2026 Roster Fill In The Holes

[corta765]

I did this exercise a month or two ago looking at 2026 and where the holes are. Unfortunately they now feel larger and more pronounced for what needs help or upgrade in 2026. Anyway in my eyes this is where I see the team in terms of having starters and not at this point:

 

Offense

QB: Josh

RB: Cook & Davis

WR1: ?

Slot: Shakir

WR2: Palmer

WR3:

WR4: Shavers 

 

TE1: Kincaid

TE2: Hawes

(Knox cut for cap)

 

Offensive Line: Returns in full unless they make moves for cap

 

Defense

LDE: Groot

DT: Oliver

DT: Walker

RDE: ? (crickets)

 

WB: Bernard (this does not mean they do not draft or bring in a FA but with him being captain I can't see him not starting at this moment)

MLB: ?

SLB: ? (Maybe Dorian Williams but I think they know they need a lot of a talent added even with him in the fold)

 

CB1: Benford

CB2: Hairston

NCB: ? (Taron has been awful and can save money in cap cut, I can see them using Cam Lewis here as spot starter if needed)

SS: ?

FS: Bishop

 

The offense needs are pretty well known as they badly need a stud or two quality WRs on the outside. In a way that side of the ball is easier given the rest of the lineup is far more ready to go. The defense though is yikes regardless of injuries this year there are just so many holes they have. Bosa has not been bad as a DE but he was meant as a rotational piece the same with Hoecht who was injured. I can see them possibly bringing Bosa back at a cheaper price, but we are back to square one of needing another DE or platooning the position. Linebacker honestly might be worse as the league has shifted to larger LBs again with teams running the ball more. Milano is old hurt and undersized he will sadly go, Bernard has been atrocious this year and also hurt. I understand Bernard has been their captain but pragmatically they need two new starters here. The secondary thanks to youth has moved back to being a strength when healthy. Taron Johnson I expect to see cut due to has cap hit and poor play, but overall CB is not looking bad at all. With the right addition at SS the secondary could become a true area of dominance again.

The Bills will have upwards of 40-50 mil in cap space once moves are made and possibly more if they restructure Josh or Oliver. They will also have 7 drafts picks although their 6th is a 7th next year. On paper they have upwards of seven spots open, but realistically it probably is closer to 5 as LB they probably sign a solid vet at MLB and then platoon with a rookie/vet with Dorian Williams & the same at DE where they add a productive one year vet like Bosa while I am sure Beane bets on Landon Jackson to develop.

 

My guess at WR is Beane tries to trade for a proven talent and drafts another WR in rounds 2-4 with the idea they step possibly move into WR2 role down the road that Palmer is in. The biggest issue at WR will end up being a lot of teams want guys this offseason so it will be crowded in the market. People can say what they want about Coleman and getting more of a chance, but decisions have been made and he is quickly fading from the picture.

[boyst]

i've been thinking a lot about this, specifically the defense and haven't got anything concrete yet but will touch on part of your statement i am focusing a lot on.

 

for the NB position we have Taron Johnson who is underperforming. i think he will get his mojo back and show up when it matters. but, lets say he doesn't. i think this team would be better suited to run a hybrid 4-3 with the 3rd LB being a hybrid nickel. shaq thompsonin his younger years, for example. in a stop gap year or for the time being Cam Lewis is plenty capable of taking this position over next year as a pure nickel but i would want us to play more of a base 4-3 with the 3rd LB being a linebacker/nickel.

 

i want our 2026 defense to be different than any other in the past based on who we have to work with going forward.

Edited 1 hour ago by boyst

[FireChans]

1 minute ago, boyst said:

i've been thinking a lot about this, specifically the defense and haven't got anything concrete yet but will touch on part of your statement i am focusing a lot on.

 

for the NB position we have Taron Johnson who is underperforming. i think he will get his mojo back and show up when it matters. but, lets say he doesn't. i think this team would be better suited to run a hybrid 4-3 with the 3rd LB being a hybrid nickel. shaq lawson in his younger years, for example. in a stop gap year or for the time being Cam Lewis is plenty capable of taking this position over next year as a pure nickel but i would want us to play more of a base 4-3 with the 3rd LB being a linebacker/nickel.

