Way To Early 53 man Roster prediction. 45 Picked. You fill the last 8

[ganesh]

7 hours ago, Pete said:

Shenault has been Gunner.  His size and athletic ability should be dynamic returns, with the rule changes.  Hes been playing WR.  Gunner-Returns-WR  is much more useful than Codrington, where every roster spot must be used wisely

Agree 100%.   Codrington cannot even be put on the field as a CB

 

I think Shenault make its over Elijah Moore and it is possible the Bills part with Curtis Samuel if he is not able to practice rest of the pre-season.  They will just have to take a big bite on the salary cap for this season...

[SoonerBillsFan]

23 minutes ago, ganesh said:

Agree 100%.   Codrington cannot even be put on the field as a CB

 

I think Shenault make its over Elijah Moore and it is possible the Bills part with Curtis Samuel if he is not able to practice rest of the pre-season.  They will just have to take a big bite on the salary cap for this season...

I see Samuel gone before Moore.  I really wish we had a clear cut #1 on this team.  But it is what it is.

[EmotionallyUnstable]

10 hours ago, BillsFanForever19 said:

 

He returned to Practice today and will undoubtedly be working to stick. He isn't on PUP right now either. He'd need to have another injury for that.

 

You can have work done on a minor ailment that shuts someone down or put someone on a list for something minor and keep them there for a bit. But you can't just PUP or IR a healthy player.

 

 

He is still listed as limited, which would imply he is not healthy. For someone who has constantly been a victim of lingering issues, I wouldn’t say he is running 100%.

 

Pair that with McDermotts latest comments on him  before the joint practice, it wouldn’t surprise me if he “re-aggravated” it. 

Edited August 16 by EmotionallyUnstable

[ganesh]

38 minutes ago, SoonerBillsFan said:

I see Samuel gone before Moore.  I really wish we had a clear cut #1 on this team.  But it is what it is.

Samuel or Moore were never going to be a #1 WR for this team.  The closest to have a chance for #1 is Coleman, their own draft pick.   Or may be Kincaid comes out of his funk to become the #1 target in this offense.

 

There will be a lot of areas to address next season in DE,  OL, LB...Not sure they can keep spending on WRs.

[SoonerBillsFan]

1 hour ago, ganesh said:

Samuel or Moore were never going to be a #1 WR for this team.  The closest to have a chance for #1 is Coleman, their own draft pick.   Or may be Kincaid comes out of his funk to become the #1 target in this offense.

 

There will be a lot of areas to address next season in DE,  OL, LB...Not sure they can keep spending on WRs.

Werll beaner so far can't hit on DL.  We will see this year.

[BillsFanForever19]

13 hours ago, Ayjent said:

I hear all of that.  And agree with you, but I’m just getting the sense that he is rarely going to be 100% and that is why he was available to the Bills in FA last year.  He simply wasn’t available to justify taking up room on a roster, and that hasn’t changed with the Bills.  

 

That's not true. He played 16 games in 2023 and 17 games in 2022. In 2021 he battled COVID that had him only play 5 games. 2020 he played 15 games. 2019 he played 16 games.

 

He wasn't some sort of Joey Bosa type or a guy that had people worried about his health in Free Agency. He was one of the more sought after WR's (especially on this board), who went in the first wave of Free Agency and we had competition. He was not damaged goods.

 

13 hours ago, Ayjent said:

His 31 catches and 253 yds weren’t worth the investment last year and he is just now available with another injury that tends to be a nagging one throughout a season - so by keeping him you are just limiting the WR room with a guy that is likely to be out or limited for more of the season than the guys you would likely cut. To me I just have a gut feeling that he’s cut or traded although I can’t imagine he has much trade value - but something is better than nothing.  Again, an injury prone slot wr that is coming off a 253 yd season with a pretty hefty contract for what he brings isn’t going to fetch a lot of interest.    But cutting him is a lot of dead cap so he is a big penalty to cut - so I understand why people think he is tough to cut.  Honestly it appears to have been a bad gamble by Beane.  Maybe they can throw him in with a trade for one of the reserve OL.  Trading him solves a lot of cap problems. 

 

I understand being down on him after dealing with the injuries last season and then seeing him be banged up this off-season. But I think saying "by keeping him you are just limiting the WR room with a guy that is likely to be out or limited for more of the season than the guys you would likely cut" is a little much.

 

I think he is a very talented WR with speed that we just got unlucky with last year with the Turf Toe (which is a kiss of death with a WR) during a time he was trying to get acclimated to the new Offense. He tried to play through it but it lingered. At the end of the year, he started looking healthy and provided some spark. 

