The intriguing depth piece breakdown
As it is with every cut-down day, the Bills kept a few surprising players on their final roster, even if they’re just around to provide depth on the roster. Here’s a few of those:
- LB Del’Shawn Phillips: The No. 1 guy who’s the… “no one guessed he would make it.” But Phillips making the roster really shows how top-heavy the Bills are at linebacker. They can’t have any injuries to Tremaine Edmunds or Milano this year and have Phillips or former UDFA Tyrel Dodson out there. Phillips will probably play special teams, though.
- OL Ike Boettger: Boettger has kicked around the Bills depth spots in recent seasons. In 2018, McDermott & general manager Brandon Beane signed Boettger as a UDFA. Following that year’s training camp, he was cut and the Chiefs picked him up and then he was re-signed by the Bills a short time later when he was cut by KC. Perhaps the Bills were afraid he’d get picked up again. Evan Boehm (now on the practice squad) is a more experienced backup center, but Boettger stays.
- DE Darryl Johnson: Already mentioned, but a surprise to see the Bills keep five defensive ends. A former seventh-round pick in 2019, the Bills clearly were scared he’d be signed by another team if cut.