August 14, 2025 • 30 mins
On this week's episode of Bills by the Numbers presented by FanDuel, Chris Brown and Steve Tasker dissect each position and decide which group will have the most difficult roster decisions when cutting down to the 53-man squad. They look at the defensive line, offensive line, wide receiver and discuss if the Bills could move a player or two in a trade. Steve is quizzed on the Bills preseason roster from last season in The Numbers Game. Finally, the two give their answer to this week's One Burning Question - which player will take the final spot at wide receiver?
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Welcome into Bills by the Numbers, where we let the
stats tell you where the Bills are at. We're presented
by fan Juel make every moment more. We have a
numbers game here on the show, but there will be
a numbers game coming up at three different position groups
for the Bills to decide on the fifty three man roster.
Which three are they? We will tell you. Steve will
(00:21):
be quizzed on Bill's roster history, and we'll have our
one burning question. Keep your head on a scribble for
the Turk Wills to have you with us here on
(00:42):
Bills by the Numbers. He's Bills Wall of Famer Steves
Basker on Bills play by playman Chris Brown, and we
have rolled from training camp right into the preseason. And
if there is one thing that is already readily apparent,
it's that the Bills are going to be forced to
make some difficult decisions when the roster is reduced to
fifty three players on August twenty sixth. Buffalo has an
(01:04):
embarrassment of riches at three positions in particular, and we're
going to dive into each one of them in these
three things to assess how they ensure they keep the
best of the bunch while also determining how to best
move on from other players who are considered NFL assets.
Thing Number one, Steve is the offensive line. There is
no secret the Bills have four capable offensive tackles, possibly
(01:29):
five if rookie Chase Lund continues to progress after a
good early showing in the preseason. Keeping four tackles is possible,
which is what the Bills did last year. Keeping five
is probably not. How do you sort that out?
Speaker 2 (01:47):
It's tough because you do have some guys that you
and I at least feel like they can play. Tyland
Grabil is still a little bit of a question mark.
He's got availability problems.
Speaker 1 (01:57):
He's core muscle surgery last year, concussion protocol this summer.
Speaker 2 (02:03):
That may be enough too, but here's the thing, he's
sick enough to what complicate things, or enough to have them.
He might be the odd man out from a year ago.
They may love the way he plays, but if he's
not available, that's a problem. And also he on the
other hand, he's young. I mean, he's a second year
(02:25):
player and he's cheap, so economically he makes some sense.
And it's up to them to find out is has
he got what it takes to kind of play and
be available even as a backup. You got to be available. Yeah,
So that's one. The others obviously Spencer Brown, Dion Dawkins,
(02:45):
Ryan Vandermark, who was there last year after Grabel went down,
play very well, played very well.
Speaker 1 (02:52):
Great in the Chiefs game, not so great in the weekend.
Speaker 2 (02:55):
Here's what you're looking at, though. You got five starters,
and you're only gonna have ten guys out their tops
or at least available on the roster. You're gonna have
another backup, a backup tackle, and maybe a swing tackle,
maybe a or a tackle slash guard or a guard
slash center. You know, the backups start to have to
(03:16):
play multiple positions or be available for that because when
it comes down to it, you want your best five
guys on the field, whether the guy's a guard, tackle, tackle, guard, center, guard, whatever.
I think they're gonna keep. They're only gonna keep Okay,
I think they're only gonna keep five or four tackles.
(03:38):
They may keep that's.
Speaker 1 (03:39):
What they did last year.
Speaker 2 (03:40):
They may keep five guards if one of them is
a guard tackle, you know what I mean. There may
maybe take keep two guard tackles. Yeah, I nine is
the number max.
Speaker 1 (03:53):
I think they keep only four tackles. I think the
other thing we have to remember is what Brandon Bean
was asked about out again this week. The Bills when
they get down to all roster positions being counted against
the camp in the offseason, it's only your top fifty one.
When you get to your final roster. Now it's fifty
(04:15):
three plus the sixteen on the practice squad. They all
count towards your cap, and the Bills are over. No
matter who they have, they're gonna be over. So they
not only have roster decisions to make in terms of ability,
they have roster decisions to make in terms of money.
And that's why I think we're going to see Brandon
(04:35):
Bean try to execute a couple of trades. And I
think at the tackle position, if Chase Lun continues to
progress and Tyler Grabel can get out of concussion protocol
and show you something here in the preseason, I think
it could push somebody like Ryan Vandermark into a trade
off the roster situation, because it would be foolish to
(04:57):
try to think you can move. If Chase Lunch shows
well again in this game, coming up. You know the
next preseason game. You're not getting him through waivers. An
offensive tackle at six 's eight, who can play? Do
you know how badly teams need offensive tackles around this league.
You're not getting them through waivers, So you have to
you have to make that assessment. Who are the four
(05:19):
you're gonna roll with, Who do you feel comfortable in
the swing tackle role? And then the odd man outs
may have to be traded, and I think Ryan Vandermark
is a candidate for that for two reasons. One, he's
in the last year of his deal. Two, you can
save money by moving him off your roster of about
a million dollars. That's not nothing. You need all the
help you can get to get under the cap. I
(05:40):
think he is a prime trade candidate provided Tyland Grabel
gets healthy and Chase Lunt continues to progress through the
course of the preseason. Now, the only thing that changes
that I think is if Tiland Grabel's concussion is a
bad one, and then maybe you ir him, you put
him on the fifty three man round, and then the
(06:00):
next day you I r him and you keep Vandermark
in Lunt, and those are your four tackles. While Grabel
gets healthy. That's the only other way I kind of
see this working out there.
Speaker 2 (06:09):
Alec Anderson was a fixture, and he seems like he's
a really really important piece of this because he's the
move tackle and he's in there.
Speaker 1 (06:16):
The Bills playoffs the jumbo guy and the run gay.
Yeah they play six guards, but if any plays guard.
Speaker 2 (06:22):
But if you've got a guy like Hall's a tight
end who can do that as well, and you like
the way he blocks, and Alec Anderson may be fodder,
I don't think so.
Speaker 1 (06:30):
You know, Here's why, because I because I look at
I'm trying to look at the whole group, Steve, and
I think we have So you have your starting five
right there on the roster obviously, so you've got those five.
Then after that you've got Vandermark Lunt and you have
Grabel at your tackle spots as your next three there
(06:51):
you're probably only keeping two. And then interior you have
Van Pran Granger, who has missed the whole camp, but
I think they like him. I think he's in the fold.
As a matter of fact, I think he could be
the starting center for this team as early as next year.
And then you have Alec Anderson, who could be a
starting guard for this team next year. Because here's what's
the fly in the ointment Steve next year. This offseason,
(07:14):
David Edwards contract is up, Connor McGovern's contract is up,
and Osiris Torrance is entering year four of his rookie contract,
and that's usually when they sign guys to extensions if
they like them. So, yeah, they got a tight cap situation.