 

i want our 2026 defense to be different than any other in the past based on who we have to work with going forward.

I hope you mean Shaq Thompson, not Lawson lol.

[boyst]

1 minute ago, FireChans said:

I hope you mean Shaq Thompson, not Lawson lol.

lawson has been in the recent news and rumors of being back on the roster for this weekend, per sources since we need help at DE... so he was on my mind.

 

oops!  

[corta765]

8 minutes ago, boyst said:

i've been thinking a lot about this, specifically the defense and haven't got anything concrete yet but will touch on part of your statement i am focusing a lot on.

 

for the NB position we have Taron Johnson who is underperforming. i think he will get his mojo back and show up when it matters. but, lets say he doesn't. i think this team would be better suited to run a hybrid 4-3 with the 3rd LB being a hybrid nickel. shaq thompsonin his younger years, for example. in a stop gap year or for the time being Cam Lewis is plenty capable of taking this position over next year as a pure nickel but i would want us to play more of a base 4-3 with the 3rd LB being a linebacker/nickel.

 

i want our 2026 defense to be different than any other in the past based on who we have to work with going forward.

 

Agreed.

 

I think McD will be hiring a vet DC who has new ideas to help overhaul the team to a 4-3 Hybrid. The hard thing with this defense is it has been so banged up, had new pieces left and right that it is hard to know if it is the player not performing in T Johnson/Bernard's case which they certainly have... BUT is it also the sum of the parts just being such a mess they are being left out to dry.

[JP51]

Here is mine (mind you my thoughts are we need a reset... we need to get rid of bad contracts that pay A- money to C plus or minus players this means we hurt next year....  take cap hits... etc... because the mediocrity after you get by Allen and Cook is palpable... 

 

Offense

QB: Josh

RB: Cook & Davis

WR1: ?       EVERY WR Position needs an upgrade... Samuel is a joke, Palmer can go for the money we are paying him as well as Coleman... 

Slot: Shakir

WR2:  

WR3:

WR4:   G Davis

 

TE1: Kincaid

TE2: Hawes

(Knox cut for cap)

 

Offensive Line: Returns in full unless they make moves for cap (may need to look at SVP as a replacement for McGovern.)

 

Defense

LDE: Groot (unless we can move him in a trade) too much money here for too little production

DT: Oliver

DT: Walker

RDE: ? (crickets)

 

WB:  Bernard can go for the kind of money he is being paid

MLB: ?

SLB: ? (Maybe Dorian Williams but I think they know they need a lot of a talent added even with him in the fold)

 

CB1: Benford

CB2: Hairston

NCB: You all may kill me for this... but we need another CB... lets see how Benford does here in place of Johnson who must go. 

FS: Bishop

SS

[corta765]

2 minutes ago, JP51 said:

Here is mine (mind you my thoughts are we need a reset... we need to get rid of bad contracts that pay A- money to C plus or minus players this means we hurt next year....  take cap hits... etc... because the mediocrity after you get by Allen and Cook is palpable... 

Beane has been consistent about having a shot every year and always being able to takes cracks at it. With Josh not getting younger no way they bleed a year to get healthy. I don't disagree with your premise at all as too many bad FAs contracts have hurt the talent roster, but I just don't see it happening with Beane. I could see Beane saying the offense is very fixable by basically getting a top WR & drafting a guy with a new OC. So maybe not full pain year as much as pay the premium you need to make the offense a non issue, get the offense humming consistently and you can take that pain on the defense like you said while drafting to hopefully keep rebuilding that side.

[MPL]

I really don't think they have any plans to cut Knox. They want 3 TEs. But I can see Knox taking a huge pay cut to stay here. 

[Kirby Jackson]

I’d like to think that the 2nd best player on the 2026 team, isn’t on the roster currently. I’d say Cook is currently the 2nd best player. I’m looking for an addition that slots in between Cook and Josh. That would be at WR or pass rush if not. 

