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

[13 Seconds to Mars]

6 minutes ago, PoundingDog said:

I make Walker as we can counter on. 

 

Sanders, Jackson, Solomon, and Carter are critical in terms of what the defense can be. I also believe Logue might find his way onto the field as a NT on running downs. 

2nd year players need to start stepping into starting roles and rookies just need to find ways to contribute. Walker is going to be special. 

[dayman]

On 3/14/2026 at 5:21 AM, 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. 

He said he’s losing 30lbs this summer and changing the way he plays

[QB Bills]

We get one of these threads every offseason. People convincing themselves to get excited about players who peaked 4+ years ago and would not lose sleep over had they signed somewhere else.

 

Truthfully, Jim Leonard is going to have to work some magic with that front 7 the way it's shaping up. That is not a very good group they have there. Hoping he can coach them up, but fans should be prepared for a regression on defense.

[smward8]

Does anyone see Hawes as a fullback?  

 

[Kirby Jackson]

3 minutes ago, smward8 said:

Does anyone see Hawes as a fullback?  

 

I think he may be back there for the tush push. I don’t think he will be back there often otherwise. Just a guess

[ganesh]

8 hours ago, 13 Seconds to Mars said:

This board ALWAYS downplays the roster. Everything is because of Josh Allen. Some fans didn’t even think we would make the playoffs going into the BYE.
 

The Bills have a solid roster. It’s not on a Seattle or Rams type level yet, but they  are catching up. All that’s missing is that WR1 production we were getting from Diggs and a few pieces of the defense.

 

The only problem is the 2 positions the Bills need the most (pass rusher and WR) are 2 of the 3 hardest positions to find and the ones Beane has the most difficulty with. Hence why he chose to go through Free Agency for them. After almost a decade, it’s fair to say that it is his weakest area. 
 

To give Beane some credit, he’s not getting any high draft picks picks like a lot of teams do. Even great teams miss the playoffs once in awhile  and are able to nab an elite blue chip prospect. The Bills are just too successful (at least in the regular season) and that’s a testament to a great roster. 

The defense on the roster has been average or above average stage for the past few years.  Two reasons - whiffing in the draft and injuries.  
 

So many top draft picks used on Defensive Tackles, Defensive Ends and Defensive backs with little to show for them. 

[PoundingDog]

It's going to take some time for the Defense to get to where Leonard wants, like when McDermott came to Buffalo in 2017. But like the example of McDermott, Leonard may provide some "newness" on defense for offenses who used to attack the Bills certain way and thus bring a boost to our D. At the end of the day, it is still Josh and the offense carrying the team (to the playoffs).

 

By the look of things they have done on D so far, I expect they are going to make more splash plays but also giving up more big plays. No total domination. Hopefully by the playoff time, they learn and are able to adjust on D to make more positive splash plays than the negative big plays.

Edited March 16 by PoundingDog

[BearNorth]

10 hours ago, Kirby Jackson said:

I think he may be back there for the tush push. I don’t think he will be back there often otherwise. Just a guess

He's very good moving in space on running plays, part of the reason James Cook lead the league in rushing.

[Kirby Jackson]

6 minutes ago, BearNorth said:

He's very good moving in space on running plays, part of the reason James Cook lead the league in rushing.

No doubt. Gilliam had a ton of success behind Josh on this plays. Hawes feels like a pretty natural guy to fill that role IMO. 

[Urban Achievers]

25 minutes ago, Kirby Jackson said:

No doubt. Gilliam had a ton of success behind Josh on this plays. Hawes feels like a pretty natural guy to fill that role IMO. 

Agree … I also think hawes presents a more deceiving threat to defenses.

[BearNorth]

6 minutes ago, Urban Achievers said:

Agree … I also think hawes presents a more deceiving threat to defenses.

Dust off the Butch Rolle playbook.

[OldTimer1960]

On 3/14/2026 at 5:58 PM, BeyondTheProcess said:

I think Beane will trade back into round 2.. we'll get 2-3 impact draftees IMHO

I agree that he will trade back if he can find a trade partner.  What is your definition of “impact players”?  Is that anyone who plays meaningful snaps even as a backup?

[NastyNateSoldiers]

On 3/14/2026 at 6:00 AM, 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 missing what we've been always missing Difference makers!

[No_Matter_What]

On 3/14/2026 at 6:30 PM, HappyDays said:

 

We were just a DJ Moore away last year and I was banging that drum all year. We just needed one guy that could win some 1v1s and separate outside. That final pass to Cooks is probably a catch if Moore is the target and then we're probably in the Super Bowl. We were that close.

If we had DJ Moore, there would be no "final pass", we just win comfortably.

 

[Gunner]

On 3/14/2026 at 8:04 AM, 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.

 

We have DJ Moore last year (performing like expected,) we have home field advantage and are off the the SB. Throw in Bradley, and a timely sack or two, stops late game scores that cost us. 

[Sweats]

On 3/15/2026 at 8:46 PM, 13 Seconds to Mars said:

2nd year players need to start stepping into starting roles and rookies just need to find ways to contribute. Walker is going to be special. 

 

 

 

I agree, Walker is indeed special.

