Joe Andreessen

"The Buffalo Bills will have to make roster cutdown decisions after their third preseason game against the Pittsburgh Steelers inside the new Highmark Stadium on Thursday night.Fortunately for the Bills, they’ll technically have plenty of time to mull over those decisions, as this year’s roster cutdown deadline isn’t until Sunday, August 30 at 6:00pm EST.Before the Bills final preseason game of 2026 takes place, let’s attempt to project the club’s practice squad for this season. Practice squads have been low-key important elements to a team’s roster throughout every season. I’ll update my projection — if applicable — after the exhibition outing against the Steelers.But first, some practice squad rules:After COVID, NFL practice squads were cemented at 16 players.Up to six veterans are allowed. They can have an unlimited number of accrued seasons in the NFL. The remaining 10 spots must be reserved for players with two or fewer accrued professional seasons. One extra spot is available — to make a club’s practice squad 17 players — for the International Pathway Program.*A player needs to be on the 53-man roster for a total of six or more regular season games to earn an accrued season.For reference, at the outset of the 2025 regular season, this is what the Bills practice squad looked like:WR: Kristian Wilkerson, Stephen GosnellOT: Travis Clayton (IPP)OG: Kendrick GreenOC: Dan FeeneyTE: Keleki LatuQB: Shane BuecheleRB: Frank Gore Jr.EDGE: Andre Jones Jr.DL: Jordan Phillips, Zion LogueLB: Keonta Jenkins, Jimmy CiarloCB: Dane Jackson, Jalen KimberS: Jordan Poyer, Sam FranklinNow onto 2026 — who currently on Bills roster would qualify for the 10-spot young-player stipulation in the NFL’s practice squad rules, you ask? They’re listed below:(I’ve purposely left off those youngsters who aren’t in real jeopardy of being cut and subject to practice-squad consideration)WR: Ja’Mori Maclin, Max Tomczak, Mac Dalena, Stephen Gosnell, Quentin SkinnerOL: Chase Lundt, Da’Metrius Weatherspoon, Ar’maj Reed-Adams, Bruno FinaTE: Keleki LatuRB: Ian Wheeler, Frank Gore Jr.QB: Shane BuecheleOLB: Cade Denhoff, Andre Jones Jr.DL: Zion Logue, Zane DurantLB: Keonta Jenkins, Theron Gaines, Jimmy CiarloCB: Kani Walker, Toriano Pride Jr., Jordan DunbarS: Te’Cory Couch, Wande OwensAnd now here’s my practice squad projection ahead of Buffalo’s final 2026 preseason game against the Pittsburgh Steelers. I have bolded names of the veteran members. My Buffalo Bills 2026 practice squad projectionWR: Ja’Mori Maclin, Stephen GosnellOL: Chase Lundt, Ar’maj Reed-AdamsTE: Keleki Latu, Shane ZylstraRB: Frank Gore Jr.QB: Shane BuecheleDL: Zion Logue, Zane DurantLB: Joe Andreessen, Jimmy CiarloCB: Toriano Pride Jr., Jordan DunbarS: Te’Cory Couch, Wande OwensIPP: DT Travis ClaytonOnly going with three veterans gives the Bills plenty of space to add veterans later if need be.At receiver, Maclin’s spot on the practice squad feels distinctly secure right now, and I think the Bills like the developmental upside of Gosnell, who has three catches for 44 yards in two preseason games.Latu and Zylstra probably have the best chances to see the field during the regular season. In short, if the numbers game wasn’t a thing, I believe they’d both be on Buffalo’s roster. Gore Jr. and Ian Wheeler, the latter of whom I have on Buffalo’s 53-man roster in my latest projection, are interchangeable. I could see the Bills opting with either of them to start the regular season on the regular roster.Lundt is the long-term developmental offensive tackle. Reed-Adams is that player on the inside, and I like his potential more. Logue is a classic 4i/5tech project, and Durant is the long-term option to play 0T, 1T or even some 3T in time.Andreessen and Ciarlo have shown well enough this summer — particularly in the preseason — to be valuable practice squad members.The defensive backs — Pride Jr., Dunbar, Owens, and Couch — are kept on versatility alone. They can align anywhere due to their suddenness and experience wearing many hats.What do you think? Would you make any chances to this practice squad ahead of Buffalo’s last preseason game of the summer?"