You're not signing all three of those guys. You'd love
to have them, but you're not re signing David Edwards,
(07:34):
Connor McGovern and Osiris Torrance to a contract extension in
one offseason, so you've got to bring the youth up again.
You might have Van Pray Granger at center, and you
might have Alec Anderson at left guard, and you sign
Torrance to a contract extension, So I think those guys
stay in the fold. That's my point. Van Pray Grangers
on this roster, and then you've got Alec Anderson on
(07:56):
this roster, so I think those guys are on. So
you're already nine, so I think it's I think it's
gonna be pretty sticky at the offensive line. You gotta
do some major roster gymnastics there and not only think
about this year, but think about next year and potential
starters you're gonna have to move into the lineup in
twenty six.
Speaker 2 (08:16):
Yeah, I get it. I think, Yeah, certainly next year
is a consideration for Brandon Bean, But I don't think.
I don't think they're gonna compromise anything this year for that.
They're gonna try and fit that stuff under the cap.
You're there, because there's guys like that all over the roster.
We'll talk about some of them in a minute, but
(08:38):
I think I think they're gonna probably hide as many
guys they can on the practice squad. You're right, the
guys that have a chance to get through, to get
through are guys that nobody's heard of it. Lunt maybe, but
I don't think he'll get through. He's a rookie. Somebody
will bring him in Van Praan Granger if you can't.
You can find a trade partner for Van not Vamp
(09:00):
and Granger. Vandermark. You can find a trade partner for
vander Mark because that guy can start.
Speaker 1 (09:05):
Well and there's there's evidence that he can play, like
go look at the Week nine game against the Chiefs,
like played a great game at right tackle, So I
think there's recognition of him across, like personnel executives know
who Ryan Vandermark is, especially personnel executives that desperately need
an offensive tackle, right. So I think you could trade
(09:26):
him for maybe a five, you know, maybe it's a
conditional five that can become a four if he starts
ten games for the other team that you trade him to.
So I think from a cost saving standpoint and a
return value standpoint, and I love Vandermark. I think he's
a really good player, but there's a numbers game there
(09:46):
at offensive tackle, and trading a player might be the
best way to solve that problem. We've addressed the interior
line positions to some degree. Vamperen Granger Alec Anderson seemed
to be the players of the future at center and guard.
And with the contract situations I mentioned, you got to
keep those two guys in the fold. So you're at
(10:07):
nine already there, and that's if you trade.
Speaker 2 (10:09):
A tackle, right, So that's yeah, nine is I think
the number we'll see. Yeah, I mean if they pushed
to ten, I don't know where they're gonna get the
other roster spot.
Speaker 1 (10:22):
Yeah, then there is the case of the defensive line,
where there are at least six capable edge rushers and
at least six capable defensive interior players. Last season, the
Bills kept six edge rushers four defensive tackles. With their
defensive tackle talent deeper and younger, how do you get
back to ten this time around?
Speaker 2 (10:43):
Huh? Yeah?
Speaker 1 (10:44):
Three draft picks that are making the roster right out
of the shoot.
Speaker 2 (10:47):
Well, here's what I do. Dwayne Carter yes, Ed Oliver yes,
day Kwon Jones yes, Dion Walker yes, TJ Sanders, yes.
Speaker 1 (10:55):
You're already at five.
Speaker 2 (10:56):
That's right. And then in six weeks you see what
happens and maybe Ogunjoby's back in is Yeah.
Speaker 1 (11:05):
And here's the tricky part with Ogunjobi, who has not
shown a tremendous amount thus far in the preseason. We'll
see if that changes. He was signed to a one
year deal, but there are void years attached to that.
So while you would save money this year if he's
not on your roster, even after the reserve like, they
(11:26):
might make a decision and say not on the roster.
We got more than we expected out of t J Sanders.
Dion Walker is lighting it up. We don't really need ogunjoby,
that's right, and they might just say thanks, but we're
gonna move on. The problem with his contract is he
has void years and that will hit the cap next year.
(11:48):
It's a little painful, but you save now.
Speaker 2 (11:51):
Yeah, So I think or that, or you bring him
up and you throw him on the you throw him
on the practice squad or whatever. You know, you hide
him and see if you can just keep him around
as well.
Speaker 1 (12:01):
You're going to hide them on reserve suspended for six weeks,
so you have that. So I think what they do
ultimately is they leave them on reserve suspended so in case,
God forbid, there's a season ending injury to a defensive tackle,
you've got a guy in reserve sitting there that can
help you.
Speaker 2 (12:17):
Yeah, And I think, but I think all those young guys.
Speaker 1 (12:19):
Because you're not paying his base salary the six weeks
he's on reserve suspended.
Speaker 2 (12:23):
I think that Sanders Walker, Ed Oliver, and Dwayne Carter,
I think they're all in there.
Speaker 1 (12:31):
I think, and then day Kwon Jones and Daykon who's
played well in the preseason.
Speaker 2 (12:35):
That's that's it. I think they go with those five.
I think they keep all of those guys. Let's not
forget what we talk I talk about. I feel like
I'm repeating myself all the time. Let's not forget the
assets they've thrown at this defensive line, draft picks, free agents, coaches, money. Okay,
so I don't think they'll have any problem keeping an
extra dude down there.
Speaker 1 (12:56):
All right, Fine, so you're keeping five defensive tackles, Tell
me how you're making that work at end?
Speaker 2 (13:01):
Then well you may. You may keep five there and
go ten. They don't have to be all active, but
you use the roster spot for that. So so it'd
be Rousseau, Well, Russeau, Epanessa, Landon Jackson, Joey Bosa. And
then when then Michael Hoyt comes back, you check it
out and see what where you're at.
Speaker 1 (13:20):
What are you doing with your guy, Javon Solomon.
Speaker 2 (13:23):
You've got to hide him on them, hide him. He's
got to be on the easy either, got to be
on ior. He's got to be on.
Speaker 1 (13:28):
Uh practice squadtice squad. I don't know if you can
be able to hide him. That's tough.
Speaker 2 (13:34):
Again, I think offensive between Jevon Holloman and and Jackson. Yeah, yeah,
Josh Solomon.
Speaker 1 (13:44):
Landa Jackson's on the roster. You can't move a third
round pick off the roster and expect him to get
to your practice squad. It will not happen, That's right.
So Solomon could be the odd man out there? Or
do you consider a trade option here? Do you trade
somebody in the last year of their contract like an
aj Epanessa.
Speaker 2 (14:04):
Yeah, we had talked. I've you know, been down this
road thinking about what because Epanessa if Landon Jackson came
in and crushed it, he's been He's played good, but
he hasn't crushed it. No, aj Epanessa would be you know,
you'd be hitting the ejector button. You'd be getting trading
him or just the other.
Speaker 1 (14:24):
The other thing you could do here, conceivably, Steve is
you keep the guys that you said, Rousseau, Epinessa, Landon Jackson,
Joey Bosa, You practice squad Solomon and hope he gets through.