 

I know he's been injured and the brass is frustrated. But I personally wouldn't give up on him. His Training Camp injury is relatively minor and I'd expect him to be ready to roll Week 1. And as for cutting him limiting us, I pretty easily fit all of Samuel, Moore, and Shavers on my own 53.

 

All that said though, listening to Beane and McDermott, I'm not sure they agree with me. And I think the shape of the cap has a lot to do with it. Like you said, cutting him is a lot of Dead Cap. To a point where you're essentially paying him to not be here. However, a trade gives us some relief.

 

I think at this point they'd like to trade him. Even if it's just a deal where they take on over 7m and in return we swap a 7th for a 6th. But I don't see them outright cutting him.

[jwhit34]

I think 51 are locks:

QB - Allen, Trubisky

RB/FB - Cook, Johnson, Davis, Gilliam

OL - 5 starters, Anderson, VanDemark, Grable, 

TE - Kincaid, Knox, Hawes

WR - Shakir, Coleman, Palmer, Samuel, Moore

Offense locks: 22

 

DL - Rousseau, Bosa, Jackson, Epenesa, Solomon, Oliver, Jones, Sanders, Walker, Carter

LB - Milano, Bernard, Andreeson, Williams, Thompson

CB - Benford, White, T Johnson, Hairston (don't think they IR him), D Jackson, Strong

S - Rapp, Bishop, Hamlin, Lewis, Hancock

Defense locks: 26

Special teams: Bass, Robbins, Ferguson

ST locks: 3

 

That leaves 2 spots. One will go to OL, if Van Pran Granger comes off PUP it will be him, if he starts on IR it will be Lundt

I think Shavers is #53.

 

[gonzo1105]

30 minutes ago, jwhit34 said:

I think 51 are locks:

QB - Allen, Trubisky

RB/FB - Cook, Johnson, Davis, Gilliam

OL - 5 starters, Anderson, VanDemark, Grable, 

TE - Kincaid, Knox, Hawes

WR - Shakir, Coleman, Palmer, Samuel, Moore

Offense locks: 22

 

DL - Rousseau, Bosa, Jackson, Epenesa, Solomon, Oliver, Jones, Sanders, Walker, Carter

LB - Milano, Bernard, Andreeson, Williams, Thompson

CB - Benford, White, T Johnson, Hairston (don't think they IR him), D Jackson, Strong

S - Rapp, Bishop, Hamlin, Lewis, Hancock

Defense locks: 26

Special teams: Bass, Robbins, Ferguson

ST locks: 3

 

That leaves 2 spots. One will go to OL, if Van Pran Granger comes off PUP it will be him, if he starts on IR it will be Lundt

I think Shavers is #53.

 

I disagree that Dane Jackson, Elijah Moore, and maybe Ryan Van DeMark are locks . I like the rest as it sits now 

 

[Paul Costa]

14 hours ago, SoonerBillsFan said:

I see Samuel gone before Moore.  I really wish we had a clear cut #1 on this team.  But it is what it is.

Samuel Goes on IR with a Return Destination along with Hariston . 

[Brianmoorman4jesus]

15 hours ago, ganesh said:

Agree 100%.   Codrington cannot even be put on the field as a CB

 

I think Shenault make its over Elijah Moore and it is possible the Bills part with Curtis Samuel if he is not able to practice rest of the pre-season.  They will just have to take a big bite on the salary cap for this season...

Shenault sucks. IMO he has zero chance to make this team. Codrington is going to be the KR and Moore is going to make the team. People need to come off the fringe WRs…they aren’t going to make the team and they don’t deserve to. MAYBE Hamler makes it but the WRs are

Colman

Samuel

Shakir

Palmer

Moore

[BillsFanForever19]

10 minutes ago, Paul Costa said:

Samuel Goes on IR with a Return Destination along with Hariston . 

 

Samuel's already returned to running routes and practicing. McDermott has said he wants to see some urgency from him so they can see how he fits in the Offense. Unless he gets hurt again, they can't return him to action and then IR him. It's either Samuel is traded or he'll be on the 53.

 

If Hairston was someone they felt was going to be a long term thing into the season, they'd have PUP'ed him already. By all accounts, he should be ready to roll by Week 1. Even if they sat him as a precaution for Week 1 - he's far too important to shut down for 4 weeks if it isn't necessary.

 

And with SVPG most likely sticking on PUP and Hoecht and Ogunjobi being Roster exempt, it's not really necessary to do things like this with Samuel and Hairston. If you look at the 53 projections or do your own, you can pretty easily fit everyone who should be here on to the Roster. 