"The Buffalo Bills and the Cleveland Browns faced off in Week Two of the 2026 NFL preseason, and after a lengthy lightning delay, the teams were able to complete a fairly competitive game. Buffalo’s first drive was put on hold after just 1:39 of game time thanks to strong storms that blew through the area, as the game began in heavy rains. After the delay, though, much better weather prevailed, and the teams were able to complete the exhibition.With both teams playing mostly backups, it was a good day to watch some depth pieces make their case for the 53-man roster. Buffalo’s depth showed out strongly, and they spearheaded the club to a blowout win. Here’s our stock report after the Bills’ second preseason game.Horns Up: Trent Sherfield Sr.With a battered receiving corps, the Bills needed players to eat snaps. These backup wideout had a chance to show their mettle, as well. Sherfield may not be a young pup, and he has plenty of NFL film to show what he is at this point in his career, but he showed himself to be a reliable target on Saturday. He was a frequent recipient of Kyle Allen passes in the first half, catching a few longer gains on the Bills’ rain-delayed opening drive, which ended with a touchdown. Sherfield also showed off as a gunner on special teams, combining with fellow reserve wideout Stephen Gosnell on a tackle after rookie punter Tommy Doman’s 50-yard punt on Buffalo’s second possession. I’ve long felt that Sherfield is the most likely WR6 in camp thanks to his ability on special teams, but he flashed some value on offense, as well. He helped his case for the 53-man roster today.Horns Up and Down: Mecole Hardman JrAs with Sherfield Sr., Hardman Jr. saw some extra reps on offense thanks to the injuries at receiver. Unlike Sherfield Sr., Hardman Jr. did not make the most of his opportunities. He dropped two passes, both of which came on third downs and would have given the Bills first-down yardage. Hardman Jr. did a nice job on a kickoff return after Cleveland scored a touchdown in the second quarter, gaining 30 yards to set the Bills up in solid field position. However, with running back Ray Davis as the reigning All-Pro kickoff returner while also looking to add the punt-return role to his resume, Hardman Jr. is going to need to be useful as a wideout in order to make the team. Hardman Jr. had a good two-minute drill at the end of the first half, making a first-down grab to start things off before capping the drive with a nine-yard catch and run on a wide receiver screen with just 15 seconds remaining in the first half. Hardman Jr. has the juice to help out in multiple roles, but he needs to show consistency in order to do so, something that has been hard for him throughout his career.Horns Up: Kyle AllenJosh Allen’s backup had himself another solid outing, looking, poised, decisive, and accurate in first-half action. Kyle Allen completed 10-of-12 passes for 128 yards and a touchdown. That included some long gainers to Sherfield Sr., as well as a big-time pass to Ja’Mori Maclin in the aforementioned two-minute drill, which set up Hardman Jr.‘s touchdown grab. Yes, it was only the preseason, and yes, it was against the Cleveland Browns’ backups. However, No. 11 did exactly what he was supposed to do given the scenario.Horns Down: Damar HamlinYes, he had an interception in the first half. That play was less a result of something Hamlin did than it was good fortune, as linebacker Joe Andreessen made the nice play to knock the ball into the air and Hamlin just happened to be in the right place at the right time. Otherwise, Hamlin was fooled multiple times by misdirection, and he allowed some big gains in coverage when he was just a step or two slow in trying to cover his assignment. The Bills are going to have some tough decisions to make in the defensive secondary, and while there is something to be said about keeping a heady veteran like Hamlin for depth, the Bills might be better off rolling the dice on the youth, athleticism, and versatility of players like Jordan Hancock and Jalon Kilgore.Horns Up: Footballers Who Use Their FeetTyler Bass drilled a 52-yard field goal in the second half; he also hit on two extra points in the first half and two more in the second half. Rookie Tommy Doman Jr. landed two punts inside the 20-yard line, including a 50-yard boot, while averaging 43 yards per punt. Mitch Wishnowsky hit an absolute missile on his first punt, drilling a 59-yard boot that was only returned for one yard. Overall, Buffalo’s special teams group looked solid. It was nice to see Bass hit from range, and while punting is never fun, it was good to see the rookie perform in his first real action.Horns Down: Shane BuecheleSure, he’s the third-string guy, but Buechele showed once again that he has neither the arm strength nor the consistent accuracy to be an NFL quarterback. Buffalo would be wise to look for a younger player to develop for their practice squad, someone who might have some long-term viability as an NFL passer, sooner rather than later. Buechele still might make the practice squad for this season, and as he showed on the touchdown pass he threw to Ja’Mori Maclin, he can sneak one in on shorter routes. He also has enough mobility to give other third-stringers problems. However, the Bills should be looking to replace him as soon as they feel comfortable doing so.Horns Up: Depth CornersLast week, it was Kani Walker making a fabulous play to intercept a Carolina Panthers pass. This week, it was Te’Cory Couch going up and catching a ball that Jordan Dunbar deflected to