I'm not convinced he will. And Hoyt's on reserves suspended,
Hoyt comes back, you're still prior to the trade deadline
(14:45):
in week seven, and maybe that's when you trade one
of those ends where you're top heavy at and maybe
then you trade a player in the last year of
his DVA.
Speaker 2 (14:55):
Maybeanessa is and do it. Then Epanessa is pulling down.
He seven point four seven point five this year, but
his cap, his dead cap would be ten nine point nine.
Speaker 1 (15:08):
So maybe that doesn't work.
Speaker 2 (15:09):
But if you wait six weeks, yeah you can stomach it.
You can do it. Plus the other team that you're
getting him to can stomach it. Yeah, that might.
Speaker 1 (15:20):
Maybe you wait until we wait, maybe you wait possibility
and then finally third thing there is the seemingly annual
challenge of the receiver position. Last year, for the first
time in the McDermott era, the Bills only kept five receivers.
Typically they keep six, and on a couple of occasions
(15:40):
they've kept seven, though they've promptly added a receiver to
injury reserve a day later. With some veteran receivers nicked
up in missing time with injuries. How do you square
that position?
Speaker 2 (15:52):
Well, the only wild card I have the top five
I've got his Keon Khalil, Josh Palmer, Curtis Samuel and
Elijah Moore. That's the five guys I've got. The only
fly in that ointment is whether leavishkas Hue. They like
him as a a big return guy, are a more
physical stature. Now you can tray you might think Tyrrell
(16:15):
Shavers has got it. I don't see it happening. I
just don't think he's reached that level.
Speaker 1 (16:20):
Practice squad again for.
Speaker 2 (16:21):
Him, maybe or maybe he'll ask to be released so
we can play somewhere else.
Speaker 1 (16:26):
Well, he'll be released if he doesn't make the roster, right, So.
Speaker 2 (16:30):
That's what I think. I think it's Keon, Josh Palmer,
Khalil Shakir, Curtis Samuel, and Elijah Moore. Now Curtis Samuel
has availability issues, but he's economically impossible to get rid of.
Speaker 1 (16:43):
I don't think it's impossible. I don't think it's impossible
because I took a look at the money and it's
not impossible.
Speaker 2 (16:53):
He's making nine million this year as deadcap is twelve right,
base is six point nine.
Speaker 1 (16:59):
Yeah, so you would eat some money. You'd have to
eat a little money to do it.
Speaker 2 (17:04):
Three million.
Speaker 1 (17:06):
I mean, you got decisions to make.
Speaker 2 (17:13):
Chanault. It's not ideal, right, if you want to keep Shavers, well,
we all know Shavers is almost playing for free in
these numbers. We're talking about all these other guys. I mean,
he's bless his heart, he's making nine hundred, not even Yeah,
(17:34):
this is you know, it's yes, Shavers. Listen. We all
want to see him succeed. We've seen flashes of him.
He's playing hard, he works hard, he does all the
right things. He plays special teams to a certain extent.
He's a big six to four, big body receiver, knows
the offense, been around the building. There's a lot in
(17:57):
that that makes you want to make sure he gets
on the team. But they brought in some guys who
actually play in the NFL and have played for a
couple of years and have some chops. The only thing
they don't have going for him is that, you know, churs.
Samuel's been hurt on and off his entire time here.
Speaker 1 (18:19):
He's hard to move. Yeah, when you're trying to save
money on the cap, when you get to the full roster,
county against you. You can't take on three million by moving
on from him, right, So he's probably on the roster.
Keon Coleman, Josh Palmer, Khalil Shakir, Elijah Moore is five
for me. And then you come down to the decision
(18:40):
of Chanalt and Shavers, and with the way that the
team used Chault in every facet imaginable. They had him
even on gunner at one point on punk teams kick
return punt return, lined up at receiver, caught a two
point conversion. And that's not even scratching the surface of
(19:02):
what I think he could do as a gadget player
on offense as well, because a lot of people have
compared him to Quardrell Patterson, who we know has even
been listed as a running back in this league at
times at six three two and forty pounds. Chanault is
six one two twenty nine, So I mean he's put together.
There are a lot of different things you could do
(19:23):
with him. So just from a pure versatility, if you're
the sixth receiver on a roster, you have to be versatile.
He is that with a capital V, so I think
helps him.
Speaker 2 (19:33):
He gives them some choices between him and Codrington in
the back end of your kick returns.
Speaker 1 (19:40):
Shavers was used on only one unit on special teams,
and it was late in the preseason opener. Late in
the game. I think they're trying to see if he
can do other things. But I think Chenault might have
him beat in the versatility department, and that may ultimately
get determined.
Speaker 2 (19:55):
When you get to the bottom of a position group,
you've got to do a lot of stuff at least,
okay or well yeah, so yeah, it's what I think too.
I'm those are the five and Chenault is the sixth
probably Okay.
Speaker 1 (20:10):
So we obviously need to get to the end of
the preseason with the team in relative good health to
even consider this. We've broached this subject already. But how
many trades could you foresee from Brandon bean to A
solve some position dilemmas and b save some money.
Speaker 2 (20:33):
One point five is the over under?
Speaker 1 (20:34):
Yeah, I think it could be one too.
Speaker 2 (20:37):
Yeah it could. Epinessay is a prime candidate, prime canbinate candidate,
and Vandermark is a prime candidate.
Speaker 1 (20:44):
So for some of the reasons we outline.
Speaker 2 (20:46):
Yeah, those guys are good enough to start for some
teams or at least contribute meaningfully to some teams, and
you'd get some cap really from them. That's it, I mean,
that's that's what you're looking at. And plus there are
positions obviously where the Bills are neck deep in good
people and young.
Speaker 1 (21:04):
Absolutely, we move along to the Numbers game, where Steve
will be quizzed on the Bills preseason roster of a
year ago.
Speaker 2 (21:13):
Let's do it.
Speaker 1 (21:14):
Question number one in twenty twenty four, did the Bills
keep more offensive linemen or defensive linemen on their initial
fifty three man roster?
Speaker 2 (21:29):
I think they kept more defensive line.
Speaker 1 (21:30):
And you would be correct. They kept ten. Remember they
kept nine offensive linemen. It was close. Question number two
in twenty twenty four, how many current members of the
roster were signed to the practice squad after the initial
fifty three man roster was set. So this year's roster,
(21:51):
on this year's roster right now? How many were on
the practice squad last year after the initial fifty three
man roster was set, Your practice squad contained sixteen players.
How many of those sixteen are on the roster right
now are here?
Speaker 2 (22:13):
Oh that's a tough I will say I'm saying that many.
I'm gonna say three more than that is? It? Was?
Speaker 3 (22:25):
It?
Speaker 2 (22:25):
Like eight?
