12 Buffalo Bills players who would be at risk if the NFL decided to have another expansion draft

The Buffalo Bills are entering the 2025 season with expectations sky high. They are hoping this will finally be the year they get over the hump and get past the likes of Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs and other top contenders to represent the AFC in the Super Bowl. While they worry about that, […]

Destin Adams — NFL News Writer
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Jan 5, 2025; Foxborough, Massachusetts, USA; Buffalo Bills head coach Sean McDermott watches from the sideline as they take on the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium.
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The Buffalo Bills are entering the 2025 season with expectations sky high. They are hoping this will finally be the year they get over the hump and get past the likes of Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs and other top contenders to represent the AFC in the Super Bowl. 

While they worry about that, our staff decided to perform a hypothetical NFL expansion draft. The last time the NFL had an expansion draft was when they introduced the Houston Texans in 2002. But what would happen if the 33rd team in the NFL were introduced, and how would it affect the Bills directly? 

Early next week, A to Z Sports' Wendell Ferreira will be sharing the results of our hypothetical expansion draft, including the team's name and roster. Before that could happen, though, each team had to make players available to be drafted. 

Hypothetical NFL Expansion Draft Rules

  1. Each current NFL team has to leave 12 players unprotected.

  2. ⁠Players with 0 or 1 accrued seasons are automatically protected and can't be on the list. Players with no-trade clauses also aren't eligible.

  3. ⁠If the player is selected, the expansion team will absorb both his future salaries and signing bonus prorations.

  4. ⁠The list is final, meaning that teams can't withdraw a player after another one has been selected.

  5. ⁠The expansion team can select a maximum of two players from each NFL team and a maximum of 40 players overall.

12 unprotected Bills' players

Offensive unprotected players

  • Mike White, QB
  • Shane Buechele, QB
  • Darrynton Evans, RB
  • Ty Johnson, RB
  • KJ Hamler, WR
  • Jalen Virgil, WR
  • Kristian Wilerson, WR
  • Ryan Van Demark, OT

Eight of the Bills' 12 unprotected players come from the offensive side of the ball. And three of these players have a solid chance at making the roster. Mike White and Shane Buechele will compete to be the team's QB three. RT Ryan Van Demark is expected to be a priority depth tackle for the Bills, and it would be a surprise to see him not make the 53-man roster at this time. 

Defensive unprotected players

  • Michael Hoecht, DE
  • Baylon Spector, LB
  • Ja'Marcus Ingram, CB

Only three of the Bills' unprotected players come from the defensive side of the ball. Two of the three have an uphill battle to make the roster in Michael Hoecht and Ja'Marcus Ingram. However, Baylon Spector is in line to be one of the top backup LBs on the team and has a very strong chance at making their roster. 

Special teams unprotected players 

  • Brad Robbins, P

The Bills are going to have a training camp battle at punter between Jake Camarada and Brad Robbins. And instead of waiting it out, Robbins is made unprotected here and could be taken if the expansion team elects to do so. I think it's a near coin flip on who wins the punter job, but in the end, I sided with the team keeping Camarda, who spent time with the team last season. 

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