Roster Changes

 

Key additions

RB Frank Gore, RB T.J. Yeldon, WR John Brown, WR Cole Beasley, TE Tyler Kroft, OT/G Ty Nsekhe, G Quinton Spain, C Mitch Morse, CB E.J. Gaines, CB Kevin Johnson

 

Key losses

RB Chris Ivory, OT Jordan Mills, G John Miller, DT Kyle Williams

 

2019 draft class

DT Ed Oliver (1.09), T Cody Ford (2.38), RB Devin Singletary (3.74), TE Dawson Knox (3.96), LB Vosean Joseph (5.147), S Jaquan Johnson (6.181), DE Darryl Johnson (7.225), TE Tommy Sweeney (7.228)

 

Projected Starters

 

Offense

QB: Josh Allen
RB: LeSean McCoy
WR: John Brown
WR: Robert Foster
WR: Cole Beasley
TE: Tyler Kroft
LT: Dion Dawkins
LG: Quinton Spain
C: Mitch Morse
RG: Ty Nsekhe
RT: Cody Ford

 

Defense 

DE: Jerry Hughes
DT: Ed Oliver
DT: Harrison Phillips
DE: Trent Murphy
OLB: Lorenzo Alexander
MLB: Tremaine Edmunds
OLB: Matt Milano
CB: Tre’Davious White
CB: E.J. Gaines
S: Jordan Poyer
S: Micah Hyde

 

Team Outlook

 

Notable depth

QB Matt Barkley, RB Frank Gore, RB Devin Singletary, RB T.J. Yeldon, FB Patrick DiMarco, WR Zay Jones, WR Andre Roberts, TE Dawson Knox, TE Jason Croom, TE Jake Fisher, OT LaAdrian Waddle, G Spencer Long, G Wyatt Teller, DE Shaq Lawson DT Star Lotulelei, LB Vosean Joseph, CB Levi Wallace, CB Kevin Johnson, S Jaquan Johnson, S Rafael Bush

 

Biggest strength: Secondary

Tre’Davious White is arguably the best cornerback in football, and the No. 2 corner spot will be significantly improved with former Buffalo standout E.J. Gaines and 2015 first-rounder Kevin Johnson competing against Levi Wallace for snaps. Plus, Jordan Poyer and Micah Hyde are both above-average starters on the backend, and I think Jaquan Johnson was an absolute steal in the sixth round of the 2019 NFL Draft. Overall, pass defense should remain the calling card for Sean McDermott’s squad this season.

 

Biggest weakness: Tight end

While there isn’t a glaring hole on Buffalo’s roster, they don’t have a dominant tight end to help Josh Allen in the middle of the field. Perhaps the team is counting on third-round pick Dawson Knox to become that, but it’s a fairly ambitious considering he didn’t even score at touchdown at Ole Miss. We could end up seeing a committee approach as newcomers Tyler Kroft and Knox split time with Jason Croom. Converted tackle Jake Fisher might even make the team and carve out a role considering the Bills will want to run the ball.

 

Position battle to watch: Running back

LeSean McCoy was listed as the No. 1 back for projected starters, but I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s not even on the team by September. Frank Gore and third-rounder Devin Singletary are roster locks, and I would think T.J. Yeldon (who surely had more suitors in free agency) likes his chances, too. That means four runners will be vying for playing time, and none of them are likely special-team contributors. It’s possible the team has insisted McCoy will be around to angle for trade compensation rather than outright release, but either way, it will be interesting to see how snaps are divided in the backfield.

 

One more thought

Second-round pick Cody Ford was announced as an offensive tackle—and everything the team has said points to them wanting him there—but I think kicking the rookie inside to guard and allowing veteran Ty Nsekhe to play right tackle might be the team’s best alignment.

 

Early over/under: 6.5 wins (via CBS Sports)

Over. The Bills already had an elite defense, and the pieces they added around Josh Allen—particularly more power up front and more speed at receiver—should allow them to compete for a playoff spot in 2019. In his rookie year, Allen went 5-5 in games he started and finished despite most of the media proclaiming he would need years of development before being close to ready for the NFL.