Speaker 1 (22:25):
Appreciably more? Oh it's ten?
Speaker 2 (22:28):
Oh? Really?
Speaker 1 (22:28):
Ten ten players? Got me from this year's roster. We're
on the practice squad last year?
Speaker 3 (22:35):
Yeah, you got it down, Hule With that question, questions
with the correct answer after offensive and defensive line, Steve,
you what was the next position group with the most
players when the fifty three man roster was set?
Speaker 1 (22:52):
So you know the last year.
Speaker 2 (22:54):
What is it? Dbs? Are those all warners a safety?
Speaker 1 (22:58):
We separate positions out so we do defensive line ten,
offensive line nine. Last year when the initial fifty three
man roster was set, what position group had the next
most players?
Speaker 2 (23:14):
Wide receiver? It was not.
Speaker 1 (23:16):
It wasn't wide receiver.
Speaker 2 (23:20):
They only had five got to be corners.
Speaker 1 (23:22):
It was cornerback with seven Benford, Douglas, Elam, Ingram, Johnson,
Lewis was cam Lewis was listed as a corner and Codrington.
Oh so those were your seven, you know, so you
have a return guy to the extra guy. So yeah,
the number was high. And question four. Buffalo kept six
(23:47):
defensive ends on their initial fifty three man roster last season.
Six defensive ends for defensive texts. Six defensive ends on
the initial fifty three man roster last season. Can you
name them?
Speaker 2 (24:02):
No?
Speaker 1 (24:03):
Come on, give it a shot. I think you'll do
better than you think.
Speaker 2 (24:05):
Russoessa yep, Solomon yep.
Speaker 1 (24:10):
This is where it gets tricky because these three are
not on the roster anymore. One is obvious Von von Miller.
And then these are the toughies.
Speaker 2 (24:26):
Uh oh, I can't The guy we got from Washington
number ninety.
Speaker 1 (24:32):
Yes, you're on the right track. Come on, you can
do it. No, you can do it. I believe in you.
The guy initials are CT Kurt Nope, and he's playing
in Houston right now.
Speaker 2 (24:48):
I can't remember what was his name. I can't remember
the guy's name I saw him. I'll give you half
a point, big rangye, Phil Hanson looking dude. Yeah, Casey
two Hill, Casey two Hill. That's it.
Speaker 1 (24:59):
And the last guy, I will say, give you a hint.
He was a defensive end, but he would kick inside
as well. Physical end. What about two seventy five veteran
player played a long time for Jacksonville.
Speaker 2 (25:26):
I don't know.
Speaker 1 (25:27):
His name was Juwan's smoot, Yeah, foiled by Juwan Smooth smooth.
Speaker 2 (25:35):
Yeah. I would see I think of him as I.
Speaker 1 (25:37):
Would have thought you got that one. Two Hill was
the one I thought you would get stuck.
Speaker 2 (25:41):
I got taught. I thought you'd get his name. I
can because I've been watching games, and I remember, Oh gosh,
I forgot about two Hill yeah. Yeah, all right, well
there you go. All right, not bad one of four.
That's pretty bad. I had what you have two. I
took an extra guess at one.
Speaker 1 (25:55):
You got more than half of the guy is on
the last question, so you get ID. So that's that
wasn't bad. We move well, we finished the numbers game.
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(26:18):
partner of the Buffalo Bills. We pivot now to our
one burning question. We need to get like a flame
crackling fire sound effect.
Speaker 2 (26:29):
Look at got it?
Speaker 1 (26:30):
I mean we have flames?
Speaker 2 (26:31):
Yeah, I want to get Yeah, we need a campfire sound.
Speaker 1 (26:33):
Yeah, campfire sound. If you had to guess which receiver
is the last to make the fifty three man roster,
and you've kind of hinted at this already, would you
pick Tyrrell Shavers or Laviska Chanault?
Speaker 2 (26:49):
Uh, probably Chanalt because of his versatility. Yeah, yeah, he's
an athlete, and that guy's going to be gadget player,
return guy, special teams guy, lineup in the backfield guy,
and channel can do all of that, and he's just
more useful shavers.
Speaker 1 (27:08):
They've tried to move him around. We saw him used
as a big slot in his time here in Buffalo,
used as on the outside. He's performed in the preseason
year over year. I think they really like him as
a player, but he is He is truly caught here
in a numbers game, and I don't know if they're
(27:30):
going to be able to get him through to the
practice squad and protect him there. I could see him
getting claimed off waivers. I think he's done too much
in the last couple of preseasons, let alone the game
he got to play in last year against the Jets.
He goes for a forty nine or whatever it was
six touchdown.
Speaker 2 (27:48):
Yeah, it was a sixty five yarder him just right
out of the thirty five. You're right, he'll never clear waivers.
I don't think he will, but I think the Bills,
and maybe the Bills don't want to lose the guy.
I mean, if he because he's he's such.
Speaker 1 (28:01):
They've worked to develop him in the last three years.
Speaker 2 (28:06):
He strikes me as a guy who may go and
find greener pastors and get a chance with a team
who needs a guy that's particularly a guy built like him,
his big tall range, he's six or four guy. He
may there's a long strier andy back later, you know
what I mean.
Speaker 1 (28:22):
I just think his really We talked to Greg Cosell
about him on our daily show One Bill's Live, and
I asked him, I said, are you seeing a difference
because I have in training camp just with his releases.
I just think his releases are much more consistent. They've
been much more effective, and he's getting separation earlier in
the down than he ever has before. And I was like, Oh, like,
(28:45):
we'd like to hold on to that guy. I don't
know if they're gonna be able to.
Speaker 2 (28:47):
Yeah, I mean, but if you if you can't hold
on to him, or if you it's because you got
somebody better, or if somebody liked more, somebody's more useful.
He's got a different skill set, He's he's got to
be able to play special teams if he's gonna be
make this roster and and playing one down late in
the in the game. Is is not a good sign.
Speaker 1 (29:06):
So he and he doesn't really factor into special teams
all that much, even though they've tried to find a
role for him. I think it's been hard to come by, right,
just because he's so tall and angular.
Speaker 2 (29:18):
So that's it's it's yeah, and it's true. I mean
the way I said it. He may go away and
come back. But McDermott, once again, you rarely see guys
leave this building and play better somewhere else, and you
can I can think of only one in the entire
time Sean McDermott's been here, and that's because they traded
(29:39):
the guy early in his career before he gone. And
so these guys guys thrive in this building and and
I think they come to realize it when they leave.
Speaker 1 (29:52):
Our final figure deals with the Bills receiver position. We
touched on it as it pertains to the setting of
the fifty three man roster and the Shawn mc dermoid era.
There was only one time that the Bills kept only
five receivers on their initial fifty three man roster. That
was last season in twenty twenty four. Every other year
in the McDermot era, the Bills have kept six or
even seven receivers. That'll do it for this edition. Be
(30:15):
sure to subscribe on whatever podcast platform you use so
you know when the next episode is out, or you
can watch us on the Bills YouTube channel, because when
you need to know about the Bills, you need to
check Bills by the Numbers. Receive Tasker, I'm Chris Brown.