intercept Deshaun Watson. Dunbar and Walker made some nice plays in the run game, as well, as they showed zero fear in sticking their head in to deliver some punishment around the line of scrimmage. Davison Igbinosun looked good in that regard, as well, totaling four tackles and one tackle for loss in his limited action. The Bills might lack name recognition in the defensive secondary, but it seems as if they have a strong young core of defensive backs to choose from heading into the regular season.Horns Down: Maxwell HairstonMaybe this is unfair, as the second-year man has been nursing an injury for much of the summer and he has yet to play this preseason. However, Hairston was injured for much of last season, as well, and his continued inability to suit up is only giving other players a chance to show that they can do his job. Igbinosun, in particular, has garnered lots of buzz this summer, and while someone like Walker or Dunbar might not be considered true threats to Hairston’s role on the team, they have done a nice job with their opportunities. Hairston might not be on the roster bubble, but the CB2 job appears to be very much up for grabs.Horns Up: Ja’Mori MaclinThis guy can run a little bit! Maclin made two huge plays, catching a 71-yard touchdown pass in the second half where he took a simple shallow drag route and sprinted to paydirt. He also made a huge grab on Buffalo’s final scoring drive of the first half, hauling in a Kyle Allen lob for a 37-yard gain to put that scoring drive in business. Maclin played like a man who knew he had a big opportunity to prove himself, and while he might still fall short of the 53-man roster, he made the coaching staff’s job more difficult with his ability to find space and beat corners off the line.Horns Down: Frank Gore Jr.Gore Jr. fumbled on his lone kickoff return attempt, and while he recovered his own fumble, it’s still not a great look. He also dropped a pass on a screen attempt in the fourth quarter, as he looked to run before he secured the grab. Finally, he once again looked like the slower, less explosive option when compared to Ian Wheeler, who made players miss in the backfield and displayed good hands and burst. Wheeler just looks like the superior option overall, as he does everything Gore Jr. can do, but with much more burst and athleticism overall.Horns Up and Down: Your CallWho do you want to single out, friends? I’m especially interested to hear thoughts on the defensive line (My quick thoughts: run stuffing good, pass rushing not good), the offensive linemen (Bruno Fina at center? Jude Bowry still looking overmatched), and the linebackers (Buffalo Joe looking explosive, Keonta Jenkins seeing a ton of run, Jimmy Ciarlo with a big run stuff). Let us know in the comments below!See More: Buffalo Bills AnalysisBuffalo Bills Depth ChartBuffalo Bills DiscussionBuffalo Bills OpinionBuffalo Bills PreseasonBuffalo Bills RosterGeneral"

"Mike ClayAug 21, 2026, 06:15 AM ETCloseMike Clay is a senior writer for fantasy football and the NFL at ESPN. Mike is a member of the FSWA Hall of Fame. His projections power the ESPN Fantasy Football game, and he also appears on "Fantasy Football Now" and the Fantasy Focus Football podcast.Multiple AuthorsWhen analyzing NFL rosters, it's important to remember that it's all relative. It's easy to say a team is in "good shape" or "loaded" at a particular position, but each unit is only as good as it is relative to the league's 31 other teams.That might seem like common sense, but you would be surprised by what you can learn sitting down and objectively grading and/or ranking each positional unit of all 32 teams. This is a project I've done each offseason, which has led to many interesting revelations, including the likely breakouts of teams such as the 2020 Buccaneers, 2022 Eagles and 2023 Dolphins.Here are position-by-position unit rankings for all 32 teams this season covering the 10 key offensive and defensive groups. At the bottom, I've included an overall ranking weighted based on positional importance (for example, it's more crucial to be elite at quarterback than at running back). I also gave brief outlooks on the best and shakiest units at each position, as well as intriguing groups worth keeping an eye on. Note that these are 2026 rankings rather than long-term outlooks.Let's take a look, starting at quarterback.Jump to: QB | RB | WR | TE | OL DT | Edge | LB | CB | S Overall outlookQuarterbackBest: Buffalo BillsAfter having Baltimore's Lamar Jackson in this spot last year, I'm giving the edge to 2024 NFL MVP Josh Allen this time around. Allen has finished no lower than seventh in QBR in each of the past six seasons (third or better in four of them). He remains a major factor with his legs, leading all QBs in carries, rushing yards and rushing TDs last season. Incredibly, only running back Derrick Henry (44) has more rushing TDs than Allen (41) over the past three seasons.Shakiest: Arizona CardinalsKyler Murray is gone, leaving Jacoby Brissett as the probable Week 1 starter. Brissett racked up the counting stats in 12 starts last season (3,366 passing yards, 23 TDs), but Arizona throwing at a league-high rate (partially due to always being behind) was a primary factor. Brissett finished 24th among 28 qualified quarterbacks in QBR (41.2). Gardner Minshew II and third-round rookie Carson Beck could also get some run if Brissett struggles.Unit to watch: Atlanta FalconsOutside of Cleveland, the only QB battle around is between Michael Penix Jr. and Tua Tagovailoa. The No. 8 overall pick in 2024, Penix has yet