[ganesh]

51 minutes ago, jwhit34 said:

I think 51 are locks:

QB - Allen, Trubisky

RB/FB - Cook, Johnson, Davis, Gilliam

OL - 5 starters, Anderson, VanDemark, Grable, 

TE - Kincaid, Knox, Hawes

WR - Shakir, Coleman, Palmer, Samuel, Moore

Offense locks: 22

 

DL - Rousseau, Bosa, Jackson, Epenesa, Solomon, Oliver, Jones, Sanders, Walker, Carter

LB - Milano, Bernard, Andreeson, Williams, Thompson

CB - Benford, White, T Johnson, Hairston (don't think they IR him), D Jackson, Strong

S - Rapp, Bishop, Hamlin, Lewis, Hancock

Defense locks: 26

Special teams: Bass, Robbins, Ferguson

ST locks: 3

 

That leaves 2 spots. One will go to OL, if Van Pran Granger comes off PUP it will be him, if he starts on IR it will be Lundt

I think Shavers is #53.

 

Who is your KR and PR ? 

Moore, Jackson, Hamlin, Lewis, are not locks for this team.   Again ST is going to come into play when evaluating these players

[BillsFanForever19]

1 hour ago, jwhit34 said:

I think 51 are locks:

QB - Allen, Trubisky

RB/FB - Cook, Johnson, Davis, Gilliam

OL - 5 starters, Anderson, VanDemark, Grable, 

TE - Kincaid, Knox, Hawes

WR - Shakir, Coleman, Palmer, Samuel, Moore

Offense locks: 22

 

DL - Rousseau, Bosa, Jackson, Epenesa, Solomon, Oliver, Jones, Sanders, Walker, Carter

LB - Milano, Bernard, Andreeson, Williams, Thompson

CB - Benford, White, T Johnson, Hairston (don't think they IR him), D Jackson, Strong

S - Rapp, Bishop, Hamlin, Lewis, Hancock

Defense locks: 26

Special teams: Bass, Robbins, Ferguson

ST locks: 3

 

That leaves 2 spots. One will go to OL, if Van Pran Granger comes off PUP it will be him, if he starts on IR it will be Lundt

I think Shavers is #53.

 

I have the same roster down to your 52 and 53rd - except for one thing and it's a pretty important one: Dane Jackson out and one of Codrington or Shenault in.

 

This roster has no Return man. 

 

Edit: @ganesh beat me to it.

Edited August 17 by BillsFanForever19

[ganesh]

ST is a real concern...

 

We had Mack Hollins,  Quinton Morris,  Cole Bishop,  Nick Morrow as part of the core ST.... 3 of the 4 are gone and the 4th one is likely to be a starter on the defense.   Just not sure where they are going to get them...

 

Plus they have a brand new ST coach....

 

Bass is still not able to practice and we have an unknown punter

 

This team needs to fire on all cylinders in all the three areas for it to win the SB...  ST is a huge concern

Edited August 17 by ganesh

[Sierra Foothills]

1 hour ago, ganesh said:

Who is your KR and PR ? 

Moore, Jackson, Hamlin, Lewis, are not locks for this team.   Again ST is going to come into play when evaluating these players

 

1 hour ago, BillsFanForever19 said:

I have the same roster down to your 52 and 53rd - except for one thing and it's a pretty important one: Dane Jackson out and one of Codrington or Shenault in.

 

This roster has no Return man. 

 

Edit: @ganesh beat me to it.

 

[Ayjent]

12 hours ago, BillsFanForever19 said:

 

That's not true. He played 16 games in 2023 and 17 games in 2022. In 2021 he battled COVID that had him only play 5 games. 2020 he played 15 games. 2019 he played 16 games.

 

He wasn't some sort of Joey Bosa type or a guy that had people worried about his health in Free Agency. He was one of the more sought after WR's (especially on this board), who went in the first wave of Free Agency and we had competition. He was not damaged goods.

 

 

I understand being down on him after dealing with the injuries last season and then seeing him be banged up this off-season. But I think saying "by keeping him you are just limiting the WR room with a guy that is likely to be out or limited for more of the season than the guys you would likely cut" is a little much.

 

I think he is a very talented WR with speed that we just got unlucky with last year with the Turf Toe (which is a kiss of death with a WR) during a time he was trying to get acclimated to the new Offense. He tried to play through it but it lingered. At the end of the year, he started looking healthy and provided some spark. 

 

I know he's been injured and the brass is frustrated. But I personally wouldn't give up on him. His Training Camp injury is relatively minor and I'd expect him to be ready to roll Week 1. And as for cutting him limiting us, I pretty easily fit all of Samuel, Moore, and Shavers on my own 53.

 

All that said though, listening to Beane and McDermott, I'm not sure they agree with me. And I think the shape of the cap has a lot to do with it. Like you said, cutting him is a lot of Dead Cap. To a point where you're essentially paying him to not be here. However, a trade gives us some relief.

