Bills release unofficial depth chart
The Buffalo Bills have released their unofficial depth chart ahead of their upcoming preseason matchup against the Indianapolis Colts. With some big position battles underway at camp, fans were excited to see what the team was going to provide the fanbase. Unfortunately, it left more questions than answers. Now, this is the unofficial depth chart, […]
The Buffalo Bills have released their unofficial depth chart ahead of their upcoming preseason matchup against the Indianapolis Colts.
With some big position battles underway at camp, fans were excited to see what the team was going to provide the fanbase. Unfortunately, it left more questions than answers.
Now, this is the unofficial depth chart, there are still plenty of opportunities for players to rise in the ranks and secure their position. With that being said, on both sides of the ball, there are already some controversies brewing. This depth chart will look drastically different when September rolls around.
Who is going to play middle linebacker for the Buffalo Bills?
Perhaps the biggest question coming into the season was that of the middle linebacker position. On draft night, there were faint hopes that newly drafted Tulane LB Dorian Williams could compete for the job.
With conflicting reports from Sean McDermott and Brandon Beane, Williams has been focused more on the outside linebacker position, further indicated in the team's unofficial depth chart.
Right now, and from all reports at camp, it looks like the battle is coming down to Tyrel Dodson and Terrel Bernard. Brandon Beane even opened up on this specific battle, naming the two players as ones that have stood out to him at camp.
Most likely, throughout the preseason and up until the regular season, don't be surprised if the team alternates those two players in practice and in the games.
Tyrel Dodson entered the NFL in 2019 as an undrafted free agent coming out of Texas A&M. The Aggies legend played in 42 games and made five starts over the last three seasons which has resulted in 32 tackles, one sack, one tackle for loss, one QB hit, and one fumble recovery in 2022.
Bernard, a second-year player coming out of Baylor, finished the regular season with limited playing time. Bernard wound up amassing 22 total tackles with 11 solos and 11 assists. He also added one tackle in the playoffs last year.
From where we stand, it looks like it'll be Dodson's job to lose.
Who is going to play RG for the Buffalo Bills?
This position is the one that gives us the most anxiety. Buffalo needs to protect their franchise quarterback and there have been mixed reports coming out of camp.
Last season, Allen was forced to play hero ball far more than the fanbase would've liked. However, the team did address the position by drafting Florida OL O'Cyrus Torrence with their 59th pick in this past draft. The Consensus All-American is trying to make an impact on the roster but appears to be right behind RG Ryan Bates.
Bates, who the Bills almost lost to the Bears when they had sent him an offer sheet, has played in 56 career NFL games while starting 19 of them. Last season, Bates played and started in 15 games and was able to manage a fumble recovery. Unfortunately, Bates sat at a PFF grade of 61.8 which is another indicator of why the team was trying to bring in more competition.
The worries about the offensive line seem justified, especially when you look at just this past training camp with Allen going down with an injury after the OL got blown up. Injury history with Spencer Brown and concussions from Mitch Morse along with Dion Dawkins recently going down, this unit especially needs to get healthy and take that crucial next step this season.
Camp darkhorse falls short on the unofficial depth chart
Admittedly, this one made us the saddest. While it's unofficial, Trent Sherfield has been dominating camp left and right but looks to be the odd man out on the depth chart. With Stefon Diggs, Gabe Davis, and a reported battle between Deonte Harty and Khalil Shakir, Sherfield has his work cut out for him.
Allen, perhaps, may have the best weapons he's had in his entire career. Whoever winds up winning that WR3 battle will have definitely earned it.
Shakir had sky-high expectations coming into last season as a rookie and flashed late in the year. Shakir finished the year with 10 catches for 161 yards and a touchdown.
Davis, suffering from a nagging ankle injury last season, is looking to break out with a solid 2023/2024 campaign, and is no surprise why he is sitting pretty at number two on the depth chart.
As for Harty and Sherfield, they were both brought in to try and add to the already dynamic Bills offense. Harty signed a massive two-year contract while Sherfield's one-year deal was more "prove it" based.
Much like the middle linebacker decision, these players hold the key to their future. Harty, Sherfield, and Shakir will need to show the Bills' front office why they should be third on the depth chart and will use the preseason as their case.
Other notable battles
CB2 is the one that fans have been tuning in at camp to see what's been going on, and it has been a mixed bag. Second-year players Kaiir Elam and Christian Benford have been duking it out with 4th-year player Dane Jackson.
Elam was a first-round pick that surprisingly didn't get the start over Benford in their first game last season against the Los Angeles Rams. Since then, Elam has been fighting and clawing for that CB2 position. Elam flashed late last year with fans even crowning him MVP with his best game as a professional coming at the perfect time.
As for Jackson, the front office has leaned on him over the past few seasons to step up when unfortunate injuries arise and he's done his best to compete. Admittedly, Jackson is the most polarizing out of the three, causing some spats between Bills Mafia on social media on whether or not he should be included in the mix.
Regardless, this is yet another battle to keep an eye out for. The front office has already shown they will rotate these guys in and out and give them all a chance to compete. Will Benford slide in and steal the show? In the latest practices, he's finished his day with one or more interceptions, and had he not been injured last year could've seen even more substantial playing time.
Lastly, KR/PR has been a topic of conversation after the devastating season-ending injury to Nyheim Hines. As it sits, Buffalo has the All-Pro KR/PR slated to win that position. Surprisingly, newcomer Andy Isabela who is looking for a career resurgence in Buffalo has snuck his way onto the depth chart behind Shakir as the 3rd KR/PR.
The Buffalo Bills have a really solid unit, with some big questions that need to be answered. Sean McDermott and Brandon Beane have a tough task ahead of them. As for the players fighting for their roster spots, go out and show the world why you're that guy. Make it so that the team can't help but put you in for the position.
The depth chart is going to look drastically different come September.
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Featured image via Twitter/X @BuffaloBills