to emerge as a capable starter. He has totaled 14 touchdown passes in 14 games, and he had a league-low 23.1% off-target rate before his ACL tear in Week 11 of last season. Meanwhile, Tagovailoa has flashed at times during his career, but Miami took on a record $99.2 million in dead money to move on from him after a disappointing 2025 season.Running backBest: Indianapolis ColtsClose one here, but Jonathan Taylor gets the nod. He's one of the league's best backs and handles a massive bulk of the team's touches. Taylor had a terrific 2025 campaign in which he led the NFL in carries (323) and touchdowns (18), while also finishing third in rushing yardage (1,585). Once a minimal part of the Colts' passing game, Taylor also ranked the top-10 among backs in routes, targets, catches and receiving yards, setting career highs in each. This all happened despite a big dip in production after quarterback Daniel Jones was injured in Week 14.Shakiest: Jacksonville JaguarsThere's upside here, but this group is unproven. With Travis Etienne Jr. gone, 2025 Day 2 picks Bhayshul Tuten and LeQuint Allen Jr. will team up with journeyman Chris Rodriguez Jr. to form a three-headed committee. Tuten made some highlight plays as a rookie, but he was limited to 83 carries and 14 targets. Rodriguez has been effective as a rusher (career 4.6 yards per carry), but the sample is small (198 carries) and he's not a receiving option (six career catches). Expect Allen (23 carries, 11 targets as a rookie) to see occasional work in passing situations.Unit to watch: Seattle SeahawksSuper Bowl MVP Kenneth Walker III signed with the Chiefs and Zach Charbonnet tore his ACL in January, leaving Seattle's backfield with a much different look in 2026. Rookie Jadarian Price -- the final pick of the first round -- could emerge as a breakout, but he's obviously an unknown and has minimal experience as a pass catcher. Holdover George Holani and journeyman Emanuel Wilson will battle for reps until Charbonnet makes his return.Wide receiverBest: Cincinnati BengalsThere were a few strong candidates here, but none can match Cincinnati's duo of Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins. In 2024, Chase became the first player in league history to reach 1,700 receiving yards and 17 TD catches in a single season. Last season, he became the third receiver to produce 120-plus catches and 1,400-plus yards in multiple campaigns. Higgins is arguably the league's best WR2, and he had the fourth-most TD catches in the league over the past two seasons (21). Andrei Iosivas is a capable No. 3 option; fourth-round rookie Colbie Young is already making a play for a Year 1 role.Shakiest: Miami DolphinsThe Tyreek Hill/Jaylen Waddle era is over in Miami, leaving the rebuilding Dolphins with a major short-term hole at the position. I say "short term" because they invested 2026 draft resources into the position: Chris Bell (Round 3), Caleb Douglas (Round 3) and Kevin Coleman Jr. (Round 5). But it's hard to project the Year 1 impact for these rookies, especially since Bell is returning from a torn ACL. The likes of Malik Washington and newcomers Tutu Atwell and Jalen Tolbert are best suited for situational/depth roles, but they could be the Dolphins' starting trio most of this season.Unit to watch: Tennessee TitansThe Titans invested heavily at the position during the offseason, signing Wan'Dale Robinson (one of four receivers with 90-plus catches each of the past two seasons) to a four-year, $70 million deal and selecting Carnell Tate with the No. 4 pick in April. That duo will team up with veteran Calvin Ridley in the starting lineup, second-year players Chimere Dike and Elic Ayomanor should add solid depth.Tight endBest: Las Vegas RaidersAn injury-riddled 2025 campaign is not enough for us to overlook superstar Brock Bowers. The 2024 first-round pick began his career with an elite statline of 112 receptions, 1,194 receiving yards and five touchdowns. He was just as dominant despite missing five games in 2025, posting 64 receptions, 680 receiving yards and seven touchdowns -- all three of which ranked top 10 at the position. The 23-year-old is a strong bet for a big bounce-back with Kirk Cousins and/or Fernando Mendoza under center in 2026. Michael Mayer and former Carolina starter Ian Thomas add terrific depth.Shakiest: Miami DolphinsGreg Dulcich was solid for this team down the stretch last season, but the reality is that he's a 26-year-old journeyman with 67 career receptions who would be a depth piece on most rosters. Instead, he'll work as the Dolphins' top receiving option at the position. Rookies Will Kacmarek (Round 3) and Seydou Traore (Round 5), as well as fourth-year veteran Ben Sims, will be in the mix for snaps.Unit to watch: Los Angeles RamsCoach Sean McVay has pivoted his scheme to rely heavily on the tight end position, so it's no surprise that the team used its past two second-round picks at the position (Terrance Ferguson in 2025 and Ohio State's Max Klare in 2026). Tyler Higbee is back for his age-33 campaign, while veterans Colby Parkinson and Davis Allen will also get run. Don't be surprised if Ferguson finishes third on the team in catches this season.Offensive lineBest: Denver BroncosThis was an easy call after the Broncos led the NFL in both pass block and run block win rate in 2024 prior to finishing top-eight in both categories last season. Incredibly, Denver will have the same starting five for the third straight season: LT Garett Bolles, LG Ben Powers, C Luke Wattenberg, RG Quinn Meinerz and RT Mike McGlinchey. All five players