Maybe Current Roster Isn't Missing As Much As People Think

[SoCal Deek]

Thanks for putting this together! 
I think the holes are from what I’ve called the Missing Class of 2025 (both draft and free agent class).

Offense: The most obvious hole is last year’s non-existent addition of Palmer.

 

Defense: The same for Sanders, Jackson, Hoecht and half season for Hairston.

 

If we can get something out of those guys, everything else will be gravy. 

Edited March 14 by SoCal Deek

[SCBills]

18 minutes ago, Virgil said:

It's funny how a few months and a regime change can make people forget things so easily.  

 

The media and fans combined were blasting Beane for how poor the roster was last season.  We've made a few mid-level additions, lost quite a few more, and added DJ. 

 

I don't think anyone believed we were just a DJ and Bradley away last year.

 

In fairness, the Defense we finished the season with was missing Hairston, Hoecht and (essentially) Oliver.

 

Sanders and Jackson were injured much of the year and both rookies.

 

Solomon was always viewed as a 3-4 OLB.

 

Carter might get cut, might have some juice, nobody knows as he missed the whole year.  
 

We added Chubb, who is an upgrade over Bosa.. especially the post-wrist injury Bosa that could barely do anything.

 

CJGJ is so clearly an improvement over anything we’ve had at Safety since prime Hyde & Poyer. 
 

Last year we had a bad combination of an old/injured and extremely young (also injured) defense, led by McDermott who always folds in the Playoffs and we have new additions to the team specifically calling out his philosophy and telling us it’s a focus that we will no longer have that mentality. 
 

On Offense, yes, we were a DJ Moore away.  We still need another addition at WR, but if we had DJ Moore last year, we’re in the Super Bowl, even with an injured and reactive Defense. 

[ddaryl]

20 minutes ago, Virgil said:

 

I don't think anyone believed we were just a DJ and Bradley away last year.

 

 

No we were not a DJ and Bradley away last year,  we were a HC / DC away last year

 

Now we wait and see what a new Scheme on D does for us. 

 

Many here in this forum will debate everything without seeing anything in action. Ad nauseum 

[SoTier]

2 hours ago, HamSandwhich said:

Am I the only one a little worried about Dawkins and his age after last year? Just didn’t really seem like himself, let more than usual? Talk me off the lledge. 

 

You're the only one.  😁

 

 

 

 

 

[Simon]

34 minutes ago, Virgil said:

The media and fans combined were blasting Beane for how poor the roster was last season.

 

Just because the complainers were complaining doesn't mean they were right.

 

3 hours ago, HamSandwhich said:

Am I the only one a little worried about Dawkins and his age after last year?

 

You are not the only one.

[Kirby Jackson]

7 minutes ago, Magox said:

Realistically, I think you may see three starter upgrades than what you currently see on the roster.

 

FB - high level of certainty we will upgrade 

MLB - reasonably high level of certainty there will be an upgrade 

NT - slightly higher than 50/50 chance of an upgrade 

Kicker- around 50/50

Free safety - less than 50/50 possibility 

WR #2 - considerably less than 50/50

Guard - less than 50/50

 

Thats how I see it

 

 

My biggest disagreement is at WR. I don’t love this draft for them but based on their predraft meetings to date (Jordan Tyson, Chris Bell, Omar Cooper, KC Concepcion, Denzel Boston, Skyler Bell, Antonio Williams, Germie Bernard) they’re drafting one early. Those are just the ones that I’ve seen reported. I would say it’s close to 100% chance they upgrade there. 80% that any early pick goes to WR and the other almost 20% would be on a vet like Cooks or even Mooney. 
 

https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/nfl-draft-2026-buffalo-bills-020513299.html

 

They want a FB. Maybe they use a late pick on the guy from Michigan? If not, they’ll sign an experienced vet. I wouldn’t be surprised to see Hawes in the backfield on the tush push with an extra OL in his spot on the line. 
 

MLB I think that they add at least 2 guys one as a starter. I’m thinking a vet like Logan Wilson and a draft pick like Trotter.

 

I also don’t think that they start a traditional NT. They will add a body there but I expect that Walker-Oliver-Sanders will be the 3 DL. Mathis will play some NT and they might draft a guy. There’s a post somewhere about how few snaps last year were played with someone lined up over the center. 

Kicker I hope that they upgrade. They are bullish on Bass. I’d rather someone else but would guess that he is the guy to start the year at least.

 

Guard seems to be a battle between Anderson and Grable. I’m good with that. 

[Whites Bay]

37 minutes ago, Kirby Jackson said:

I don’t know anyone that wanted to watch that defense play again in the playoffs.

That's a very good way of summarizing it.