[JP51]

13 minutes ago, corta765 said:

Beane has been consistent about having a shot every year and always being able to takes cracks at it. With Josh not getting younger no way they bleed a year to get healthy. I don't disagree with your premise at all as too many bad FAs contracts have hurt the talent roster, but I just don't see it happening with Beane. I could see Beane saying the offense is very fixable by basically getting a top WR & drafting a guy with a new OC. So maybe not full pain year as much as pay the premium you need to make the offense a non issue, get the offense humming consistently and you can take that pain on the defense like you said while drafting to hopefully keep rebuilding that side.

I get I am probably very much in the minority...  but in the end to me Beane has tried to fix this flat 5 times by plugging holes with we will call the majority non difference makers... and we at this point have regressed so badly I just dont see another way out than re setting and trying to get the right people in here... I mean we are talking about bringing Shaq back for the 4th time lol...  but if he can get it done your way I am all for it... I look at Josh's prime as 27-34 so to me there is still time... and what he is doing is falling woefully short. 

[SectionC3]

31 minutes ago, boyst said:

lawson has been in the recent news and rumors of being back on the roster for this weekend, per sources since we need help at DE... so he was on my mind.

 

oops!  

Come on, they’re gonna bring back one of the guys in the hookah lounge shooting?  I can’t believe that.  Although the other one is still around …

1 minute ago, SectionC3 said:

Come on, they’re gonna bring back one of the guys in the hookah lounge shooting?  I can’t believe that.  Although the other one is still around …

It’s not a joke.  The other hookah man is still here.  Amazingly.  

[Saint Doug]

I think I’m done with Beane attempting to fill in the holes. He doesn’t get it done. 

[corta765]

16 minutes ago, MPL said:

I really don't think they have any plans to cut Knox. They want 3 TEs. But I can see Knox taking a huge pay cut to stay here. 

His cap is wayyyy too high and his production isn't enough for the savings. Restructure or cut I fully expect a major change there

Just now, Saint Doug said:

I think I’m done with Beane attempting to fill in the holes. He doesn’t get it done. 

I get it... I also don't see Beane gone even if I would fire him.

[stlbills13]

We spent what 6 draft picks on defense last April and here we are talking about how we genuinely need a defensive overhaul

[All_Pro_Bills]

I've been drained of any optimism that Beane is going to fill any roster holes after many seasons of failing to do it. In fact, I'm not sure that's the best approach to restocking the roster. I'd rather see them going BPA at whatever position that might be. Getting some playmakers and serious talent at any position will do more to raise the level of play on either offense and defense rather than reaching for need which has failed as evidenced by spending so much on the D line for no big improvements year after year or drafting the 7th best corner vs. for example the best center or safety. I think that's more how teams like the Eagles, Ravens, and Chiefs approach it.

Edited 59 minutes ago by All_Pro_Bills

[corta765]

4 minutes ago, stlbills13 said:

We spent what 6 draft picks on defense last April and here we are talking about how we genuinely need a defensive overhaul

 

I don't disagree and I expect the biggest splash to be at WR to address that. BUT the offense realistically needs two guys and with the right guys it can really go. The defense on the other hand is a full blown mess. The investments made to help the d-line are either hurt or failed, the LB corp sucks and doesn't fit todays NFL. The secondary thank god looks like it could be quite good if they get the right safety in and another decent good CB for reserve. But in general a lot more talent and a new scheme is needed if you want the D to be decent.

[Warriorspikes51]

There needs to be multiple blockbuster type trades.  But it's more likely Beane will draft undersized Defensive players instead 

[stlbills13]

Well our 1st rounder will forever be compared to Waddle so can't wait to see how that plays out 

[Warriorspikes51]

Just now, stlbills13 said:

Well our 1st rounder will forever be compared to Waddle so can't wait to see how that plays out 

 

it needs to be traded in a package for a higher caliber WR or else it's a failure 

[Aussie Joe]

The OL won’t return in full… MCGovern and Edwards are free agents and both are likely gone