posted pass block win rates well above league average in the past two seasons; four of the five posted good-to-great run block win rates.Shakiest: Houston TexansThis group remains a major concern after finishing last in run block win rate (68.4%) and 30th in pass block win rate (55.5%) in 2025. Three of their starters -- LT Aireontae Ersery (2025 second-rounder), C Jake Andrews and G Ed Ingram -- remain, though the latter two will face substantial competition from Wyatt Teller, Evan Brown and first-round pick Keylan Rutledge. Braden Smith was signed as a potential upgrade over Trent Brown at right tackle.Unit to watch: Los Angeles ChargersLast season, LT Rashawn Slater (patellar tendon) missed every game and RT Joe Alt (ankle) was limited to 294 snaps. Both are expected to be healthy for 2026, which is massive news for a Chargers team that finished last in pass block win rate (53.9%) and 31st in run block win rate (68.9%) in 2025. Their return is also important considering Los Angeles' underwhelming guard situation. The team is replacing Zion Johnson and Mekhi Becton with free agent Cole Strange and second-round rookie Jake Slaughter. Tyler Biadasz was signed to solidify the center position, but he is out indefinitely after an ACL injury in practice Tuesday.Interior defensive lineBest: Seattle SeahawksThe defending champs get this nod for the second year in a row. Seattle allowed a league-low 17.2 points game last season and finished third in the league in run stop win rate (32.5%). The team remains stacked upfront, with Leonard Williams (18.0 sacks over the past two seasons) still playing at a high level at 32. Byron Murphy II made a big Year 2 leap (fourth among interior linemen with 7.0 sacks in 2025) and Jarran Reed remains a quality rotational player.Shakiest: Las Vegas RaidersThe good news is that the Raiders have some continuity up front, returning all three interior linemen who played at least 50% of their defensive snaps last season. The bad news is that none of the three -- Adam Butler, Jonah Laulu and Thomas Booker IV -- were especially good last season, combining for 12 tackles for loss and 5.0 sacks. Free agent addition Benito Jones, 2025 fourth-rounder Tonka Hemingway and 2025 sixth-rounder JJ Pegues also struggled last season and will compete for snaps up front.Unit to watch: New York JetsNew York's defense quietly improved during the offseason, and the interior defensive line is a big part of the progression. Underrated T'Vondre Sweat was acquired from Tennessee and veteran David Onyemata was signed from the Falcons. The duo joins incumbents Harrison Phillips and Jowon Briggs, as well as fourth-round rookie Darrell Jackson Jr.Edge rusherBest: Pittsburgh SteelersThe Steelers top the edge list for the second consecutive year. Last season, they ranked fourth in the NFL with a 41.3% pass rush win rate and were sixth with 48 sacks. T.J. Watt is not coming off his best campaign, but he was an All-Pro in each of his past five healthy seasons. Alex Highsmith is a terrific running mate with 37.0 sacks over the past four seasons. Nick Herbig registered a career-high 7.5 sacks last season, and his 24.7% pass rush win rate since entering the league in 2021 is second to only Micah Parsons.Shakiest: Miami DolphinsInjuries have derailed this position for Miami in recent seasons, but this time the personnel doesn't quite stack up. Third-year Chop Robinson is the headliner, and he saw a slip in playing time, sacks and pass-rush efficiency from Year 1 to 2. Robinson has the potential to improve in 2026, but his running mates have generally worked as depth/rotational players, including Josh Uche, Clelin Ferrell, Cameron Goode and David Ojabo. Those four players combined for 5.5 sacks last season -- 4.0 of which were from Ferrell.Unit to watch: New York GiantsThe Giants' 41.3% pass rush win rate ranked fifth in the NFL last season, and their edge trio is all back for 2026. Brian Burns is the headliner after finishing second to only Myles Garrett with 16.5 sacks last season. Abdul Carter was as advertised as a rookie, finishing seventh in the NFL with 53 pass-rush wins. Kayvon Thibodeaux's production was down with the addition of Carter, but he is as good as you'll find for a third edge. No. 5 overall pick Arvell Reese will focus on off-ball linebacker, but he should get some pass-rush work and would be the top edge rusher on a lot of teams.Off-ball linebackerBest: New York JetsThe 37-year-old Demario Davis is back after ranking 10th in the NFL with 143 tackles last season. He has now cleared 100 in nine consecutive seasons, totaling 36.5 sacks during that span. The future Hall of Famer will team up with Jamien Sherwood, whose 308 tackles over the past two seasons ranked second most in the NFL.Shakiest: Indianapolis ColtsThe Colts weren't as aggressive as expected in upgrading their linebacker room after ranking 30th in pass rush win rate (29.1%) and 25th in run stop win rate (29.2%) last season. Zaire Franklin and Germaine Pratt departed, and the team is hoping to replace them with journeyman Akeem Davis-Gaither, second-round pick CJ Allen and fourth-round pick Bryce Boettcher. Davis-Gaither has played situationally during most of his six NFL seasons, but he and the rookies will battle for every-down work in 2026.Unit to watch: Buffalo BillsTerrel Bernard remains the team's top LB, but he has battled injuries (nine total games missed) and ineffectiveness (poor Pro Football Focus grades) in each of the past two seasons. Running mate Dorian Williams has generally been a situational player, but he might