The wait is over (and boy did it drag onnnnnn).
The Bills initial 53-man roster is out.
I use the phrase "initial" because there are some gymnastics Brandon Beane will do over the next 24 hours that will have things look different.
Here are my thoughts on how things stand now, with some explanation of what likely is coming down the road.
QUARTERBACK (2)
Josh Allen
Mitchell Trubisky
CUT: Jake Fromm, Davis Webb
This is how I always thought it would go. Neither Fromm nor Webb did anything during the preseason that would push them onto a very tight roster. The interesting part comes now and who the Bills choose to bring back onto the practice squad. I'm in favor of both. That would allow Fromm a proper year of development that was deprived of him as a rookie due to being the emergency COVID QB. With Trubisky expected to depart after this season, Fromm could improve and slide into the back-up role, homegrown. We all know about the praise Webb has earned as a teammate and "player-coach." Unless he can find an opportunity to actually see the field elsewhere, there's room on a 16-man PS to carry 2 QBs.
RUNNING BACK (5)
Devin Singletary
Zack Moss
Matt Breida
Taiwan Jones
Reggie Gilliam (FB)
CUT: Antonio Williams
IR: Christian Wade
First some house-keeping. Our buddy Sal Capaccio of WGR 550 is reporting Wade will have season-ending shoulder surgery and be placed on IR. That is why his name did not come up on the Bills cut list.
I know Williams is a fan-favorite, but the deck was always stacked against him. While a nice back, he doesn't provide a skillset that differs much from Singletary or Moss. Williams would have needed to be absolutely lights out throughout training camp and the preseason AND have one of those two really falter or get hurt in order to make the team. I would have to believe the Bills will try and get him back on the PS again.
WIDE RECEIVER (7)
Stefon Diggs
Cole Beasley
Emmanuel Sanders
Gabriel Davis
Isaiah McKenzie
Jake Kumerow
Marquez Stevenson
CUT: Steven Simms, Isaiah Hodgins, Tanner Gentry
Stevenson earned this spot by elevating his play in each of the preseason games. The speed that made him stand out from the rest of the WR group was on display on that critical deep ball that set up the game-winning field goal in Detroit. It was on display during that punt return in Chicago. It was on display even in some short order during the Green Bay finale. It was more a matter of the numbers and whether or not the Bills would be comfortable keeping 7 WRs. With the amount of 3 and 4 WR sets they use nowadays, it makes sense to go bigger at this position. This also provides the Bills with another return man in case McKenzie is injured (currently dealing with shoulder injury) or the coaching staff is looking for a change.
Hodgins is the notable cut, but not a surprising one. Health continues to be his biggest issue. I see no reason he can't make it onto the PS. There Hodgins can get healthy and develop, after missing his entire rookie year with a shoulder injury.
TIGHT END (2)
Dawson Knox
Tommy Sweeney
CUT: Jacob Hollister, Nate Becker, Quintin Morris
Here is where some of those roster gymnastics likely come into play. Hollister is obviously a surprising cut, but as a vested-veteran with at least four years experience, he does not have to go on waivers. I would assume the Bills plan on bringing Hollister back immediately after they move an injured player currently on the 53 over to IR. It is a loophole of sorts that Beane has utilized in the past.
That player moving to IR just might be Sweeney, who has been out with a foot injury since the Lions preseason game.
With 7 WRs, only keeping 2 on the active roster makes sense, especially with Gilliam's experience at the position as well.
OFFENSIVE LINE (9)
Dion Dawkins
Jon Feliciano
Mitch Morse
Cody Ford
Daryl Williams
Ike Boettger
Ryan Bates
Spencer Brown
Tommy Doyle
CUT: Jordan Devey, Jack Anderson, Bobby Hart, Jamil Douglas
No surprises here.
Anderson is a prime PS candidate where he can develop for a year.
Now we shift our attention to who is the odd man out to start at the guard spots between Feliciano, Ford, and Boettger.
DEFENSIVE LINE (11)
Jerry Hughes
Mario Addison
Greg Rousseau
Boogie Basham
A.J. Epenesa
Efe Obada
Star Lotulelei
Ed Oliver
Harrison Phillips
Vernon Butler
Justin Zimmer
CUT: Brandin Bryant, Mike Love
The Bills go big at the other big position of camp, keeping 11 DL. The trade of Darryl Johnson paved the way, with the numbers shaking out 6 DE and 5 DT.
I know some wondered about Addison's standing, but everything we've heard from Beane since the draft has indicated he felt a reduced role for the veteran would improve his performance. This is something Addison himself mentioned during camp.
I think DT is a temporary group right now, with Phillips knee injury potentially pushing him to IR. That makes for a more manageable four DTs to go along with the DEs that can kick inside like Basham, Obada, and even Rousseau and Epenesa.
Zimmer earned his spot by carrying over great flash points last season with a very solid camp and preseason.
While the same can't be said for Butler, his price tag is too high to just cut bait, with Spotrac saying it's a $6.6 million dead cap hit if released. If he can show something early, good. If not, the Bills have shown they aren't afraid to move on from a high-priced player (Quinton Spain).
LINEBACKER (6)
Tremaine Edmunds
Matt Milano
A.J. Klein
Tyler Matakevich
Andre Smith
Tyrel Dodson
CUT: Joe Giles-Harris, Marquel Lee
I thought Dodson might be a numbers casualty, especially with the Bills base defense really nickel these days. However, they stick with their normal six LBs, with all three back-ups big special teams contributors.
Giles-Harris had a nice camp and I would expect to see him on the PS.
CORNERBACK (5)
Tre'Davious White
Levi Wallace
Dane Jackson
Taron Johnson
Siran Neal
CUT: Cam Lewis, Rachad Wildgoose, Nick McCloud, Olaijah Griffin
Rolling with five corners tells me that the Bills believe Wallace, Jackson, and Johnson will be ready to roll for the opener despite currently nursing injuries.
Lewis saw the start opposite White in the preseason finale, but didn't really seize the moment. His biggest strength is the flexibility to play outside as well as in, where he actually took the starting nickel job from Johnson briefly last season before getting hurt. They must feel Neal can be that guy just fine. Wildgoose had moments, but not enough to break into the group. He, and even Lewis, are PS hopefuls.
SAFETY (4)
Micah Hyde
Jordan Poyer
Jaquan Johnson
Damar Hamlin
CUT: Josh Thomas
Numbers game for Thomas, who I thought played well over the past month. Draft picks always hold higher value come cut day and Hamlin did enough to warrant sticking around. Johnson's injury is one to note. If he is out longer-term, Thomas could find his way back.
SPECIALISTS (2)
K - Tyler Bass
P - Matt Haack
CUT: Reid Ferguson (LS)
Another cut that shouldn't be viewed as a cut. Ferguson falls into same category as Hollister, a vested-vet, and his departure is all but certainly brief and more procedural. While Epenesa did a serviceable job filling in for Ferguson Saturday afternoon, it also was a clear indication of the luxury the Bills have at long-snapper. The captain will be back, fast.