Bills post-draft depth chart: Movement at defensive end, different possibilities at cornerback

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The 2025 NFL Draft is done, and the Buffalo Bills head into spring workouts with most of their depth chart filled in. There will be some additions over the next few months, but the team they have now is essentially the one they’ll have this season.

Here is how the team looks heading into offseason workouts in May.

*Denotes an undrafted free agent who agreed to terms to join the 90-man roster, according to a league source.

Quarterback (4)

1. Josh Allen 2. Mitchell Trubisky 3. Mike White 4. Shane Buechele

Allen, the NFL’s most valuable player, leads a quarterback group with a pair of veteran backup options in Trubisky and White, who will likely compete this summer to make the team. Both Trubisky and White are free agents following the 2025 season, so it may just be a straight-up competition. As expected, the Bills declined to add any other quarterbacks to their roster through the draft. They would have had a difficult time finding a roster spot for a first-year player, given that they are likely allotting only two spots on the 53-man roster for quarterbacks.

Running back (5)

1. James Cook 2a. Ty Johnson 2b. Ray Davis 4. Frank Gore Jr. 5. Darrynton Evans

The Bills return the same trio of top running backs as they had in 2024, though there are far more questions about what this position will look like in 2026 when Cook is scheduled to hit free agency. Cook did not show up for voluntary workouts, and it remains to be seen if he’ll show up for the voluntary OTA sessions ahead of the team’s mandatory minicamp in June. Regardless, Cook, Johnson and Davis are all likely to maintain similar roles and workloads to last season, perhaps with a slight uptick in the usage of Cook or Davis.

Fullback (1)

1. Reggie Gilliam

Gilliam returned to the Bills on a one-year deal to resume his role as their top fullback and one of their key core-four special teams players.

Wide receiver (13)

X1. Keon Coleman Z1. Joshua Palmer Slot1. Khalil Shakir 4. Curtis Samuel (Z, Slot) 5. Elijah Moore (Slot, Z) 6. Laviska Shenault (X,Z, Slot)  7. Jalen Virgil (Z, Slot) 8. Tyrell Shavers (X, Z) 9. KJ Hamler (Z, Slot) 10. Kaden Prather (X) 11. Kelly Akharaiyi* 12. Stephen Gosnell* 13. Hal Presley*

The Bills feel very comfortable with their top four, have said as much publicly, and acted that way by not selecting a wide receiver until the seventh round. There will likely be a battle for the fifth receiver spot, but with the Moore signing after the draft, he should be considered to have the inside track to the 53-man roster. However, Shenault can’t be counted out, considering the Bills liked him during his draft year and view him as a potential answer to their kick return questions. Shenault could even push to be kept as a sixth receiver if the special teams ability warrants it. Virgil and Shavers also have noted special teams abilities that could push them into some consideration, though a practice squad spot is more likely. Prather could show well on special teams as a big, fast straight-line receiver, and that will certainly help his case to stick, but it will be difficult.

Tight end (5)

1. Dalton Kincaid 2. Dawson Knox 3. Jackson Hawes 4. Zach Davidson 5. Kaleki Latu*

The Bills return the top two of Kincaid and Knox, likely upholding the roles they had in 2024. There is likely room for Kincaid’s game and role to grow, given the investment they made in him and that injuries impacted a good portion of his 2024 season. When the Bills declined to bring back free agent Quintin Morris, they had a clear opening on the 53-man roster for a developmental tight end and filled that with Hawes, their 2025 fifth-round pick, who is a noted in-line blocker.

Offensive line (16)

LT Dion Dawkins LG David Edwards C Connor McGovern RG O’Cyrus Torrence RT Spencer Brown 6. Alec Anderson (G, C) 7. Tylan Grable (LT, RT, G) 8. Sedrick Van Pran-Granger (C), 9. Chase Lundt (RT, LT) 10. Ryan Van Demark (LT, RT) 11. Kendrick Green (G, C) 12. Richard Gouraige (T, G) 13. Mike Edwards (G), 14. Travis Clayton (T) 15. Jacob Bayer* (C) 16. Rush Reimer* (G)

The Bills had one of the best offensive lines in the NFL last year and return the same starting five, and overall top-eight from the 2024 roster. The Bills usually keep nine players on the active roster, which sets up for a potential camp battle between Van Demark, who made the Bills roster the last two years and Lundt, who the team drafted in the sixth round.