need to play an expanded role this season. Fourth-round rookie Kaleb Elarms-Orr and special-teamer Joe Andreessen are his primary competitors for snaps. Due to its LB situation, Buffalo could lean a bit more on three-safety looks in the post-Sean McDermott era.CornerbackBest: Houston TexansDerek Stingley Jr. is one of the league's top cornerbacks, ranking first at the position in both passes defensed (46) and interceptions (14) over the past three seasons. He's joined on the perimeter by 23-year-old Kamari Lassiter, whose 17 passes defensed last season ranked sixth in the NFL. Jalen Pitre is among the league's most versatile and productive defenders, operating as Houston's primary slot corner and handling safety duties in base coverage. Jaylin Smith -- a 2025 third-round pick -- also adds upside from the bench.Shakiest: Miami DolphinsIt's Miami for the second year in a row. On paper, this is arguably worse group than the one that allowed a 58.3 QBR last season (fifth worst). First-round rookie Chris Johnson does offer some hope, as he figures to immediately step in as an every-down starter. Storm Duck, slot Jason Marshall Jr., Darrell Baker Jr. JuJu Brents and Marco Wilson should battle for substantial roles.Unit to watch: Dallas CowboysThe Cowboys' roster is looking pretty solid, so an unproven cornerback room very well could make or break their season. It's an area that must be better after Dallas finished dead last in defensive EPA, allowed a 58.4 QBR (29th) and generated only six INTs in 2025. DaRon Bland battled injuries last season but remains the clear star of this group. Ex-Rams Cobie Durant and Derion Kendrick were signed this offseason, battling second-year man Shavon Revel Jr. (last among CBs in PFF grade in 2025), fourth-round rookie Devin Moore and others for starting roles.SafetyBest: Baltimore RavensKyle Hamilton is one of the league's best defenders and only entering his age-25 season. He led all NFL safeties in pass-rush attempts last season; he finished top 10 at the position in tackles, passes defensed and tackles for loss. Hamilton is joined in the back end by 2025 first-round pick Malaki Starks, who was solid as a rookie. And the Ravens signed Jaylinn Hawkins, who was solid as an every-down player for the Patriots last season. All three players played at least 950 snaps in 2025.Shakiest: Miami DolphinsWith Minkah Fitzpatrick and Ashtyn Davis gone, 2025 fifth-rounder Dante Trader Jr. and journeyman Lonnie Johnson Jr. are strong candidates to start. Trader racked up 48 tackles as a rookie in 2025, but he was limited to a situational role for 15 games. Johnson is best as a depth piece and hasn't appeared in more than nine games in a season since 2021. Rookie Michael Taaffe (Round 5) and veteran Zayne Anderson (141 defensive snaps in four seasons) are also in the mix.Unit to watch: Philadelphia EaglesThe Eagles were a strong candidate for "shakiest." Reed Blankenship signed with Houston, which positions second-year man Andrew Mukuba (who missed half of his rookie season with a fractured ankle) and Marcus Epps (a backup for most of 2025) as the team's top full-time options. Cooper DeJean should also get some run at safety, but he is the team's primary slot corner.OverallBest: Los Angeles RamsSimply put, the Rams have one of the best teams on paper of the past decade. It starts with reigning NFL MVP Matthew Stafford and reigning NFL Defensive Player of the Year Myles Garrett, but it goes much deeper than that.Offensively, the team has a terrific line, a formidable running back duo, an elite wide receiver duo, and a five-deep tight end room that includes a pair of second-round picks. It's hard to find a weak spot defensively, as Garrett joins a terrific front seven and Trent McDuffie -- one of the league's top corners -- helps upgrade the secondary. Add in an elite coach Sean McVay and the Rams are a good bet to be playing at home in Super Bowl LXI.Shakiest: Miami DolphinsThis should not be a surprise considering Miami had the shakiest unit at half of the positions on this list. A last-place case could've also been made for quarterback, where 27-year-old starter Malik Willis has just 155 pass attempts to his name.Running back De'Von Achane is a baller, but he has little help and has to run behind a shaky offensive line. The defense has a few solid players, including linebacker Jordyn Brooks and defensive tackle Zach Sieler, but there are weak spots all over the unit. Needless to say, the Dolphins are in full-on rebuild mode with new general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan and new coach Jeff Hafley. The only way for them to be competitive is if Willis emerges into a star.Team to watch: Dallas CowboysThe Cowboys haven't been to the Super Bowl since the 1994 season, but perhaps they make their best push since with this competitive roster. Quarterback Dak Prescott has a solid offensive line in front of him, as well as an elite wide receiver duo in CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens. The defense was a massive problem in 2025, allowing a league-high 30.1 points per game, but there's plenty of hope for it to be better this season.Rashan Gary, Dee Winters, Cobie Durant and Jalen Thompson were savvy additions, while first-round rookies Malachi Lawrence and Caleb Downs should also be big factors. Along with Quinnen Williams, Kenny Clark, Donovan Ezeiruaku, DeMarvion Overshown, Bland and Malik Hooker, you suddenly have what looks like a solid unit. With a productive offense and serviceable defense, Dallas should be squarely in the NFC playoff mix."

