The 53

Training camp is underway for the 2022 Buffalo Bills. The favorites to win the Super Bowl. Just typing that out feels weird let alone seeing the betting sites list it as such. While the casual fan is waiting for preseason games or even the regular season to get kicked off, for the hardcore fans this is when the season feels like it’s beginning. Players are moving into St. John Fisher’s dorm rooms, practices and open for fans to go and watch, but most importantly the camp battles are happening. 90 players are currently on the team. The team will be trimmed by 5 after the 1st preseason game and another 5 after the 2nd. The roster ultimately needs to get cut down to 53 players by August 30th. The only silver lining for the 37 chopped players is that 16 spots are open on the practice squad. You also need to factor in the PUP lists and the IR lists. When you really dive into the numbers and the plans with this team, a lot of those 90 players will be around the team for week 1 in one way or another.

So, like we did on the show last year, I decided to try and build my own 53 man roster and my pick my 16 practice squad spots. I love reading other people’s predictions for the team so why not add another list to the collection out there for your reading pleasure. So, without further delay, here is my 53 man roster for the 2022 Buffalo Bills.

The Quarterback Room (2)

Keep – Josh Allen, Case Keenum

Cut – Matt Barkley

This is probably the easiest room to figure out. Josh Allen. It was a close call but he’s making the team. After losing Trubisky to free agency, the Bills sent one of their two 7th rounders to Cleveland for Keenum. I loved the move then and still love it now. He provides that solid backup option for the team in the doomsday scenario if Allen goes down to injury. He has experience as both the starter and the back up in his career. He also has a connection with Stefan Diggs from their Vikings days which never hurts. As far as Matty B, I see him set for a practice roll spot. Great team guy and another great voice in Allen’s ear.

The Running Back Room (5)

Keep – Devin Singletary, James Cook, Zack Moss, Taiwan Jones, Reggie Gilliam (FB)

Cut – Duke Johnson, Raheem Blackshear

You may look at the list and go, 5 RBs? On a team with Josh Allen as your QB? The answer is kind of. Taiwan Jones is a listed RB but he is strictly a Special Teamer. Since McDermott has come to town, we have seen the value he puts in that unit. He’s a lock for me. Singletary and Cook are also complete locks for me. That’s your 1A, 1B tandem going into the season. Gilliam can play dual roles as a Full Back and a Tight End. He’s on the team. The biggest decision comes down to Moss vs Johnson and it wasn’t as easy as just marking the names on the computer. Moss, in my opinion, has not performed to the level I was hoping he’d be when the Bills took him in the 3rd round. He is the biggest bodied RB in the room and would likely take some of the weight and pressure off Josh Allen’s shoulders if he could be reliable and productive. Sadly, that hasn’t happened. Johnson on the other had was the fall back option when the whole McKissic situation occurred. But then the Cook draft pick happened and kind of threw a wrench into that. I lean Moss over Johnson due to the bigger frame, but I can see Moss as a healthy scratch most weeks unless Cook or Singletary go down.

The Wide Receiver Room (6)

Keep – Stefan Diggs, Gabriel Davis, Jamison Crowder, Isaiah McKenzie, Khalil Shakir, Jake Kumerow

Cut – Marquez Stevenson, Isaiah Hodgins, Tanner Gentry, Tavon Austin, Neil Pau'u

This one was very tough. Deciding between 6 or 7 guys on the roster and then even deciding who that 6th guy was. I’d say the top 5 is safe. Diggs and Davis are obviously on the team. Crowder when he stays healthy is a possible upgrade over Beasley in the slot and he’s younger. It’s all about health for him. For anyone that has listened to this show, they know our love for the face of the Franchise. McKenzie is underused in this offense. Has been for some years. He has flashed in limited work. After being put in the dog house in the return game last year I think he wins the 3 headed race back there and is the teams #4 WR going into the season. The Rookie is safe. I like Shakir’s upside but I think the fan base needs to temper expectations when it comes to him. He was still a 5th round pick. I think his time will come with this team but I think he’s a 20-30% rep guy this year unless injuries mount forcing him into action. Now came the tough part. Kumerow vs Hodgins vs Austin vs Stevenson. The only way I see Austin making the team is winning the return game battle. Hodgins needs to prove that all the time and effort spent on the practice squad has paid off. Stevenson and his speed are super valuable but I don’t see how he cracks the top 5 and unless he wins the return battle, I don’t see a spot for him. Then there’s Kumerow. I have him making it for his special teams ability and he can fill in at WR if they get in a pinch. Don’t worry though. Keep scrolling and you might see some of these names in a bit.

