BUFFALO, N.Y. -- The Buffalo Bills open the 2024 NFL regular season against the Arizona Cardinals on Sept. 8 at Highmark Stadium.
Before that happens, however, the Bills will create a roster that will look different than year's past. Longtime constants and leaders are no longer present with Stefon Diggs, Gabe Davis, Mitch Morse and Jordan Poyer now elsewhere. The task ahead for the Bills is for new leaders to emerge -- six of eight team captains from last year are no longer on the roster -- and for young players to take on larger roles.
Unlike previous years, there will be more opportunities to earn a spot on the roster with significant competition ahead at St. John Fisher University.
Here is the 53-man roster projection as the Bills open training camp:
QUARTERBACKS (2): Josh Allen, Mitchell Trubisky
The most significant leader and player is still on the roster in Allen. The team brought back Trubisky to back up Allen, giving the Bills a No. 2 quarterback that already has a relationship with Allen and other members of the organization. Trubisky also has more experience after spending two years with the Steelers. The Bills have gone with two quarterbacks recently, with Shane Buechele likely to be on the practice squad for a second straight year.
RUNNING BACKS (3): James Cook, Ray Davis, Ty Johnson
Cook is set to be the Bills' starting back for a second straight season with both Davis and Johnson in place to compliment him. Davis is the newcomer to the room -- he was selected in the fourth round of the draft -- and can contribute as a bigger rusher or pass-catcher. He had seven touchdown catches in 2023. Johnson flashed when given the ball last season with 30 carries for 132 yards, and seven receptions for 62 yards and a touchdown.
FULLBACKS (1): Reggie Gilliam
A core special teams player (84.9% of snaps last season), Gilliam is set for his fifth straight season in Buffalo. He'll contribute at times on offense under coordinator Joe Brady, who is set for his first full season in the role.
WIDE RECEIVERS (6): Curtis Samuel, Keon Coleman, Khalil Shakir, Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Mack Hollins, Chase Claypool
The final spots at receiver are up for grabs, no matter how many receivers are kept. This is where things stand heading into camp, but there's plenty of opportunity. Samuel, Coleman and Shakir are the locks, but after that, there's chances to make this roster. Justin Shorter, a 2023 fifth-round pick by the Bills who dealt with injuries last year, has an opportunity, along with KJ Hamler and Andy Isabella. Special teams will come into play.
TIGHT ENDS (3): Dalton Kincaid, Dawson Knox, Quintin Morris
A big year awaits Kincaid in his second season after a promising rookie season. One question for the room will be how much 12-personnel Brady will use, especially with Kincaid and Knox, calling in on just 12% after he took over as playcaller, down from 22.4% under Ken Dorsey in 2023. Morris can contribute on special teams (82.1% of snaps last season), as well as what he brings in a backup role on offense.
OFFENSIVE LINEMEN (9): Dion Dawkins, David Edwards, Connor McGovern, O'Cyrus Torrence, Spencer Brown, Ryan Van Demark, La'el Collins, Sedrick Van Pran-Granger, Alec Anderson
This group comes down to how many players are kept on the offensive line, with a competition between the backup interior linemen to make the roster. Buffalo has three starters carrying over from last season, but with Mitch Morse's release, McGovern is moving to center with Edwards taking over at left guard, yet another change on the left side next to Dawkins. There is a mix of veteran and young talent to round out the rest of the room.
DEFENSIVE LINEMEN (10): Greg Rousseau, AJ Epenesa, Von Miller, Dawuane Smoot, Javon Solomon, Ed Oliver, DaQuan Jones, Austin Johnson, DeWayne Carter, DeShawn Williams
The starters here are a no-brainer, but it's the back end of the defensive line that will truly be sorted through during training camp. These positions could go a variety of ways, especially at defensive end with Casey Toohill and Kingsley Jonathan candidates to make it. Solomon will have to earn the spot, which will make this a battle to watch. For a defensive line that relies on rotation, the depth here will be key.
LINEBACKERS (6): Terrel Bernard, Matt Milano, Dorian Williams, Edefuan Ulofoshio, Deion Jones, Nicholas Morrow
This is the position group with the most unknown. A majority of the room did not participate fully in mandatory minicamp due to injuries, including Milano (working back from his season-ending right leg injury), Williams, Ulofoshio, Marrow and Baylon Spector. While the starters are in place, being healthy and available will be paramount to making this roster at linebacker, in addition to monitoring Milano's continued progression back to the field. This could end up all sorts of ways.
CORNERBACKS (5): Rasul Douglas, Christian Benford, Taron Johnson, Kaiir Elam, Daequan Hardy
This is another position where there is a tough decision to be made at the back end of the room. Will Hardy, a sixth-round pick, show enough as a returner and backup in the secondary to earn a final roster spot for the cornerback room? The first four players are locks with Douglas and Benford in line to start, along with Johnson at nickel (and Lewis, a safety as well, his primary backup) and Elam competing for a starting outside role.
SAFETIES (5): Taylor Rapp, Cole Bishop, Mike Edwards, Cam Lewis, Damar Hamlin
This is a big position to watch for a variety of versions. Micah Hyde is contemplating retirement and Poyer signed with the Miami Dolphins. Whether or not the coaching staff goes with Bishop as the day one starter will be something to key an eye on, in addition to competition available to earn the last spot in the room with Hamlin again having to earn the position.
SPECIALISTS (3): Tyler Bass (K), Sam Martin (P), Reid Ferguson (LS)
A punting (and holding) competition awaits in training camp with Jack Browning still on the roster to show what he can do against Martin, but this is the veteran's job to lose for a variety of reasons, including the implications after signing a three-year extension last offseason. This unit is set to run it back for another year and looking to improve on Bass' 82.8% field goal percentage from last season, second-lowest of his career.