"The Buffalo Bills defense has undergone a major transition this offseason. Gone is the read-and-react scheme of former head coach Sean McDermott. Enter instead a more attacking defense coordinated by former safety Jim Leonhard. Can a personnel grouping that was drafted to fit one system morph into something entirely different in just one season?That kind of thing can take time, but it also happens quite often. The old adage goes that “NFL” stands for “Not For Long,” and while McDermott actually outran that notion for nearly a decade, the truth is that most teams turn over their staff and their systems quite frequently. It’s not crazy to think that the Bills have players who can actually thrive in an entirely different defense despite what they were originally drafted to do.In today’s installment of “91 players in 91 days,” we discuss a player who could shine in this new defense._____________________________________________________________________________Name: Dorian WilliamsNumber: 42Position: ILBHeight/Weight: 6’1” 228 lbs.Age: 25 (26 on 6/8/2027)Experience/Draft: 4; selected by Buffalo in the third round (No. 91 overall) of the 2023 NFL DraftCollege: TulaneAcquired: Third-round draft choiceFinancial situation (per Spotrac): Williams enters the final year of his four-year rookie contract. He stands to count $3,902,692 against the cap this season if he’s on the 53-man roster. Buffalo will carry a dead cap charge of $258,692 if he’s released.2025 Recap: Just one season after filling in as a starter for Matt Milano for much of the season, it was back to a reserve role for Williams. And yet, with the Bills looking to match heavy personnel more often with a third linebacker, Williams played a larger role than he had in his 2023 rookie season. He also filled in as a starter for both Milano and Terrel Bernard when those players were injured. In all, Williams played in 16 games and made 11 starts; he missed Buffalo’s loss to the New England Patriots due to a knee injury. Not only was he one of Buffalo’s core special teamers, playing 63% of the snaps there and notching 15 tackles, tied for 31st in the NFL, but he also ended up playing on 47% of Buffalo’s defensive snaps. Williams made 63 total tackles, which was fifth on the club. He had three QB hits, one tackle for loss, one fumble recovery, and two pass breakups in the regular season. In the playoffs, he made three tackles across two games, but he suffered a neck injury on the first play of Buffalo’s 33-30 overtime loss to the Denver Broncos while making the tackle on the game’s opening kickoff, so he essentially played in one game plus one snap.Positional outlook: Williams is one of six healthy players listed at inside linebacker on the team’s current roster. Terrel Bernard, Joe Andreessen, Keonta Jenkins, Jimmy Ciarlo, and Theron Gaines are the others. Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles is an inside linebacker, but he’s on injured reserve. Rookie Kaleb Elarms-Orr is listed at linebacker, but he functions as an ILB in Buffalo’s defense.2026 Offseason: Williams has recovered from bilateral knee fractures that he suffered during minicamp, and he’s been running mainly with the first team this summer. He started Buffalo’s preseason opener against the Carolina Panthers and was second on the team with three tackles. He played as the weakside player to Terrel Bernard’s MIKE, and he also served as the MIKE with Keonta Jenkins slotting in at WLB.2026 Season outlook: I don’t think there’s any doubt that Williams will be on the team, and I also expect that he’s going to play a lot this season both on defense and special teams. Over the last two seasons, he’s done nothing but improve—and really, that’s all he’s done throughout his whole professional career. Early on, he was a heat-seeking missile in the run game, but a poor pass defender. While he still has room to grow in coverage, he was much more consistent in that phase of the game last season.During his breakout 2024 campaign, Pro Football Reference listed Williams as having allowed 73% of the passes thrown his way (43-of-59) to be completed for 390 yards and three touchdowns. Opposing quarterbacks had a 107.3 QB rating when Williams was the closest defender in coverage. Last season, the QB rating was still high (102.1) and he allowed two touchdowns, but he allowed just 52.6% of passes thrown his way to be completed (10-of-19) for 96 yards.Williams is going to need to fend off a challenge from Elarms-Orr in order to stay in the lineup, but in the early going at least, I think he has the advantage. Elarms-Orr has had strong practices, but there are areas of his game where he still needs to improve. Pass coverage, in particular, is one where KEO has the natural athleticism to shine, but he has to refine his technique in a way that only time on task will allow. New defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard will likely find ways to use all three of his top linebackers depending on situation, but Williams is someone who should definitely play a big part in this season.Will a strong 2026 lead to a new contract with Buffalo? That’s hard to say. Whether it’s on defense or on special teams, though, expect Dorian Williams to contribute to success this season.See More: 91 Players in 90 DaysBuffalo Bills AnalysisBuffalo Bills Depth ChartBuffalo Bills OpinionBuffalo Bills RosterGeneral"

"The Buffalo Bills opened their 2026 NFL preseason slate at home against the Carolina Panthers, and while the final score might not matter, there is plenty to be gleaned from individual player performances. Sometimes, the performance is even less important than the time of the game a player was on the field.In the early going, at least, the Bills looked good. Their first-team offense was humming, and their first-team defense stifled the Panthers. It wasn’t until both teams’ backups entered the fray that the Panthers began to mount some competitive drives.Evaluating a preseason output always comes with one very large grain of salt, but our stock report for Buffalo’s first preseason game has both highs and lows.Horns Up: Keon ColemanFor the embattled former second-round pick, a pivotal third season awaits. No judgment can be had after just one preseason game, but it was a nice afternoon for No. 0. Coleman started the game, and he saw plenty of action in the early going. Coleman was targeted four teams, tied with DJ Moore and Ray Davis for the most first-half targets of any Buffalo wideout. Coleman caught all four of those passes, and while they amounted to just 17 yards, he did catch the first touchdown at New Highmark