[wppete]

Nose Tackle is a major issue. Have to address it in the draft and FA. 

[Virgil]

44 minutes ago, ddaryl said:

 

No we were not a DJ and Bradley away last year,  we were a HC / DC away last year

 

Now we wait and see what a new Scheme on D does for us. 

 

Many here in this forum will debate everything without seeing anything in action. Ad nauseum 

You missed the first line of my post, which was the whole point.  This isn’t about if we needed a new HC/DC.   
 

This is about the narrative that our roster was overall not good enough.  

[fergie's ire]

1 hour ago, Virgil said:

It's funny how a few months and a regime change can make people forget things so easily.  

 

The media and fans combined were blasting Beane for how poor the roster was last season.  We've made a few mid-level additions, lost quite a few more, and added DJ. 

 

I don't think anyone believed we were just a DJ and Bradley away last year.

 

Well, if DJ makes the catch he did against the Packers for the Bills, instead of having it ripped out of his hands, then the Bills are playing the Pats for a chance to go to the Super Bowl....so we kind of were, at least of terms of GOING to the Super Bowl.  That said, it was the easiest path to the Super Bowl in the AFC that we've seen in decades, and since they can't count on that happening again, I get your point.  I think key will be drafting some difference makers.

[DapperCam]

1 minute ago, fergie's ire said:

Well, if DJ makes the catch he did against the Packers for the Bills, instead of having it ripped out of his hands, then the Bills are playing the Pats for a chance to go to the Super Bowl....so we kind of were, at least of terms of GOING to the Super Bowl.  That said, it was the easiest path to the Super Bowl in the AFC that we've seen in decades, and since they can't count on that happening again, I get your point.  I think key will be drafting some difference makers.

It was an easier than usual path through the AFC, but I think the Jags might have been the toughest out, and we beat them on the road.

 

We were better than the Broncos, but just couldn’t put it together. That is probably on coaching.

[ddaryl]

8 minutes ago, Virgil said:

You missed the first line of my post, which was the whole point.  This isn’t about if we needed a new HC/DC.   
 

This is about the narrative that our roster was overall not good enough.  

 

 

I think I misinterpreted your intent. We need to see all of this in action. We will not be the same on D next year and we will not know how and what it will be until we see them play some games. That can go in many directions. The players we have acquired paint a picture for the fans.  How they are gonna be used is the debate to have IMO.

[Virgil]

3 minutes ago, ddaryl said:

 

 

I think I misinterpreted your intent. We need to see all of this in action. We will not be the same on D next year and we will not know how and what it will be until we see them play some games. That can go in many directions. The players we have acquired paint a picture for the fans.  How they are gonna be used is the debate to have IMO.

Agreed.  Also, we are no where near done adjusting this roster, so I’m doing my best to reserve judgement on what the end state will be.  
 

I can say I’m personally underwhelmed with most of the decisions we’ve made so far and it feels like we are heading for another “almost ran” season.  But we shall see and I’ll be happy to be wrong. 

[transient]

3 hours ago, Kirby Jackson said:

It certainly wasn’t his best year. He may be regressing. Even in a down year, he was a good LT. If he’s in better shape this year, he could bounce back. At worst, he’s a good LT that they can get out from next year if they think he is done. By not reworking his deal this year, they can save like $12M next year by releasing him. I’m not saying that they should but they could. I don’t think that we have 6 more years of Dion as one of the game’s best LT but we may have a few more years of good play. OL can age well. If he’s in better shape we shouldn’t be ready to throw dirt on the grave quite yet. 

I think if they get through the offseason without touching his contract that it’s very indicative of Beane seeing the same decline that fans have commented on. It’s been a fairly consistent lever for him to pull the last few offseasons… just looked it up, and they’ve restructured him every offseason since 2022. 

1 hour ago, Virgil said:

It's funny how a few months and a regime change can make people forget things so easily.  

 

The media and fans combined were blasting Beane for how poor the roster was last season.  We've made a few mid-level additions, lost quite a few more, and added DJ. 

 

I don't think anyone believed we were just a DJ and Bradley away last year.

 

Put DJ and Chubb on the Bills last season for the Denver game alone and implement a more aggressive defensive philosophy… were we 2 players away?!?!

[ddaryl]

4 minutes ago, Virgil said:

Agreed.  Also, we are no where near done adjusting this roster, so I’m doing my best to reserve judgement on what the end state will be.  
 

I can say I’m personally underwhelmed with most of the decisions we’ve made so far and it feels like we are heading for another “almost ran” season.  But we shall see and I’ll be happy to be wrong. 

 

 

I have no issues with our offseason. Solid players. I want to see it in action, because until then it's just noise to me. 

