As the Buffalo Bills enter 2021 training camp, players will soon be placed on the hot seat. Even though GM Brandon Beane built one of the most solid rosters in the league, there are still some notable players who could be cut entering training camp. Here are three players who may end up on another team before or during training camp.
Cody Ford, Guard
When Cody Ford was selected in the second round of the 2019 NFL Draft, the Bills envisioned him as the cornerstone piece of the offensive line.
However, after a couple of seasons under his belt, Ford has not been performing to his set expectation. During his two years with the organization, he has constantly bounced from tackle to guard. Don't be mistaken, he is a good player. He just hasn't proven himself.
A torn meniscus would be the cherry on top of an unfortunate start to his NFL career. Now, he is in jeopardy of losing his starting role. Head coach Sean McDermott has already shown a liking to guards Jon Feliciano and Ike Boettger. Dion Dawkins, Daryl Williams and Mitch Morse are secured locks. Add in the signing of Forrest Lamp, and Ford looks expendable. If Beane does end up trading him, look for teams like the Cincinnati Bengals and Dallas Cowboys to request his services.
Harrison Phillips, Defensive Tackle
Currently, the Bills have a surplus of talented players on the defensive line. Maybe too many.
Harrison Phillips is yet another youngster who the organization had high hopes for. He was a solid rotational piece during the 2018 season. Alas, in 2019, a torn ACL would sideline for quite some time. After only playing in 12 games last season, he could see his way out of a roster position. Though many players have come back strong from a torn ACL (Looking at you Adrian Peterson), some lose their luster.
Nonetheless, there are still high hopes for Phillips, as he has shown he belongs on a NFL roster. Still, that may be with another team. If it weren't for the stacked defensive line, he could still play a key role on the Bills squad. Unfortunately , that isn't the case. The Arizona Cardinals or Minnesota Vikings could gamble on a player of his caliber.
Jerry Hughes, Defensive End
I know, I know. This may come as a shock to Bills mafia and NFL fans, but Jerry Hughes could be ousted this season. With players like Josh Allen and Tremaine Edmunds looking to get new contracts, Hughes could be traded due to cap space. According to Spotrac, he has a cap hit of $9.4 million dollars, with only a $3.1 dead cap hit. If he was traded, he could very well be headed to playoff ready teams like the Tennessee Titans or the Seattle Seahawks.
At 33, he has played at a respectable level. As a starter last year, he put up 4.5 sacks, three pass deflections, one interception and 26 total tackles. Though he is a leader in the locker room, Hughes is yet another player who could be on the move.
Other players like Mario Addison and Cole Beasley have been tossed around by many fans as trade candidates, but their leadership roles are key in the locker room. Nonetheless, Beane and Co. have many difficult decisions to make come training camp.
Follow Us
Subscribe