Stadium. Coleman kept moving while Josh Allen did Josh Allen things on a first-and-goal from the nine. Coleman also displayed his ability as a blocker, sealing the edge on a nice reverse to Mecole Hardman Jr. Thanks in part to his efforts, Hardman Jr. gained 27 yards on the play. Overall, it was a positive afternoon for Coleman.Horns Down: OTs not named Dion DawkinsOn Buffalo’s first drive, it was right tackle Spencer Brown whiffing on Jaelan Phillips, resulting in a pressure on Josh Allen that forced a field goal attempt. On Buffalo’s second drive, Brown was shoved into Allen’s lap on a pass that was ultimately completed; however, it would have been nice to have kept QB1 on his feet on the play. Later, it was Chase Lundt and Jude Bowry allowing a defensive meeting in the Buffalo backfield, as both players whiffed on blocks that caused a major pressure on Kyle Allen. Later in the first half, Bowry was burned off the edge again, leading to a hit on Kyle Allen. He also committed a hold on Buffalo’s first drive of the third quarter, negating a long Frank Gore Jr. run. I don’t think it’s cause for major concern, but neither Lundt nor Bowry looked capable of stepping in against backups, let alone starters, in the event of an injury to either Brown or Dawkins.Horns Up: Quarterbacks with the surname AllenBoth Josh Allen and Kyle Allen looked excellent all afternoon. Josh started the game, and he completed 6-of-8 passes for 111 yards and a score over his two drives. Three of those passes went to his newest target, DJ Moore, for 61 yards. The play-action pass, in particular, looked fantastic, as Allen hit Moore for one long gain and Khalil Shakir for two long gains off of hard play-fakes. Most importantly is that No. 17 exited the game with zero injuries.Kyle Allen took over on Buffalo’s third drive, and he was very efficient with the reserve group. He completed 14-of-16 passes for 108 yards during his work in the first half. Sure, there were plenty of check-downs to players like Ray Davis, but he threw a few nice passes to Trent Sherfield Sr., as well, who caught both of his first-half targets for 12 yards. Stephen Gosnell caught a pair of 18-yard strikes from No. 11, as well. It was a positive outing for the veteran backup.Horns Down: Geno StoneIt was not a great first half for the veteran safety, as he allowed a passing touchdown late in the first half on the same drive where he committed a facemask penalty to extend it. Stone grabbed quarterback Kenny Pickett’s facemask on a third down near Carolina’s 20-yard line when the Buffalo stop unit had him dead to rights. That likely would have led to a punt. Instead, the Panthers had a first down on their own 37, and after a long pass interference penalty on Toriano Pride Jr., they had marched down the field and scored.Horns Up: Lloyd CushenberrySometimes, it’s when a guy doesn’t play that tells us more about a player than when or how he does play. Cushenberry started the game, but he came out when Josh Allen exited the game. Conversely, Sedrick Van Pran-Granger played deep into the second half. That tells me that Cushenberry is likely ahead of the third-year man in the race to back up Connor McGovern. Given that McGovern is currently nursing a hamstring injury, if he’s unable to go on September 13 when the Bills face the Houston Texans, I’d bet that it will be Cushenberry starting that game in his place.Horns Down: DisciplineThere were far too many sloppy penalties. Yes, it’s the first preseason game. Yes, many of those penalties were on young players. However, there was at least one penalty on a starter, as well, with Dion Dawkins jumping early for a false start. That’s been a major problem for him over the last few seasons. Maybe I’m just a crabby coach, but there were too many plays where a penalty ruined what otherwise looked like a solid rep.Horns Up: Dorian WilliamsSee my earlier note regarding Lloyd Cushenberry. Dorian Williams started the game and made three first-half tackles. However, he was nowhere near the field in the second half, as rookie Kaleb Elarms-Orr and third-year man Joe Andreessen were playing late in the game. While that might have been a good sign for the rookie, it was a little interesting to see Andreessen on the field late in the third quarter and early in the fourth quarter. However, it looked like Dorian Williams is the clubhouse leader to start inside at linebacker next to Terrel Bernard.Horns Up: Jordan HancockThe second-year man was out there with the second-team defense, but he was all over the place when he was on the field. Hancock made four tackles, including two tackles for loss, and he looked good both in coverage and as a blitzer attacking the line of scrimmage. Steve Tasker noted on the broadcast that a change in defensive philosophy could be the best thing to happen to someone like Hancock, and while it’s only one afternoon, the early returns seem to support that point.Horns Questionable: T.J. Sanders and Mike DannaOn the one hand, Danna had two sacks and essentially ended a fourth-quarter Carolina drive by himself. However, as a six-year veteran who played a key role on the Kansas City Chiefs’ defense over the last few seasons, it is definitely noteworthy that Danna was playing in the fourth quarter. Could this performance catapult him to a different role next week? Time will tell, but Danna definitely acquitted himself well in the role he was asked to play.As for Sanders, the team’s unofficial preseason depth chart listed him as a starter on the defensive line; however, he was also playing well into the fourth quarter. There are only so many bodies, but after an up-and-down rookie season that was arguably more down than up, it’s not a great sign that he was playing in the fourth quarter without accruing much of anything in the way of attention-grabbing plays.Horns Up: Ian WheelerWith all due respect for Frank Gore Jr., who turned in a characteristically solid performance today, Wheeler came in against essentially the same competition and offered a completely different gear than the third-year man. Whereas Gore Jr. is patient but lacking in burst, Wheeler showed great vision, solid contact balance. Most importantly, he showed a second gear that Gore Jr. just doesn’t have. If Ty Johnson takes longer than anticipated to heal from his hamstring injury, Wheeler could start to position himself as a possible third running back with more outings like this. I’ll be interested to see if he parlays today’s strong performance into a larger role next week.Horns Up/Down: Your CallLet’s hear it, folks. Who stood out to you in this one? Let us know in the comments."