BUFFALO, N.Y. -- The Buffalo Bills open the 2022 NFL regular season at the Los Angeles Rams on Sept. 8 at SoFi Stadium.
After losing in the playoffs two years in a row to the Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium, the Bills are the favorites to win the Super Bowl this season (+600 per Caesars Sportsbook).
With a roster that is predicted to be among the most talented in the NFL, the number of open roster spots is small. There are a couple of interesting decisions for the Bills to make, including how many tight ends to keep, especially with O.J. Howard's guaranteed money. They also need to navigate the uncertainty surrounding Tre'Davious White's return to the field from a left ACL tear.
In the recent cuts to get the roster down to 80 players, the Bills elected to trade former second-round pick guard Cody Ford to the Arizona Cardinals and placed offensive lineman Ike Boettger on the PUP list to start the season.
The roster will be cut to 53 players by 4 p.m. ET on Tuesday. Here is a projection:
QUARTERBACK (2): Josh Allen, Case Keenum
Nothing has changed here. Keenum was always set to backup Allen, and Matt Barkley should land on the practice squad, similar to how the Bills handled the quarterback room last season with Mitch Trubisky and Davis Webb.
RUNNING BACK (5): Devin Singletary, Zack Moss, James Cook, Taiwan Jones, Reggie Gilliam (FB)
Moss has gone from a roster question mark going into training camp to an almost roster lock. Coach Sean McDermott said after the team's second preseason game that Moss has probably had the most consistent training camp, and he's likely to get a solid amount of goal line -- and short-yardage -- carries. Jones is a key special teams veteran, and the team signed Gilliam to a two-year extension during camp. Just not enough roster spots for undrafted rookie Raheem Blackshear and veteran Duke Johnson.
WIDE RECEIVER (7): Stefon Diggs, Gabe Davis, Jamison Crowder, Isaiah McKenzie, Khalil Shakir, Jake Kumerow, Isaiah Hodgins
Hodgins is the question mark here. McKenzie has taken over the slot receiver role, partly because of his strong play early in camp while Crowder missed time because of injury, but both should make the roster. Hodgins has performed well in training camp and the preseason, coming down with some impressive catches, but could find himself the odd man out in terms of the overall numbers.
TIGHT END (3): Dawson Knox, O.J. Howard, Tommy Sweeney
This has arguably become the trickiest position on the roster to predict because of Howard's situation. If his $1,945,000 million base salary for 2022 was not guaranteed, Howard would probably not be making this 53-man roster based on his play in training camp and the way the team has used him in the preseason. But the financials and blowback of moving on from Howard helps him keep his spot, while Sweeney and Quintin Morris have proven their worth to this roster on offense and special teams. Morris misses the cut here because of the numbers but certainly could make it if the Bills decide to invest more heavily in the position.
OFFENSIVE LINE (9): Dion Dawkins, Rodger Saffold, Mitch Morse, Ryan Bates, David Quessenberry, Spencer Brown, Bobby Hart, Tommy Doyle, Greg Mancz
With Ford traded to the Cardinals for a 2023 fifth-round pick, an additional roster spot opens up, making Hart much more secure in making the cut. Some of the questions here come down to injury with Doyle and Mancz still getting fully healthy after both suffered lower body injuries. Their health could open an opportunity for veteran Greg Van Roten, who can play multiple roles.
DEFENSIVE LINE (9): Von Miller, Greg Rousseau, Boogie Basham, AJ Epenesa, Shaq Lawson, Ed Oliver, DaQuan Jones, Jordan Phillips, Tim Settle
There's not much to consider here. The Bills defensive line is set, and the only question mark comes because Settle has missed significant practice time because of injury. This is one of the team's strongest parts of the roster and a heavy rotation is expected.
LINEBACKER (5): Tremaine Edmunds, Matt Milano, Terrel Bernard, Tyler Matakevich, Tyrel Dodson
Because of numbers, seventh-round pick Baylon Spector doesn't make the cut, but this is a pretty well-rounded position group. Bernard and Dodson can back up both Edmunds and Milano, while Matakevich and Dodson are key special teams contributors.
CORNERBACK (6): Dane Jackson, Kaiir Elam, Christian Benford, Taron Johnson, Siran Neal, Cam Lewis
What will the Bills do about White? The cornerback is still rehabbing from his ACL injury and has not been seen working to the side during practice for weeks. General manager Brandon Beane said last week that, "we're trying to run out the clock here" on figuring out the best move with White, who could end up on the PUP list to start the season and miss at least the first four games. Because Beane said White will need practice time before he plays, White isn't on the roster to start the season in this projection. His availability will impact the other players on the bubble, notably Lewis, who is a close call.
SAFETY (4): Micah Hyde, Jordan Poyer, Damar Hamlin, Jaquan Johnson
No question marks here. Poyer is still working his way back to 100% from his elbow injury, but Beane said he would be playing if it was the regular season. All systems go with Johnson and Hamlin backing up Poyer and Hyde.
SPECIALISTS (3): Tyler Bass (kicker), Matt Araiza (TBD), Reid Ferguson (long-snapper)
Araiza did not dress for the team's final preseason game Friday against the Panthers but did arrive at the stadium. His status with the team is uncertain after a civil lawsuit was filed Thursday alleging Araiza was involved in gang raping an underage minor. Araiza released a statement Friday stating, "The facts of the incident are not what they are portrayed in the lawsuit or in the press. I look forward to quickly setting the record straight."