 

I still think McD just didn't feel comfortable letting rookies or 2nd year players actually play. It almost feels like he didn't trust them and oft times just sat them down on the bench for a year or two. That's old school line of thinking right there and that's being wayyyyyyyyyyy too conservative with your young guys. You've got to get them some playing time and boost their experience and let them figure the game out as they go and of course, they will make mistakes, but that's how they learn.........i think in McD's mind, the young players were just never ready or maybe he just wasn't ready to let them have field experience.

 

I don't know

[SCBills]

On 3/15/2026 at 9:14 PM, QB Bills said:

We get one of these threads every offseason. People convincing themselves to get excited about players who peaked 4+ years ago and would not lose sleep over had they signed somewhere else.

 

Truthfully, Jim Leonard is going to have to work some magic with that front 7 the way it's shaping up. That is not a very good group they have there. Hoping he can coach them up, but fans should be prepared for a regression on defense.

We are kinda doing the opposite of hoping guys who peaked 4+ years ago step up. 
 

This Defense is incredibly young outside  of Bradley Chubb, who turns 30 before the season.  
 

Who are we hoping turns the clock back?

 

We’re hoping young guys step up and Oliver/Hoecht come back strong after an injury plagued 2025. 
 

How do you know it’s not a good Front 7?  I don’t know if it’s good or bad.  I don’t know how any of these guys will look in this Defense.

 

DL typically takes time.  You can write off Sanders, Jackson and Solomon if you want.  I’m not.  We have no clue what we have in the first two and Solomon should’ve always been drafted by a 3-4 defense. 
 

So be skeptical, sure.. but nobody here is hoping some old guys turn back the clock.. we have exactly one of those guys on defense and he’s about to be 30, not 33.  
 

 

Edited March 17 by SCBills

[13 Seconds to Mars]

53 minutes ago, Sweats said:

 

 

 

I agree, Walker is indeed special.

 

I still think McD just didn't feel comfortable letting rookies or 2nd year players actually play. It almost feels like he didn't trust them and oft times just sat them down on the bench for a year or two. That's old school line of thinking right there and that's being wayyyyyyyyyyy too conservative with your young guys. You've got to get them some playing time and boost their experience and let them figure the game out as they go and of course, they will make mistakes, but that's how they learn.........i think in McD's mind, the young players were just never ready or maybe he just wasn't ready to let them have field experience.

 

I don't know

Let’s hope Joe Brady doesn’t have that problem. Being younger himself, I hope he has a little more faith in his rookies. 

[QB Bills]

1 hour ago, SCBills said:

We are kinda doing the opposite of hoping guys who peaked 4+ years ago step up. 
 

This Defense is incredibly young outside  of Bradley Chubb, who turns 30 before the season.  
 

Who are we hoping turns the clock back?

 

We’re hoping young guys step up and Oliver/Hoecht come back strong after an injury plagued 2025. 
 

How do you know it’s not a good Front 7?  I don’t know if it’s good or bad.  I don’t know how any of these guys will look in this Defense.

 

DL typically takes time.  You can write off Sanders, Jackson and Solomon if you want.  I’m not.  We have no clue what we have in the first two and Solomon should’ve always been drafted by a 3-4 defense. 
 

So be skeptical, sure.. but nobody here is hoping some old guys turn back the clock.. we have exactly one of those guys on defense and he’s about to be 30, not 33.  
 

 

I was referring to the big ticket free agent acquisitions as being guys who peaked years ago. Moore and Chubb specifically. CJGJ to a lesser extent.

 

As for the front 7, of course anyone can say "we don't know how its going to look". But you can say that about any position group on any team. But strictly looking at the talent aggregation there doesn't lend itself to being a strength of the team, despite all the resources poured into it. Therefore, as I said, Jim Leonard is the wild card here.

[SCBills]

16 minutes ago, QB Bills said:

I was referring to the big ticket free agent acquisitions as being guys who peaked years ago. Moore and Chubb specifically. CJGJ to a lesser extent.

 

As for the front 7, of course anyone can say "we don't know how it’s going to look". But you can say that about any position group on any team. But strictly looking at the talent aggregation there doesn't lend itself to being a strength of the team, despite all the resources poured into it. Therefore, as I said, Jim Leonard is the wild card here.

Moore and Chubb are definitely a result of Beane’s inability to hit at those positions.  DE/WR failures is why we’re in the cap situation we’re in. 
 

I just can’t get to where you are when Moore is going to be 29 next month and Chubb turns 30 in June.   CJGJ is 28.. same age as Alohi Gilman, who the Chiefs picked up. 
 

Mike Evans is 32.  Maxx Crosby is 28 with a medical concern.  Trey Hendrickson is 31.  AJ Brown will be turning 29 this June .. he’s the same age as DJ Moore. 
 

I feel like you’re reaching a bit on what has transpired so far.  
 

And yes, of course you can say that, however most teams don’t have a laundry list of guys recently drafted at a position group that, outside the top 10, typically take time to develop.   Maybe they all bust, but we have an incredibly young Defense.   If anything, we needed some older vets on that side of the ball in Chubb and CJGJ to go with Oliver, Hoecht and an entire Defense seemingly 26 and younger. 
 

Edited March 17 by SCBills