Forget what you thought about the Bills’ backup quarterback spot, because Shane Buechele just flipped the script on Kyle Allen after camp wrapped up in Rochester, making that QB2 battle a serious one heading into the early season. Kyle Allen completely underwhelmed at training camp almost every single day, while Buechele came on strong late and showed everyone he’s ready to compete.
Brady’s Air Raid and Camp Standouts
It’s clear this is Joe Brady’s team now, and the roster projection reflects a serious commitment to passing the ball often. That’s why we’re seeing seven wide receivers on the projected 53-man roster, a bump from the traditional six. Guys like Mecole Hardman really turned heads at camp, looking as spry as ever, making plays down the field, and absolutely locking down the primary returner spot. Trent Sherfield makes the cut too, purely for his special teams availability, which tells you how much that matters. On the tight end front, Jackson Hawes is the name to remember. He balled out in his first season as a rookie, playing 43% of the offensive snaps and proving to be a damn good fifth-round pick. There’s serious untapped receiving potential there, and he’s got the game to step in as a lead-blocking fullback if needed, covering for the departed Reggie Gilliam.
Unsung Efforts and Early Season Surprises
The defensive line looks pretty cut and dry, but DeWayne Carter showed a real glimmer of promise during training camp, even with his beefed-up size. Some tough cuts went down on the offensive line, with Lloyd Cushenberry and 2025 seventh-round pick Chase Lundt getting left off; nobody really noted any positives from either of those two at camp. Instead, Austin Corbett and Sedrick Van Pran-Granger are set to be the swing interior blockers, while Tylan Grable steps into that swing tackle role formerly held by Alec Anderson and David Edwards. At inside linebacker, Kaleb Elarms-Orr definitely did enough at camp to earn a Week 1 starting role. His run defense, screen IDing, and downfield coverage were all on point. While Sean McDermott might not have been a big Dorian Williams guy, we’ll see how Jim Leonard views his fiery style on the field moving forward.
The Bills are heading into Week 1 with some real clarity on who’s making the cut, but also with some spicy battles still brewing. How this new-look depth chart shakes out on the field, especially with Brady ready to air it out, is gonna be wild to watch.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Buffalo Rumblings.
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