Bills official depth chart answers some of the biggest off-season questions
While the Buffalo Bills begin practicing for their season-opening matchup, the team released their official depth chart leading up to the game. It doesn't take eagle-eyed fans to notice a few key positions Bills Mafia had been keeping an eye on coming into the season. The Bills have one of the most complete rosters in […]
While the Buffalo Bills begin practicing for their season-opening matchup, the team released their official depth chart leading up to the game.
It doesn't take eagle-eyed fans to notice a few key positions Bills Mafia had been keeping an eye on coming into the season.
The Bills have one of the most complete rosters in the NFL.
However, there are still a few position battles everyone has their eyes on.
Punt returner and kick return battle
Last season, Isaiah McKenzie led the way in terms of both punt and kickoff returns.
McKenzie ended his 2021 campaign with 19 punt returns for 147 yards and 24 kick returns for 584 yards.
2nd-year receiver Marquez Stevenson was drafted in hopes that he would take over the reins.
However, with his injury concerns, it appears that the Bills are looking to their fifth-round rookie from Boise State, Khalil Shakir.
Shakir exploded onto the scene with an impressive preseason and has apparently earned the trust of the coaching staff to take sole responsibility for punt returns coming into the season.
McKenzie and Shakir are explosive players who have a chance to return every kick and punt back for a touchdown.
It appears the uncertainty surrounding this position has finally been answered.
The battle for RB1
When the Bills made the decision to draft James Cook, fans thought he could become the answer at RB1.
His pass-catching abilities and explosiveness out of the backfield were parts of his game the Bills front office has been trying to find for the past few seasons.
It was no surprise that after J.D Mckissic decided to go back to the Commanders, Beane was going to make an attempt to replicate the player they thought Mckissic could be.
However, it still appears that the combination of Devin Singletary and Zach Moss will be leading the way to start off the year.
Furthermore, this doesn't mean Cook won't be given chances at the beginning of the season.
McDermott has utilized a next-man-up type mentality since joining the Bills.
If Cook can take advantage of his early season opportunities, he could find himself climbing the depth chart.
Linebacker battle
Perhaps the biggest surprise on the depth chart is the starting SLB, Terel Bernard.
Bernard has freakish size and athleticism, a mold that Beane and McDermott love to draft.
Dawson Knox, Greg Rousseau, Josh Allen are a few examples of that.
Outside of Bills fans, Bernard wasn't getting a lot of hype coming into camp.
His continued success during the preseason and training camp earned him his spot.
Bernard looks to be a staple for a returning Bills defense that ranked first in the NFL last season.
New year, different Bills team
Even with the continuity surrounding this team, there are going to be some major changes from last season.
With just a few days left until kickoff, we have a much closer look at what the complete 2022 Bills team looks like.
Credit: Rich Barnes-USA TODAY Sports