The Tight End Room (3)

Keep – Dawson Knox, OJ Howard, Quintin Morris

Cut – Tommy Sweeney, Jalen Wydermyer

Knox and Howard are on the team. The biggest question is how often you will see 12 personnel on the field this year. That is something I’m very interested in seeing come preseason games. If it’s not any more than last year I can see them dropping down to just 2 TEs on this team. If they are running it more often then you’ll see 3. The question is who is the 3rd? I could see any of the 3 take that job. Morris spent all year on the Practice squad last year. Sweeney made the team over Hollister in a surprise move to me, but then come playoffs he wasn’t even active and they went into game days with just the one healthy TE. Wydermyer is a very interesting undrafted signee to me. The talent is real. It’s if he can beat out 2 guys the team has invested time into. At the moment I have Morris as the 3rd but this can change based on what we see during training camp and the 3 preseason games.

The Offensive Line Room (9)

Keep – Dion Dawkins, Rodger Saffold, Mitch Morse, Ryan Bates, Spencer Brown, David Quessenberry, Greg Mantz, Tommy Doyle, Greg Van Roten

Cut - Luke Teunta, Bobby Hart, Cody Ford, Jacob Capra, Alec Anderson, Tanner Owen, Derek Kerstetter

PUP - Ike Boettger

As is usual for a Brandon Beane built team, the OL is flush with bodies once again. 17 in total. ATM I’ve got 9 making the team but I’ll get it out of the way now. Boettger goes right to the PUP list and that frees a spot. What they do with it after, that’s why they pay Beane the big bucks. The starting 5 as they enter camp is Dawkins, Saffold, Morse, Bates, Brown. Quessenberry I think is your next man up. They paid him more than all the rest of the guys they brought in. I know money is only a small part, but he’s also a very solid player. Mantz I think makes it so Bates can stay at the G position if Morse were to go down. Rather switch 1 spot then 2 on the OLine. These last 2 spots come down to 3 guys. Doyle, Van Roten and Ford to me. Ford it’s a make or break camp. They could release him and free up roughly $1.5 million. I think he gets the chop. Doyle was a 5th rounder last year. Although he struggled a bit, he’s still a mountain of a man. My gut says Doyle makes it. Van Roten was a later signing but brings experience to the team and besides Ford I don’t think you can say that about the remaining guys there. This is another position you will see guys on the P Squad so keep reading.

The Defensive Line (10)

Keep – Von Miller, Greg Rousseau, Carlos (Boogie) Basham, AJ Epenesa, Shaq Lawson, Ed Oliver (DT), Tim Settle (DT), DeQuan Jones (DT), Jordan Phillips (DT), Eli Ankou (DT)

Cut - Mike Love, Brandin Bryant, Prince Emili, Kingsley Jonathon, CJ Brewer, Daniel Joseph

The DLine has always been a rotational position for the Bills since McDermott has taken over the reins. But he has never had a guy like Von Miller. Miller is clearly safe. Rousseau is the other punch to the 1-2 I think they are hoping for this year and something I expect. I can see Miller around 70-80% and Rousseau 65-70% of snaps which is way higher than past years. That leaves the guys behind those 2. Basham, Epenesa, Lawson and Love are the options on the end. Boogie is a safe one for me. Came on stronger as the year has gone on and I’ve heard nothing but good things about him this offseason. I have Epenesa marked as safe but this is a make it or break it year for him. 3rd season for the former 2nd round pick and he has not lived up to those expectations. That leaves 2 more guys. Because of the unproven nature of the last 2, I think they keep a 5th DE here. Lawson for me is the guy. He’s not a guy that will provide a ton in the box score but he sets the edge great and I think that’s something the team values. Now as we look more inside. The turnover here is massive. Oliver has his best season yet and I see that continuing with a guy like Miller beside him. Settle and Jones are on the team. 2 year deals and the cap penalties to release them would not make sense for the team. Phillips is on a 1 year deal but like the last 2, his contract isn’t structured to be cut. Plus, he has his best year with this team couple years back. Now this is where it’s tricky. Do they keep a 10th DL or use that spot elsewhere? Just under 20% of the roster dedicated to the line is a lot but with how often in the past they rotate to keep guys fresh I see them keeping an extra guy here. Ankou is the guy for me. I thought he had a great end of the year when he was asked to step into playing time. I see him has one of the healthy scratches most weeks.