 

I think at this point they'd like to trade him. Even if it's just a deal where they take on over 7m and in return we swap a 7th for a 6th. But I don't see them outright cutting him.

I think you are taking some liberties with what im saying to make a point but whatever. To be fair his production didnt really drop off from 2022 to 2023, but toe and foot injuries are usually redflags on receivers and that was why he was available in FA most likely.  Bottom line he's had significant nagging injuries that limited his production for two straight years and last year more than the year before (2023).  While he's played in a lot of games despite those injuries- there haven't been many games where he isnt limited by those injuries even though he gets snaps.  That hurts the offense and gives the Bills a guy that isnt practicing fully and getting in rhythm with be integral to what they do.  And the Bills see he's trending that way again.  Im sure he is frustrated and the team is as well - its a tough game and almost all of these guys bust their asses to play in the league.  The body of some just cant stay healthy or optimal. 

 

I dont remember that many people being on the Samuel train before he signed with the Bills.  Im not always that active on the board but usually check in enough to see what's going on so maybe people were.  I just remember the big thing was people wanting a top tier WR and i dont think anyone was under the impression Samuel was that. People wanted a top level WR from the draft. And they still do. 

 

I think a lot of people thought his connection with Brady and being paired with an elite QB in Allen where Diggs and Davis were gone could lead to him having a breakout season once he signed with the Bills, but the turf toe was lingering/reaggravated in camp and he really didnt have an impact until late season.  He may be back but weve seen the guy suit up and be a nonfactor.  Its tough to cut someone else who can contribute to important depth, especially if it means one less OL or DL roster spot to hedge at WR on Samuel's ability to play AND be a factor. 

[ganesh]

2 hours ago, Ayjent said:

 

 

I think a lot of people thought his connection with Brady and being paired with an elite QB in Allen where Diggs and Davis were gone could lead to him having a breakout season once he signed with the Bills, but the turf toe was lingering/reaggravated in camp and he really didnt have an impact until late season.  He may be back but weve seen the guy suit up and be a nonfactor.  Its tough to cut someone else who can contribute to important depth, especially if it means one less OL or DL roster spot to hedge at WR on Samuel's ability to play AND be a factor. 

Curtis Samuel has always been a gadget player.  I don't think he was going to be the replacement for Diggs or Davis. 

[Turbo44]

On 8/1/2025 at 5:12 PM, PrimeTime101 said:

I picked 45 players. 

 

Fill in the Blanks

 

Missing 8 players.. what 8 will you choose. 

Have Fun!

 

 

QB

Josh Allen, Mike White

 

RB

James Cook, Ray Davis, Ty Johnson

 

FB 

Reggie Gilliam

 

WR

Khalil Shakir, Keon Coleman, Joshua Palmer, Elijah Moore, Curtis Samuel 

 

TE

Dalton Kincaid, Dawson Knox, Jackson Hawes

 

OL

Dion Dawkins, David Edwards, Conner McGovern, O'Cyrus Torrence, Spenser Brown, Chase Lundt, Tylan Grable

 

DL

Greg Rousseau, Ed Oliver, DaQuan Jones, Joey Bosa, AJ Epenesa, Landon Jackson, Javon Solomon, TJ Sanders

 

LB'S

Terrel Bernard, Matt Milano, Joe Andreeson, Dorian Williams

 

CB

Christian Benford, Tre'Davious White, Taron Johnson, Dorian Strong, Maxwell Hairston

 

S

Taylor Rapp, Cole Bishop, Darrick Forrest, Jordan Hancock

 

ST

K

Tyler Bass

P

Brad Robbins

LS

Reid Ferguson

 

I believe you got qb2 incorrect 

[PrimeTime101]

2 hours ago, Turbo44 said:

I believe you got qb2 incorrect 

we will see. I hope he starts a game.

[Ayjent]

6 hours ago, ganesh said:

Curtis Samuel has always been a gadget player.  I don't think he was going to be the replacement for Diggs or Davis. 

He was picked up as a projected starter.  He clearly isnt the same as either Davis or Diggs but im pretty sure they were expecting more than what he produced.   So as a starting wr he was projected as a replacement - but to replace what Diggs or Davis brought to the offense sure you can make that argument - i think they wanted a RAC wr that could get separation on shorter routes and make them into bigger gains or get open early and often.  They went out and got Moore and Palmer for similar reasons. 

 

I dont think anyone was or is under the illusion Samuel would be Stephon Diggs in his prime.  But im pretty sure they expected 600-800 yds with the best case sniffing 1000.  Im not sure they have those expectations anymore with him and to a degree they seem like theyve made contingencies accordingly.