash at his Pro Day in 2019) and he has shown the ability to be a good receiver out of the backfield, as well. In 2021, he caught 34 passes for 374 yards and two touchdowns while with the Jets. In 95 touches that season, he averaged 6.4 yards per touch on his way to 610 scrimmage yards. His signing is probably to add insurance in the event that something happens to either Evans or Mims in the last preseason game, but it also gives Buffalo the advantage of putting a solid player in the system prior to the scrum that is final cutdowns. If the injury to Harris is worse than coaches are letting on, perhaps Johnson could parlay this opportunity into a shot at the RB3 role while Harris heals. However, it’s more likely that this will be an audition for Buffalo’s practice squad, as well as the rest of the league, during the preseason finale against the Chicago Bears (https://www.windycitygridiron.com/) on Saturday.

[Woodman]

OL Garrett McGhin
2022 Recap:McGhin had a heck of a run in a pair of non-NFL professional leagues. First, he was drafted by the USFL’s New Jersey Generals, and he played in nine games for them during the season. He was named to the inaugural All-USFL team (https://twitter.com/USFL/status/1537465104110739457?s=20) at guard. Then, upon the completion of the USFL season, McGhin was drafted by the Arlington Renegades of the XFL (https://www.sbnation.com/xfl-football). The Renegades were just 4-6 on the regular season, but they advanced to the playoffs and defeated the DC Defenders in the XFL title game on May 13, 2023. McGhin played right tackle for Arlington. McGhin didn’t win All-League honors in the XFL.