Thanks for listening well.
Welcome into Bills by the Numbers, where we let the
stats tell you where the Bills are at. We're presented
by fan Juel make every moment more. We have a
numbers game here on the show, but there will be
a numbers game coming up at three different position groups
for the Bills to decide on the fifty three man roster.
Which three are they? We will tell you. Steve will
(00:21):
be quizzed on Bill's roster history, and we'll have our
one burning question. Keep your head on a scribble for
the Turk Wills to have you with us here on
(00:42):
Bills by the Numbers. He's Bills Wall of Famer Steves
Basker on Bills play by playman Chris Brown, and we
have rolled from training camp right into the preseason. And
if there is one thing that is already readily apparent,
it's that the Bills are going to be forced to
make some difficult decisions when the roster is reduced to
fifty three players on August twenty sixth. Buffalo has an
(01:04):
embarrassment of riches at three positions in particular, and we're
going to dive into each one of them in these
three things to assess how they ensure they keep the
best of the bunch while also determining how to best
move on from other players who are considered NFL assets.
Thing Number one, Steve is the offensive line. There is
no secret the Bills have four capable offensive tackles, possibly
(01:29):
five if rookie Chase Lund continues to progress after a
good early showing in the preseason. Keeping four tackles is possible,
which is what the Bills did last year. Keeping five
is probably not. How do you sort that out?
Speaker 2 (01:47):
It's tough because you do have some guys that you
and I at least feel like they can play. Tyland
Grabil is still a little bit of a question mark.
He's got availability problems.
Speaker 1 (01:57):
He's core muscle surgery last year, concussion protocol this summer.
Speaker 2 (02:03):
That may be enough too, but here's the thing, he's
sick enough to what complicate things, or enough to have them.
He might be the odd man out from a year ago.
They may love the way he plays, but if he's
not available, that's a problem. And also he on the
other hand, he's young. I mean, he's a second year
(02:25):
player and he's cheap, so economically he makes some sense.
And it's up to them to find out is has
he got what it takes to kind of play and
be available even as a backup. You got to be available. Yeah,
So that's one. The others obviously Spencer Brown, Dion Dawkins,
(02:45):
Ryan Vandermark, who was there last year after Grabel went down,
play very well, played very well.
Speaker 1 (02:52):
Great in the Chiefs game, not so great in the weekend.
Speaker 2 (02:55):
Here's what you're looking at, though. You got five starters,
and you're only gonna have ten guys out their tops
or at least available on the roster. You're gonna have
another backup, a backup tackle, and maybe a swing tackle,
maybe a or a tackle slash guard or a guard
slash center. You know, the backups start to have to
(03:16):
play multiple positions or be available for that because when
it comes down to it, you want your best five
guys on the field, whether the guy's a guard, tackle, tackle, guard, center, guard, whatever.
I think they're gonna keep. They're only gonna keep Okay,
I think they're only gonna keep five or four tackles.
(03:38):
They may keep that's.
Speaker 1 (03:39):
What they did last year.
Speaker 2 (03:40):
They may keep five guards if one of them is
a guard tackle, you know what I mean. There may
maybe take keep two guard tackles. Yeah, I nine is
the number max.
Speaker 1 (03:53):
I think they keep only four tackles. I think the
other thing we have to remember is what Brandon Bean
was asked about out again this week. The Bills when
they get down to all roster positions being counted against
the camp in the offseason, it's only your top fifty one.
When you get to your final roster. Now it's fifty
(04:15):
three plus the sixteen on the practice squad. They all
count towards your cap, and the Bills are over. No
matter who they have, they're gonna be over. So they
not only have roster decisions to make in terms of ability,
they have roster decisions to make in terms of money.
And that's why I think we're going to see Brandon
(04:35):
Bean try to execute a couple of trades. And I
think at the tackle position, if Chase Lun continues to
progress and Tyler Grabel can get out of concussion protocol
and show you something here in the preseason, I think
it could push somebody like Ryan Vandermark into a trade
off the roster situation, because it would be foolish to
(04:57):
try to think you can move. If Chase Lunch shows
well again in this game, coming up. You know the
next preseason game. You're not getting him through waivers. An
offensive tackle at six 's eight, who can play? Do
you know how badly teams need offensive tackles around this league.
You're not getting them through waivers, So you have to
you have to make that assessment. Who are the four
(05:19):
you're gonna roll with, Who do you feel comfortable in
the swing tackle role? And then the odd man outs
may have to be traded, and I think Ryan Vandermark
is a candidate for that for two reasons. One, he's
in the last year of his deal. Two, you can
save money by moving him off your roster of about
a million dollars. That's not nothing. You need all the
help you can get to get under the cap. I
(05:40):
think he is a prime trade candidate provided Tyland Grabel
gets healthy and Chase Lunt continues to progress through the
course of the preseason. Now, the only thing that changes
that I think is if Tiland Grabel's concussion is a
bad one, and then maybe you ir him, you put
him on the fifty three man round, and then the
(06:00):
next day you I r him and you keep Vandermark
in Lunt, and those are your four tackles. While Grabel
gets healthy. That's the only other way I kind of
see this working out there.
Speaker 2 (06:09):
Alec Anderson was a fixture, and he seems like he's
a really really important piece of this because he's the
move tackle and he's in there.
Speaker 1 (06:16):
The Bills playoffs the jumbo guy and the run gay.
Yeah they play six guards, but if any plays guard.
Speaker 2 (06:22):
But if you've got a guy like Hall's a tight
end who can do that as well, and you like
the way he blocks, and Alec Anderson may be fodder,
I don't think so.
Speaker 1 (06:30):
You know, Here's why, because I because I look at
I'm trying to look at the whole group, Steve, and
I think we have So you have your starting five
right there on the roster obviously, so you've got those five.
Then after that you've got Vandermark Lunt and you have
Grabel at your tackle spots as your next three there
(06:51):
you're probably only keeping two. And then interior you have
Van Pran Granger, who has missed the whole camp, but
I think they like him. I think he's in the fold.
As a matter of fact, I think he could be
the starting center for this team as early as next year.
And then you have Alec Anderson, who could be a
starting guard for this team next year. Because here's what's
the fly in the ointment Steve next year. This offseason,
(07:14):
David Edwards contract is up, Connor McGovern's contract is up,
and Osiris Torrance is entering year four of his rookie contract,
and that's usually when they sign guys to extensions if
they like them. So, yeah, they got a tight cap situation.
You're not signing all three of those guys. You'd love
to have them, but you're not re signing David Edwards,
(07:34):
Connor McGovern and Osiris Torrance to a contract extension in
one offseason, so you've got to bring the youth up again.