[Dillenger4]

2 hours ago, SCBills said:

A big part of the roster projection is DL and we’ve invested a lot there in recent years.  When you’re drafting late RD1 and taking guys on Day 2/Day 3, it’s common for them to take some time.  In fact, I’d argue it should be expected.

 

Sometimes you hit on a Walker, but that’s not the norm.  
 

We have 4 players that we really don’t know what they will be.. Hopefully the staff has a better idea.

 

Year 2 (Sanders and Jackson), Year 3 but essentially his second year (Carter) and Year 3 but finally in the Defense he was always supposed to be playing in (Solomon). 
 

 

This. With Carter, Jackson and I'll add Hoecht - we "could" have some demon weapons already on the roster.

[US Egg]

1 hour ago, Virgil said:

It's funny how a few months and a regime change can make people forget things so easily.  

Not forgetting anything. Just because you don’t see everyone in here moping around all doom and gloom doesn’t mean they don’t see a need for improvement. 

[ganesh]

1 hour ago, Magox said:

Realistically, I think you may see three starter upgrades than what you currently see on the roster.

 

FB - high level of certainty we will upgrade 

MLB - reasonably high level of certainty there will be an upgrade 

NT - slightly higher than 50/50 chance of an upgrade 

Kicker- around 50/50

Free safety - less than 50/50 possibility 

WR #2 - considerably less than 50/50

Guard - less than 50/50

 

Thats how I see it

 

 

May be they use Hawes as a FB-TE combo to keep him on the field more and add the extra 6th WR. 

Kicker - I doubt they upgrade this year.

We will go with Moore, Shakir and Palmer as our WR1, WR2 and WR3 respectively.   I see them get a speedster in the draft  as a complimentary 5th receiver (with Coleman as the 4th WR). 

 

Still missing starting DEs 

[SCBills]

37 minutes ago, Virgil said:

Agreed.  Also, we are no where near done adjusting this roster, so I’m doing my best to reserve judgement on what the end state will be.  
 

I can say I’m personally underwhelmed with most of the decisions we’ve made so far and it feels like we are heading for another “almost ran” season.  But we shall see and I’ll be happy to be wrong. 

I just don’t see how anyone can make a judgment one way or another on the Defense.

 

New DC, new scheme, so many new players.. and even the returning players, half of them are basically entering their 2nd or 3rd year.  If anyone thinks this Defense is going to be good, great, mediocre, bad.. they’re just guessing.  Might not be a more unpredictable unit in the league. 
 

On Offense, I’ll say this.  I hate what we have outside DJ Moore.   I need to see more out of Shakir to justify his contract and Palmer/Coleman have shown us absolutely nothing.  It’s a middle of the pack WR Room IF Palmer can stay healthy.   Room for that group to elevate if Shakir’s role/usage evolves and Keon becomes anything at all. 
 

Edited March 14 by SCBills

[SoonerBillsFan]

10 hours ago, jwhit34 said:

Some of this is injury recovery dependent, but so far this is what the roster looks like (for sure starters in bold italics):

Offense:

QB: J. Allen, K. Allen

RB: Cook, Johnson Davis

WR: Moore, Shakir, Coleman, Palmer (start if 11 personnel instead of one of the TEs)

TE: Kincaid, Knox, Hawes

OL: Dawkins, Brown, McGovern, Torrence, VP Granger, Anderson, Grable, Lundt, VanDemark

Total: 21,

Need 2 WR, 1 FB

Maybe: Hardman

PUP: Shavers

 

Defense:

DL & Edge/OLB: Oliver, Sanders, Walker, Rousseau, Chubb, Hoecht (maybe start over Sanders), Jackson, Carter

LB: Bernard, Williams, Andreessen

CB: Benford, Hairston, Alford

S: Bishop, Gardner-Johnson, Stone, Hancock

Total: 19

Need: 2 CB, NT, 1-2 LB

Maybes: Mathis, Dorian Strong, Solomon

 

Special Teams:

Bass, Mitch W., Ferguson, Sam Franklin

Total: 4

 

Summary:

Definite: 44

Needs: 7-8

Maybes: 5

PUP: 1

 

Which leaves 1-2 openings on 53 to BPA or where they think they need more players. Maybe 1 more S or CB.

 

They have 7 draft picks

 

Is only starting position in question LG? Don't be surprised if it's Grable, if they keep VanDemark he's the swing T and that frees up Grable to compete for LG and is T in an emergency.

 

If they keep 5 or 6 draft picks, keep 1-3 of the maybes they need an additional 1-2 plus camp players to round out training camp roster of 90 and have a practice squad pool. 

 

 

Still need an extra NT and 3 Bigger LB's