Top 5 Position Battles Ahead of 2024 Buffalo Bills Training Camp

The Buffalo Bills’ depth chart will look a little different in 2024. Despite household names like Josh Allen, Dion Dawkins, Ed Oliver and Matt Milano continuing to lead the way on their respective sides of the ball, there will be plenty of roster spots up for grabs on the team.

Players like Stefon Diggs, Mitch Morse, Jordan Poyer and Micah Hyde need to be replaced in the starting lineup, and several other key roles will be open to competition during the team’s training camp and preseason. Here are the five most important position battles we should keep an eye on over the next two months…

Wide Receiver 1 (and 2, and 3…)

When was the last time the Bills entered a season without a clear No. 1 receiver at the top of the team’s hierarchy? Certainly not in the last four years with Diggs on the team. Even before that, John Brown and Kelvin Benjamin (despite his mediocre production) were firmly established in that role.

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Looking ahead to the 2024 season, we can make a judgment on the top three receivers on the roster. Khalil Shakir has developed great chemistry with Josh Allen and appears to be the top candidate for the job, while Keon Coleman was drafted early last April and will serve as the “X” with plenty of opportunities to become “the guy” of the group. Additionally, Curtis Samuel comes to Buffalo after playing well as a WR2 in his last two NFL stops, now joining the offensive coordinator who has gotten the most out of him in the past and playing with a true franchise quarterback for the first time.

Regardless of who wins the job, all three should be able to get their fair share of targets and receptions. However, with the depth of this group and the battle for the other remaining roles, the “loser” here can’t take anything for granted. That would open the door for players like Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Mack Hollins, or Chase Claypool to move ahead of him on the depth chart. The entire group makes for great competition to watch during training camp and the preseason.

Defensive End 2 (and reference passer)

In a recent interview, head coach Sean McDermott mentioned Greg Rousseau and AJ Epenesa as the team’s starters at defensive end. While Rousseau is clearly the DE1 on the depth chart thanks to his elite run-stopping abilities and untapped potential as a pass rusher, I don’t think Epenesa has shown enough to warrant the head coach’s vote of confidence.

Don’t get me wrong, Epenesa is a nice addition, and after years of working on his body, he finally seemed to play with more confidence last season. He’s a dangerous pass rusher, but I don’t like him putting the edge against the run — a skill that’s really important for a starting edge rusher. Add in Von Miller feeling more like his old self and wanting to prove people wrong about his return, and I think we’re in for a great battle for that DE2 spot.

More important than being the starter opposite Rousseau is having a player the Bills can trust to get after the opposing quarterback. We know McDermott likes to rotate his defensive ends, but when the game is on the line, the unit needs to have its best pass rushers on the field. Can Miller still be that guy, or will Rousseau and/or Epenesa have to take his place? Time will tell.

Running back 2

James Cook is a rising NFL star who may be just a few adjustments away from becoming a potential NFL All-Pro. Cook is Buffalo’s unquestioned RB1, capable of both running and receiving. That said, the Bills would likely prefer to keep him fresh and healthy throughout the season, having another reliable rusher sharing the load in the backfield. That creates an interesting competition for the RB2 role to complement Cook’s presence.

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Ray Davis was selected in the fourth round of the 2024 NFL Draft and has a very productive college career to look back on. The fact that he had three seasons of 900+ rushing yards in his freshman campaign with each of three different teams in college bodes very well for his prospects of arriving in Buffalo without missing a beat. Davis has the skills to stay on the field in everything from goal-line runs to third-and-long situations, which also helps his candidacy for the job.

However, Davis is a rookie and that could hurt his battle with Ty Johnson, a player who has earned every opportunity he’s had with the team and who the coaching staff trusts to protect the ball and gain tough yards when the challenge presents itself. Never underestimate experience, because NFL coaching staffs certainly don’t.

The backup running back position should be another fun battle to watch, especially if Davis can show early on that he’s worthy of his coaches’ trust.

Start-up safety features

A shoulder injury has slowed one of the main contenders in this battle: Mike Edwards hasn’t done much during OTAs and mandatory minicamp. That’s opened the door for veteran Taylor Rapp and rookie Cole Bishop.

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Rapp has made the most of the situation and has earned praise from his head coach so far. Being around the team last season and watching veterans Micah Hyde and Jordan Poyer work has certainly helped him feel more in control so far. Will all of this help Rapp establish himself as one of the new leaders of the Bills defense?

Bishop, on the other hand, has impressed with his size and athleticism, but there haven’t been many reports on his actions during team workouts. He’s a rookie with a lot to learn, so it’s fair to lower expectations for Bishop a bit.

Edwards is a talented veteran who has already won two Super Bowls, so he can’t be ruled out and I’m pretty sure he’ll make the competition a tough one for both of his contenders despite his current injury. The fit between the two players who will start at strong safety and free safety also plays a huge role in this competition, making it one of the most important battles for 2024.

Interior Offensive Line

For all the excitement about Sedrick Van Pran-Granger’s potential and the fact that La’el Collins may be feeling healthier than he has in recent years, I firmly believe the Bills’ offensive line is pretty much ready to go into the regular season. Those starters are, from left to right: Dion Dawkins, David Edwards, Connor McGovern, O’Cyrus Torrence and Spencer Brown.

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That said, I understand there are doubts about McGovern being able to play center after so many years at guard, David Edwards’ limitations and ability to stay healthy in a full-time role for the entire season, and even Spencer Brown’s progression. If Van Pran-Granger or Collins are able to really impress during training camp and one of the aforementioned starters struggles for whatever reason, there could be an opportunity for some movement along Buffalo’s interior offensive line.

The good news about this contest is that in a league that clearly has offensive line issues, the Bills Mafia should be happy with the depth of their group. Having Aaron Kromer to man that unit certainly helps matters as well.

Final Thoughts

There are, of course, other important battles to be settled. Some may be as important as the ones mentioned above – outside of CB3, backup linebackers, kick and punt returners, and punters come to mind. The placement of players in the defensive line rotation, backup positions on the offensive line, and key special teams players will also be decided in the coming months.

Overall, the coaching staff has a lot of work to do to determine the best 53-man roster to start the 2024 NFL season. The Bills will have several different faces playing important roles for them in September, making the battles for positions in training camp and the preseason very interesting to watch. May the best win!

Be sure to vote in the poll below, letting us know which of the position battles outlined above is the most important to resolve during training camp.

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