You might have Van Pray Granger at center, and you
might have Alec Anderson at left guard, and you sign
Torrance to a contract extension, So I think those guys
stay in the fold. That's my point. Van Pray Grangers
on this roster, and then you've got Alec Anderson on
(07:56):
this roster, so I think those guys are on. So
you're already nine, so I think it's I think it's
gonna be pretty sticky at the offensive line. You gotta
do some major roster gymnastics there and not only think
about this year, but think about next year and potential
starters you're gonna have to move into the lineup in
twenty six.
Speaker 2 (08:16):
Yeah, I get it. I think, Yeah, certainly next year
is a consideration for Brandon Bean, But I don't think.
I don't think they're gonna compromise anything this year for that.
They're gonna try and fit that stuff under the cap.
You're there, because there's guys like that all over the roster.
We'll talk about some of them in a minute, but
(08:38):
I think I think they're gonna probably hide as many
guys they can on the practice squad. You're right, the
guys that have a chance to get through, to get
through are guys that nobody's heard of it. Lunt maybe, but
I don't think he'll get through. He's a rookie. Somebody
will bring him in Van Praan Granger if you can't.
You can find a trade partner for Van not Vamp
(09:00):
and Granger. Vandermark. You can find a trade partner for
vander Mark because that guy can start.
Speaker 1 (09:05):
Well and there's there's evidence that he can play, like
go look at the Week nine game against the Chiefs,
like played a great game at right tackle, So I
think there's recognition of him across, like personnel executives know
who Ryan Vandermark is, especially personnel executives that desperately need
an offensive tackle, right. So I think you could trade
(09:26):
him for maybe a five, you know, maybe it's a
conditional five that can become a four if he starts
ten games for the other team that you trade him to.
So I think from a cost saving standpoint and a
return value standpoint, and I love Vandermark. I think he's
a really good player, but there's a numbers game there
(09:46):
at offensive tackle, and trading a player might be the
best way to solve that problem. We've addressed the interior
line positions to some degree. Vamperen Granger Alec Anderson seemed
to be the players of the future at center and guard.
And with the contract situations I mentioned, you got to
keep those two guys in the fold. So you're at
(10:07):
nine already there, and that's if you trade.
Speaker 2 (10:09):
A tackle, right, So that's yeah, nine is I think
the number we'll see. Yeah, I mean if they pushed
to ten, I don't know where they're gonna get the
other roster spot.
Speaker 1 (10:22):
Yeah, then there is the case of the defensive line,
where there are at least six capable edge rushers and
at least six capable defensive interior players. Last season, the
Bills kept six edge rushers four defensive tackles. With their
defensive tackle talent deeper and younger, how do you get
back to ten this time around?
Speaker 2 (10:43):
Huh? Yeah?
Speaker 1 (10:44):
Three draft picks that are making the roster right out
of the shoot.
Speaker 2 (10:47):
Well, here's what I do. Dwayne Carter yes, Ed Oliver yes,
day Kwon Jones yes, Dion Walker yes, TJ Sanders, yes.
Speaker 1 (10:55):
You're already at five.
Speaker 2 (10:56):
That's right. And then in six weeks you see what
happens and maybe Ogunjoby's back in is Yeah.
Speaker 1 (11:05):
And here's the tricky part with Ogunjobi, who has not
shown a tremendous amount thus far in the preseason. We'll
see if that changes. He was signed to a one
year deal, but there are void years attached to that.
So while you would save money this year if he's
not on your roster, even after the reserve like, they
(11:26):
might make a decision and say not on the roster.
We got more than we expected out of t J Sanders.
Dion Walker is lighting it up. We don't really need ogunjoby,
that's right, and they might just say thanks, but we're
gonna move on. The problem with his contract is he
has void years and that will hit the cap next year.
(11:48):
It's a little painful, but you save now.
Speaker 2 (11:51):
Yeah, So I think or that, or you bring him
up and you throw him on the you throw him
on the practice squad or whatever. You know, you hide
him and see if you can just keep him around
as well.
Speaker 1 (12:01):
You're going to hide them on reserve suspended for six weeks,
so you have that. So I think what they do
ultimately is they leave them on reserve suspended so in case,
God forbid, there's a season ending injury to a defensive tackle,
you've got a guy in reserve sitting there that can
help you.
Speaker 2 (12:17):
Yeah, And I think, but I think all those young guys.
Speaker 1 (12:19):
Because you're not paying his base salary the six weeks
he's on reserve suspended.
Speaker 2 (12:23):
I think that Sanders Walker, Ed Oliver, and Dwayne Carter,
I think they're all in there.
Speaker 1 (12:31):
I think, and then day Kwon Jones and Daykon who's
played well in the preseason.
Speaker 2 (12:35):
That's that's it. I think they go with those five.
I think they keep all of those guys. Let's not
forget what we talk I talk about. I feel like
I'm repeating myself all the time. Let's not forget the
assets they've thrown at this defensive line, draft picks, free agents, coaches, money. Okay,
so I don't think they'll have any problem keeping an
extra dude down there.
Speaker 1 (12:56):
All right, Fine, so you're keeping five defensive tackles, Tell
me how you're making that work at end?
Speaker 2 (13:01):
Then well you may. You may keep five there and
go ten. They don't have to be all active, but
you use the roster spot for that. So so it'd
be Rousseau, Well, Russeau, Epanessa, Landon Jackson, Joey Bosa. And
then when then Michael Hoyt comes back, you check it
out and see what where you're at.
Speaker 1 (13:20):
What are you doing with your guy, Javon Solomon.
Speaker 2 (13:23):
You've got to hide him on them, hide him. He's
got to be on the easy either, got to be
on ior. He's got to be on.
Speaker 1 (13:28):
Uh practice squadtice squad. I don't know if you can
be able to hide him. That's tough.
Speaker 2 (13:34):
Again, I think offensive between Jevon Holloman and and Jackson. Yeah, yeah,
Josh Solomon.
Speaker 1 (13:44):
Landa Jackson's on the roster. You can't move a third
round pick off the roster and expect him to get
to your practice squad. It will not happen, That's right.
So Solomon could be the odd man out there? Or
do you consider a trade option here? Do you trade
somebody in the last year of their contract like an
aj Epanessa.
Speaker 2 (14:04):
Yeah, we had talked. I've you know, been down this
road thinking about what because Epanessa if Landon Jackson came
in and crushed it, he's been He's played good, but
he hasn't crushed it. No, aj Epanessa would be you know,
you'd be hitting the ejector button. You'd be getting trading
him or just the other.
Speaker 1 (14:24):
The other thing you could do here, conceivably, Steve is
you keep the guys that you said, Rousseau, Epinessa, Landon Jackson,
Joey Bosa, You practice squad Solomon and hope he gets through.
I'm not convinced he will. And Hoyt's on reserves suspended,
Hoyt comes back, you're still prior to the trade deadline
(14:45):
in week seven, and maybe that's when you trade one
of those ends where you're top heavy at and maybe
then you trade a player in the last year of
his DVA.
