Roster cuts are coming. With only one preseason game remaining and less than a week until the 53-man roster deadline, it's crunch time for players and front offices alike.
For the Buffalo Bills, there are roster decisions all over the place, on both sides of the ball, with plenty of position groups that still feel like they have a ton of questions. Here are three players that could be surprise cut candidates for Buffalo.
K.J. Hamler, wide receiver
K.J. Hamler was brought in as a name that might fill out the Bills wide receiver room , but most notably as someone that was going to compete for primary return responsibilities. When he muffed a punt return attempt in the first preseason game, it was a bad omen for the oft-injured veteran's chances of making this roster.
I've been a fan of Hamler's since his PSU days. He's a crisp route runner with explosive speed. When Buffalo brought him in, I thought he had a chance to make a difference for this roster, but if the Bills want to go the direction of rostering more size/outside wide receiver types while getting their return production out of players on the defensive side of the depth chart, Hamler could be a name that doesn't make the cut.
Deion Jones, linebacker
The linebacker position is one that has been decimated by injuries, most notably in the form of Matt Milano , who will be out for several months with a torn biceps. Despite Milano going down, Baylon Spector continuing to deal with nagging injuries, Nicholas Morrow dealing with his third groin injury in less than a year, and Edefuan Ulofoshio fighting a rib injury, former Pro Bowl linebacker Deion Jones has still been unable to stand out.
He's had every opportunity in the world to make a name for himself heading towards the regular season, but he was left out there in the second half of the second preseason game – not a good sign for someone looking to make the cut. The veteran is, shockingly, battling with several linebackers, including undrafted free agent and local hero Joe Andreessen . The playing time split in the third and final preseason game will go a long way in telling us their plans at the linebacker position.
La'el Collins, offensive lineman
When the Bills signed veteran offensive lineman La'el Collins this offseason, he seemed to have a strong chance at making the roster as a backup that could fill in at tackle or guard, based on his experience. However, in the reps he has put on tape this preseason, his mobility seems to be lacking for the tackle position.
Without the flexibility of filling in at multiple positions, making the roster simply as a backup guard might be a tall order for Collins. It'll come down to what the team values – experience and veteran leadership, or youth, athleticism, and positional flexibility. Collins very well could find himself on the outside looking in, despite the guaranteed money in his contract.
Related: ESPN analyst's early 2025 NFL Mock Draft has Buffalo Bills selecting Ohio State talent at position of need
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