Surprise cut candidates for the Bills final roster

As every team goes through minicamp and training camp, roster battles become more and more intense. The same goes with the Bills. There are only 53 spots on the active roster, and every year there are always a couple of surprise cuts due to financial restraints or lack of performance. Below, I have listed three players that I think have the potential to be cut by the Bills.

TE Tommy Sweeney

If you have read some of my previous articles and watched the “Buffalo Blitz,” you know I am not the biggest Tommy Sweeney fan in the world. Nothing against him, but since he has been in Buffalo, he hasn’t shown us enough to warrant a guaranteed roster spot.

Going into the offseason, Sweeney’s spot on the roster seemed safe as the TE2 behind Dawson Knox. But, the Bills decided to upgrade that position with the addition of O.J. Howard. With that in mind, Sweeney fell immediately to the third tight end on the roster. As we look at the roster now, he is battling with Quinton Morris and Jalen Wydermyer for that third TE spot. He should have the upper hand in the battle because he has been with the Bills for a couple of seasons, unlike the other two, and did play some meaningful snaps last year.

Why do I think he can be cut? The main reason is that I believe we have seen the absolute peak from Sweeney. He is an average blocker and route runner with solid hands but also doesn’t possess much athleticism at the position. Why wouldn’t the Bills take a risk with Wydermyer, who has way more upside and potential and can eventually grow into the role. The Bills’ top two TEs are locked in and both very good, which gives them the ability to take a slight risk on an undrafted guy that should have been drafted. We have seen enough of Sweeney to know what he can and can’t do, so why not go with the guy with significantly more upside at a position where the team is already loaded at.

G Cody Ford

In the Brandon Beane and Sean McDermott era, the drafting and the development of Cody Ford might be the most polarizing thing they have done. We have seen the flashes of an actual second-round pick, but we have also seen the missed assignments, getting blown by, out of shape, and injuries that have him trending towards being a bust. This is a monster offseason for Ford as this is the final chance to make the roster and prove he belongs on the team.

I believe if he gets cut it will be a little bit of a shock, mainly because Ford was a second-round pick and depth at the guard position is very crucial for the Bills. But I see this as a likely possibility because of the current depth the bills have at the position. Right now, the two starting guards are Rodger Saffold and Ryan Bates. Other players that could have jumped him are David Quessenberry, who the Bills brought in from the Titans who could play both tackle and guard, Greg Mancz, Jacob Capra, Greg Van Roten, and Luke Tenuta. All of the guys mentioned were brought in to battle for specific depth roles.

Nobody was happier than I was when the Bills selected Cody Ford in 2019. I honestly believed that he was a first-round talent. But his play on the field and injuries have created a mess for him this offseason. Could the pressure and competition be good for him? Of course, but at this point, we have not seen enough of Cody Ford to guarantee him a roster spot.

DE Shaq Lawson

Shaq Lawson is the final player with an interesting path to the roster, which might shock some people. Of course, if Lawson did get cut, I would be as surprised as the next person, but his roster spot isn’t nearly as locked in as most people think it is.

At this point on the depth chart, I believe Lawson is the fifth edge rusher behind Miller, Rousseau, Basham, and Epenesa. That doesn’t mean the bills won’t take five edge rushers on the roster, but you also have to factor in the defensive tackle position. At this point, Oliver, Jones, Settle, and Phillips are all locks, leaving you with four at the position. Would the Bills want to carry an extra couple on the interior instead of edge rushers? The answer for me is probably no, but if the Bills do decide to go a different route than usual, Lawson could be in a little bit of trouble.

I do think Lawson makes this roster because the Bills will carry at least five defensive ends, but everyone should be keeping an eye on Lawson this summer. His lack of actual production the last two years on a short-term contract could make him very expendable if the Bills decided to shake up the roster a little.