Speaker 2 (14:55):
Maybeanessa is and do it. Then Epanessa is pulling down.
He seven point four seven point five this year, but
his cap, his dead cap would be ten nine point nine.
Speaker 1 (15:08):
So maybe that doesn't work.
Speaker 2 (15:09):
But if you wait six weeks, yeah you can stomach it.
You can do it. Plus the other team that you're
getting him to can stomach it. Yeah, that might.
Speaker 1 (15:20):
Maybe you wait until we wait, maybe you wait possibility
and then finally third thing there is the seemingly annual
challenge of the receiver position. Last year, for the first
time in the McDermott era, the Bills only kept five receivers.
Typically they keep six, and on a couple of occasions
(15:40):
they've kept seven, though they've promptly added a receiver to
injury reserve a day later. With some veteran receivers nicked
up in missing time with injuries. How do you square
that position?
Speaker 2 (15:52):
Well, the only wild card I have the top five
I've got his Keon Khalil, Josh Palmer, Curtis Samuel and
Elijah Moore. That's the five guys I've got. The only
fly in that ointment is whether leavishkas Hue. They like
him as a a big return guy, are a more
physical stature. Now you can tray you might think Tyrrell
(16:15):
Shavers has got it. I don't see it happening. I
just don't think he's reached that level.
Speaker 1 (16:20):
Practice squad again for.
Speaker 2 (16:21):
Him, maybe or maybe he'll ask to be released so
we can play somewhere else.
Speaker 1 (16:26):
Well, he'll be released if he doesn't make the roster, right, So.
Speaker 2 (16:30):
That's what I think. I think it's Keon, Josh Palmer,
Khalil Shakir, Curtis Samuel, and Elijah Moore. Now Curtis Samuel
has availability issues, but he's economically impossible to get rid of.
Speaker 1 (16:43):
I don't think it's impossible. I don't think it's impossible
because I took a look at the money and it's
not impossible.
Speaker 2 (16:53):
He's making nine million this year as deadcap is twelve right,
base is six point nine.
Speaker 1 (16:59):
Yeah, so you would eat some money. You'd have to
eat a little money to do it.
Speaker 2 (17:04):
Three million.
Speaker 1 (17:06):
I mean, you got decisions to make.
Speaker 2 (17:13):
Chanault. It's not ideal, right, if you want to keep Shavers, well,
we all know Shavers is almost playing for free in
these numbers. We're talking about all these other guys. I mean,
he's bless his heart, he's making nine hundred, not even Yeah,
(17:34):
this is you know, it's yes, Shavers. Listen. We all
want to see him succeed. We've seen flashes of him.
He's playing hard, he works hard, he does all the
right things. He plays special teams to a certain extent.
He's a big six to four, big body receiver, knows
the offense, been around the building. There's a lot in
(17:57):
that that makes you want to make sure he gets
on the team. But they brought in some guys who
actually play in the NFL and have played for a
couple of years and have some chops. The only thing
they don't have going for him is that, you know, churs.
Samuel's been hurt on and off his entire time here.
Speaker 1 (18:19):
He's hard to move. Yeah, when you're trying to save
money on the cap, when you get to the full roster,
county against you. You can't take on three million by moving
on from him, right, So he's probably on the roster.
Keon Coleman, Josh Palmer, Khalil Shakir, Elijah Moore is five
for me. And then you come down to the decision
(18:40):
of Chanalt and Shavers, and with the way that the
team used Chault in every facet imaginable. They had him
even on gunner at one point on punk teams kick
return punt return, lined up at receiver, caught a two
point conversion. And that's not even scratching the surface of
(19:02):
what I think he could do as a gadget player
on offense as well, because a lot of people have
compared him to Quardrell Patterson, who we know has even
been listed as a running back in this league at
times at six three two and forty pounds. Chanault is
six one two twenty nine, So I mean he's put together.
There are a lot of different things you could do
(19:23):
with him. So just from a pure versatility, if you're
the sixth receiver on a roster, you have to be versatile.
He is that with a capital V, so I think
helps him.
Speaker 2 (19:33):
He gives them some choices between him and Codrington in
the back end of your kick returns.
Speaker 1 (19:40):
Shavers was used on only one unit on special teams,
and it was late in the preseason opener. Late in
the game. I think they're trying to see if he
can do other things. But I think Chenault might have
him beat in the versatility department, and that may ultimately
get determined.
Speaker 2 (19:55):
When you get to the bottom of a position group,
you've got to do a lot of stuff at least,
okay or well yeah, so yeah, it's what I think too.
I'm those are the five and Chenault is the sixth
probably Okay.
Speaker 1 (20:10):
So we obviously need to get to the end of
the preseason with the team in relative good health to
even consider this. We've broached this subject already. But how
many trades could you foresee from Brandon bean to A
solve some position dilemmas and b save some money.
Speaker 2 (20:33):
One point five is the over under?
Speaker 1 (20:34):
Yeah, I think it could be one too.
Speaker 2 (20:37):
Yeah it could. Epinessay is a prime candidate, prime canbinate candidate,
and Vandermark is a prime candidate.
Speaker 1 (20:44):
So for some of the reasons we outline.
Speaker 2 (20:46):
Yeah, those guys are good enough to start for some
teams or at least contribute meaningfully to some teams, and
you'd get some cap really from them. That's it, I mean,
that's that's what you're looking at. And plus there are
positions obviously where the Bills are neck deep in good
people and young.
Speaker 1 (21:04):
Absolutely, we move along to the Numbers game, where Steve
will be quizzed on the Bills preseason roster of a
year ago.
Speaker 2 (21:13):
Let's do it.
Speaker 1 (21:14):
Question number one in twenty twenty four, did the Bills
keep more offensive linemen or defensive linemen on their initial
fifty three man roster?
Speaker 2 (21:29):
I think they kept more defensive line.
Speaker 1 (21:30):
And you would be correct. They kept ten. Remember they
kept nine offensive linemen. It was close. Question number two
in twenty twenty four, how many current members of the
roster were signed to the practice squad after the initial
fifty three man roster was set. So this year's roster,
(21:51):
on this year's roster right now? How many were on
the practice squad last year after the initial fifty three
man roster was set, Your practice squad contained sixteen players.
How many of those sixteen are on the roster right
now are here?
Speaker 2 (22:13):
Oh that's a tough I will say I'm saying that many.
I'm gonna say three more than that is? It? Was?
Speaker 3 (22:25):
It?
Speaker 2 (22:25):
Like eight?
Speaker 1 (22:25):
Appreciably more? Oh it's ten?
Speaker 2 (22:28):
Oh? Really?
Speaker 1 (22:28):
Ten ten players? Got me from this year's roster. We're
on the practice squad last year?