The Linebacker Room (5)

Keep - Tremaine Edmunds, Matt Milano, Terrel Bernard, Tyrell Dodson, Tyler Matakevich

Cut - Baylon Spector, Marquel Lee, Joe Giles- Harris

Suspended - Andre Smith

The top 4 are set. Edmunds, Milano, Bernard and Dodson are on the team as your starting guys and backups. Smith is suspended so won’t have to worry about that spot for a bit. That 5th spot is the tough one. Matakevich has been a special teams start for years but he is on his final year making $3.5 million with only a .75 dead cap hit. The big question is can either Bernard or Spector play well enough in that ST role to unseat him and free up $2.75 million or will Matakevich hold them off. For now, I lean the vet with Smith already gone with the suspension but that’s a spot I’ll be watching through August.

The Cornerback Room (6)

Keep - Tre'Davious White, Kaiir Elam, Taron Johnson, Dane Jackson, Siran Neal, Cam Lewis

Cut - Christian Benford, Nick McCloud, Olaijah Griffen, Tim Harris, Travon Fuller, Ja'Marcus Ingram

The whole DB room collectively was very easy for me. The top 6 is locked in and ready to role. There are just 2 questions for me. First and most importantly, will Tre be ready for week 1? Even if he is, will he be 100%? The second question is can a guy like Benford or McCloud show enough on special teams to unseat a vet like Taiwan Jones or Jake Kumerow? The only way I see either of those 2 players making this 53 man team is if White starts the season on the PUP list.

The Safety Room (4)

Keep - Micah Hyde, Jordan Poyer, Demar Hamlin, Jaquan Johnson

Cut - Josh Thomas

Like I said, this room was easy. It’s the same 4 as last year. I am a big Thomas fan. I had him pegged as my 4th safety last year beating out Johnson. The team also clearly likes him as he was on the practice squad all last year and the team brought him back this year. If you see another strong camp out of Thomas I will be leading the charge for him to be on this team. But because I am trying to predict their decisions, I have to go Johnson for now.

The Special Teams Room (3)

Keep - Tyler Bass, Reid Ferguson, Matt Araiza

Cut - Matt Haack

Bass is as much of a lock as a guy like Allen or a guy like Diggs. The longest tenured Buffalo Bill is also a lock with Ferguson returning to snap once again this year. The punting position is the battle we will be watching this camp. In my heart of hearts I don’t think it has anything to do with the actual punting aspect. It’s the holder. Araiza never had to hold in college. Haack held for Bass last year and he was incredible. If Araiza can prove he can be reliable there, Haack is out the door.

The Practice Squad (16)

I’ll speak to it right now before I release the names. I am not going to go over every single player here. With 16 players, this will change a few times during the season. Not just call ups to the 53 but drops and new names added to the squad. I can even see a few names snatched off this list like what happened last year. But here are my 16 players I have selected for now. I also put the actual cuts I don’t see back. Always find having that info in one spot is fun as well.

Keep – Matt Barkley(QB), Raheem Blackshear(RB), Marquez Stevenson(WR), Isaiah Hodgins(WR), Jalen Wydermyer(TE), Luke Teunta(OL), Alec Anderson(OL), Brandin Bryant(DL), Prince Emili(DL), Kingsley Jonathon(DL), Baylon Spector(LB), Joe Giles- Harris(LB), Christian Benford(CB), Josh Thomas(S), Nick McCloud(CB), Olaijah Griffen(CB),

Cut - Duke Johnson(RB), Tanner Gentry(WR), Neil Pau'u(WR), Tavon Austin(WR), Tommy Sweeny(TE), Bobby Hart(OL), Cody Ford(OL), Jacob Capra(OL), Tanner Owen(OL), Derek Kerstetter(OL), Mike Love (DL), CJ Brewer(DL), Daniel Joseph(DL), Marquel Lee(LB), Tim Harris(CB), Travon Fuller(CB), Ja'Marcus Ingram(CB), Matt Haack(P)