Defensive end (8)

1. Greg Rousseau 2. Joey Bosa 3. A.J. Epenesa 4. Michael Hoecht 5. Landon Jackson 6. Javon Solomon 7. Hayden Harris* 8. Paris Shand*

Rousseau returns as their unquestioned top defensive end and will likely lead the group in snaps once again as they hope he can break out for a career year in his fifth season. The team made Bosa their marquee signing, and after several injuries over the years, the key will be keeping him fresh enough when they need him the most late in the year and in the playoffs, should they get there. Epenesa now moves to more of a rotational role after being the starter last year, which is the better role for him at this stage. Hoecht’s role as a versatile chess piece will be very interesting to track when he returns from his six-game suspension. Jackson could be the starter in 2026, but his 2025 season will likely consist mostly of special teams and a handful of weekly defensive snaps unless there’s an injury. Solomon, should he make the roster, will be a core-four special teams asset.

Defensive tackle (8)

3T. Ed Oliver 1T. DaQuan Jones 3. T.J. Sanders (3T, 1T) 4. Larry Ogunjobi (3T, 1T) 5. DeWayne Carter (1T, 3T) 6. Deone Walker (1T, 3T) 7. Zion Logue (1T) 8. Devin Brandt-Epps*

The Bills have the same starters in Oliver and Jones, but that’s close to the only thing that’s the same from 2024. Sanders, their 2025 second-round pick, will immediately factor into their rotation as a versatile piece. After Ogunjobi’s six-game suspension is over, he’s someone who could also play both positions. Carter, a 2024 third-round pick, is likely to return to a different role in 2025. Last year he was based as a three-technique, and this year, his home could be at one-technique. The Bills double-dipped at defensive tackle to select Walker, hoping his high-ceiling potential could translate into their long-term starter at one-technique. Keeping six defensive tackles on the 53-man roster means they’re going to have to take a spot from another position.

Linebacker (7)

MLB1. Terrel Bernard OLB1. Matt Milano 3. Dorian Williams (OLB) 4. Baylon Spector (MLB) 5. Joe Andreessen (MLB) 6. Edefuan Ulofoshio (OLB) 7. Keonta Jenkins*

Bernard and Milano will be the starting duo once again, but it remains to be seen if Milano will play on third downs this year. He did not upon his return from a long-term injury in 2024. Williams will resume his role as Milano’s primary backup. There was potential for the Bills to select a middle linebacker who could push Spector for the backup job behind Bernard, though the right value never came along during their nine selections. Spector could be susceptible to an undrafted rookie stealing his spot. Andreessen will remain a key to their special teams units.

Nickel (3)

1. Taron Johnson 2. Cam Lewis 3. Te’Cory Couch

Another year, another Bills roster that will feature Johnson as their top nickel and one of their most important defenders. Lewis is Johnson’s primary backup and is a critical component of all their special teams units, making his 53-man roster inclusion quite likely.

Cornerback (9)

1. Christian Benford 2. Maxwell Hairston 3. Tre’Davious White 4. Dane Jackson 5. Dorian Strong 6. Ja’Marcus Ingram 7. Brandon Codrington 8. Daequan Hardy 9. Daryl Porter*

Benford is the locked-in top cornerback for years to come, and the Bills are hoping their first-round pick, Hairston, can be his starting partner as early as this season. In case Hairston needs some time, the team signed two potential starting veteran options who know the scheme in White and Jackson, with White being the likelier to start if Hairston doesn’t win the job. The Bills double-dipped at cornerback when they saw a falling value in Strong at the top of the sixth round. He easily could have been selected in the fourth or fifth round and is a perfect fit for their zone scheme while providing special teams abilities. Strong’s selection could be bad news for one of Jackson or Ingram for the 53-man roster.

Safety (6)

1. Taylor Rapp 2. Cole Bishop 3. Damar Hamlin 4. Jordan Hancock 5. Darrick Forrest 6. Wande Owens*

Rapp is the unquestioned starter heading into the spring workouts, with the Bills likely holding a competition between Bishop, their 2024 second-round pick, and Hamlin, their 2024 starter who they brought back on a one-year prove-it deal. Bishop has the inside track on the starting job. The team selected Hancock in the fifth round. He has experience at both nickel and safety, but given his size and instincts, his NFL home might be at safety. Either way, he has a good chance to unseat the free agent signing Forrest for a 53-man roster spot.

Specialists (4)

LS Reid Ferguson K Tyler Bass P1. Jake Camarda P2. Brad Robbins

Welcome to the 2025 #Puntapalooza, friends. With their final selection in the 2025 NFL Draft, the Bills declined to bring in a punter for the competition, which could pave the way for them to sign one in the undrafted free agent market. If they do, it wouldn’t be a surprise if the Bills released Robbins ahead of training camp to reduce the competition down to two, as they’ve had Camarda on a reserve/futures deal since the playoffs. But if they don’t add one, the #Puntapalooza will be Camarda against Robbins, with Camarda being the likeliest to take the job.

This news was originally published on this post .

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