Buffalo Bills football is finally back. For the first time since the playoffs, Bills Mafia will be able to cheer on their team, and there is plenty to be excited about. New faces on offense like DJ Moore, a new head man in Joe Brady, and plenty of rookies are building anticipation.

But before we get there, let’s simulate what the depth chart might look like, using our friend Grok.

Buffalo Bills projected depth chart ahead of Preseason Week 1

This is a composite projection based on the most recent available depth charts (NBC Sports, Ourlads as of early August), the active roster (as of ~Aug. 10), training camp reports, first-team/nickel reps, and position battle notes. Official depth charts can shift with practice participation, minor injuries, and preseason evaluations. Starters are largely set; several depth spots (especially LG, CB, ILB, and WR5+) remain competitive. Tyrell Shavers is on PUP (knee) and is expected to miss the early part of the regular season.

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Offense

QB

1. Josh Allen
2. Kyle Allen
3. Shane Buechele

RB

1. James Cook
2. Ty Johnson
3. Ray Davis
4. Frank Gore Jr.
5. Ian Wheeler

FB

1. Ben VanSumeren
2. Jackson Acker

WR (X/LWR)

1. DJ Moore
2. Keon Coleman
3. Trent Sherfield / Quentin Skinner (depth; Shavers on PUP)

WR (Slot/SWR)

1. Khalil Shakir
2. Skyler Bell (rookie 4th-rounder; working into the mix)
3. Stephen Gosnell / Mac Dalena / Max Tomczak

WR (Z/RWR)

1. Joshua Palmer
2. Mecole Hardman
3. Dante Pettis / Ja’Mori Maclin

(Top group typically Moore, Shakir, Coleman, Palmer; Bell is rising and competing for the No. 5/6 role. Hardman and Sherfield bring return/special-teams value.)

TE

1. Dalton Kincaid
2. Dawson Knox
3. Jackson Hawes
4. Keleki Latu / Shane Zylstra

OL

• LT: Dion Dawkins | Jude Bowry | Chase Lundt
• LG: Alec Anderson (early first-team looks) | Austin Corbett | Nick Broeker
• C: Connor McGovern | Lloyd Cushenberry | Bruno Fina
• RG: O’Cyrus Torrence | Sedrick Van Pran-Granger | Ar’maj Reed-Adams
• RT: Spencer Brown | Tylan Grable | Da’Metrius Weatherspoon

(Starting five is largely settled with Dawkins-Anderson-McGovern-Torrence-Brown; Corbett is pushing hard at LG.)

Defense (leaning 3-4 base under new DC Jim Leonhard)

DL

• LDE/DE: T.J. Sanders | Landon Jackson | Travis Clayton / Kody Huisman
• DT: Ed Oliver | Zane Durant | Tommy Akingbesote
• NT: Deone Walker | DeWayne Carter | Phidarian Mathis / Zion Logue

EDGE/OLB

• LOLB: Greg Rousseau | T.J. Parker (rookie) | Mike Danna / Cade Denhoff
• ROLB: Bradley Chubb | Michael Hoecht | Javon Solomon / Andre Jones Jr.

ILB

• MLB: Terrel Bernard | Kaleb Elarms-Orr (rookie; rising) | Jimmy Ciarlo / Otis Reese
• WLB: Dorian Williams | Keonta Jenkins | Joe Andreessen / Theron Gaines

(Bernard is the clear starter; Williams and Elarms-Orr are battling for the second ILB role and nickel packages.)

CB

• LCB: Christian Benford | Kani Walker (UDFA rising) | Toriano Pride Jr. / D.J. Miller
• RCB: Maxwell Hairston | Davison Igbinosun | Jordan Dunbar
• Nickel/NB: Dee Alford | Jordan Hancock | Te’Cory Couch

(Recent nickel first-team reps: Benford + Igbinosun outside with Alford in the slot when Hairston has been limited. Outside CB competition remains open.)

S

• SS: C.J. Gardner-Johnson | Damar Hamlin | Jalon Kilgore (rookie)
• FS: Cole Bishop | Geno Stone | Sam Franklin Jr.

(Bishop and Gardner-Johnson are the projected starters.)

Special Teams

• K: Tyler Bass
• P: Tommy Doman | Mitch Wishnowsky
• LS: Reid Ferguson
• KR: Ray Davis / Ty Johnson / Mecole Hardman / Skyler Bell
• PR: Khalil Shakir / Mecole Hardman / Keon Coleman / Skyler Bell

Preseason Week 1 Notes

• This is the first game at the new Highmark Stadium. Expect starters (especially on offense with Josh Allen) to see limited snaps (typical for Week 1 preseason), with heavy evaluation of backups, rookies (Bell, Elarms-Orr, Parker, Igbinosun, Kilgore, Bowry, etc.), and bubble players.
• Panthers plan to play their starters (including Bryce Young) for ~10–20 snaps.
• Depth chart battles to watch in this game and the rest of camp: LG (Anderson vs. Corbett), outside CB (Hairston/Igbinosun), second ILB, WR5/6 (Bell vs. Hardman/Sherfield), and special-teams contributors.

Projections will firm up after this game and the next two (at Browns, vs. Steelers). Sources include NBC Sports/Ourlads depth charts, Wikipedia roster (Aug. 10), camp reports and recent practice notes.