Speaker 3 (22:35):
Yeah, you got it down, Hule With that question, questions
with the correct answer after offensive and defensive line, Steve,
you what was the next position group with the most
players when the fifty three man roster was set?
Speaker 1 (22:52):
So you know the last year.
Speaker 2 (22:54):
What is it? Dbs? Are those all warners a safety?
Speaker 1 (22:58):
We separate positions out so we do defensive line ten,
offensive line nine. Last year when the initial fifty three
man roster was set, what position group had the next
most players?
Speaker 2 (23:14):
Wide receiver? It was not.
Speaker 1 (23:16):
It wasn't wide receiver.
Speaker 2 (23:20):
They only had five got to be corners.
Speaker 1 (23:22):
It was cornerback with seven Benford, Douglas, Elam, Ingram, Johnson,
Lewis was cam Lewis was listed as a corner and Codrington.
Oh so those were your seven, you know, so you
have a return guy to the extra guy. So yeah,
the number was high. And question four. Buffalo kept six
(23:47):
defensive ends on their initial fifty three man roster last season.
Six defensive ends for defensive texts. Six defensive ends on
the initial fifty three man roster last season. Can you
name them?
Speaker 2 (24:02):
No?
Speaker 1 (24:03):
Come on, give it a shot. I think you'll do
better than you think.
Speaker 2 (24:05):
Russoessa yep, Solomon yep.
Speaker 1 (24:10):
This is where it gets tricky because these three are
not on the roster anymore. One is obvious Von von Miller.
And then these are the toughies.
Speaker 2 (24:26):
Uh oh, I can't The guy we got from Washington
number ninety.
Speaker 1 (24:32):
Yes, you're on the right track. Come on, you can
do it. No, you can do it. I believe in you.
The guy initials are CT Kurt Nope, and he's playing
in Houston right now.
Speaker 2 (24:48):
I can't remember what was his name. I can't remember
the guy's name I saw him. I'll give you half
a point, big rangye, Phil Hanson looking dude. Yeah, Casey
two Hill, Casey two Hill. That's it.
Speaker 1 (24:59):
And the last guy, I will say, give you a hint.
He was a defensive end, but he would kick inside
as well. Physical end. What about two seventy five veteran
player played a long time for Jacksonville.
Speaker 2 (25:26):
I don't know.
Speaker 1 (25:27):
His name was Juwan's smoot, Yeah, foiled by Juwan Smooth smooth.
Speaker 2 (25:35):
Yeah. I would see I think of him as I.
Speaker 1 (25:37):
Would have thought you got that one. Two Hill was
the one I thought you would get stuck.
Speaker 2 (25:41):
I got taught. I thought you'd get his name. I
can because I've been watching games, and I remember, Oh gosh,
I forgot about two Hill yeah. Yeah, all right, well
there you go. All right, not bad one of four.
That's pretty bad. I had what you have two. I
took an extra guess at one.
Speaker 1 (25:55):
You got more than half of the guy is on
the last question, so you get ID. So that's that
wasn't bad. We move well, we finished the numbers game.
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(26:18):
partner of the Buffalo Bills. We pivot now to our
one burning question. We need to get like a flame
crackling fire sound effect.
Speaker 2 (26:29):
Look at got it?
Speaker 1 (26:30):
I mean we have flames?
Speaker 2 (26:31):
Yeah, I want to get Yeah, we need a campfire sound.
Speaker 1 (26:33):
Yeah, campfire sound. If you had to guess which receiver
is the last to make the fifty three man roster,
and you've kind of hinted at this already, would you
pick Tyrrell Shavers or Laviska Chanault?
Speaker 2 (26:49):
Uh, probably Chanalt because of his versatility. Yeah, yeah, he's
an athlete, and that guy's going to be gadget player,
return guy, special teams guy, lineup in the backfield guy,
and channel can do all of that, and he's just
more useful shavers.
Speaker 1 (27:08):
They've tried to move him around. We saw him used
as a big slot in his time here in Buffalo,
used as on the outside. He's performed in the preseason
year over year. I think they really like him as
a player, but he is He is truly caught here
in a numbers game, and I don't know if they're
(27:30):
going to be able to get him through to the
practice squad and protect him there. I could see him
getting claimed off waivers. I think he's done too much
in the last couple of preseasons, let alone the game
he got to play in last year against the Jets.
He goes for a forty nine or whatever it was
six touchdown.
Speaker 2 (27:48):
Yeah, it was a sixty five yarder him just right
out of the thirty five. You're right, he'll never clear waivers.
I don't think he will, but I think the Bills,
and maybe the Bills don't want to lose the guy.
I mean, if he because he's he's such.
Speaker 1 (28:01):
They've worked to develop him in the last three years.
Speaker 2 (28:06):
He strikes me as a guy who may go and
find greener pastors and get a chance with a team
who needs a guy that's particularly a guy built like him,
his big tall range, he's six or four guy. He
may there's a long strier andy back later, you know
what I mean.
Speaker 1 (28:22):
I just think his really We talked to Greg Cosell
about him on our daily show One Bill's Live, and
I asked him, I said, are you seeing a difference
because I have in training camp just with his releases.
I just think his releases are much more consistent. They've
been much more effective, and he's getting separation earlier in
the down than he ever has before. And I was like, Oh, like,
(28:45):
we'd like to hold on to that guy. I don't
know if they're gonna be able to.
Speaker 2 (28:47):
Yeah, I mean, but if you if you can't hold
on to him, or if you it's because you got
somebody better, or if somebody liked more, somebody's more useful.
He's got a different skill set, He's he's got to
be able to play special teams if he's gonna be
make this roster and and playing one down late in
the in the game. Is is not a good sign.
Speaker 1 (29:06):
So he and he doesn't really factor into special teams
all that much, even though they've tried to find a
role for him. I think it's been hard to come by, right,
just because he's so tall and angular.
Speaker 2 (29:18):
So that's it's it's yeah, and it's true. I mean
the way I said it. He may go away and
come back. But McDermott, once again, you rarely see guys
leave this building and play better somewhere else, and you
can I can think of only one in the entire
time Sean McDermott's been here, and that's because they traded
(29:39):
the guy early in his career before he gone. And
so these guys guys thrive in this building and and
I think they come to realize it when they leave.
Speaker 1 (29:52):
Our final figure deals with the Bills receiver position. We
touched on it as it pertains to the setting of
the fifty three man roster and the Shawn mc dermoid era.
There was only one time that the Bills kept only
five receivers on their initial fifty three man roster. That
was last season in twenty twenty four. Every other year
in the McDermot era, the Bills have kept six or
even seven receivers. That'll do it for this edition. Be
(30:15):
sure to subscribe on whatever podcast platform you use so
you know when the next episode is out, or you
can watch us on the Bills YouTube channel, because when
you need to know about the Bills, you need to
check Bills by the Numbers. Receive Tasker, I'm Chris Brown.
Thanks for listening well.
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