As you likely have heard, the NFL roster cuts deadline is today at 6 p.m. EST. And for as much as this day does feature over 1,000 players losing their jobs, I like to spin it into a positive and focus on new opportunities for released players to land gigs on different teams, including, of course, the Buffalo Bills.
Let’s track the recently cut players who I believe the Bills should consider signing before their regular season begins.
And, yes, the second and third chance opportunities ahead for many of my former draft crushes makes today obscurely fun for the NFL Draft nerd in me.
If the Bills sign any of these players on waivers, they’ll have to be added directly to the team’s 53-man roster, which is a relatively big — but hardly unprecedented — ask. After they clear waivers, they can be added to Buffalo’s practice squad.
Released players I still believe in who could help Bills
WR Greg Dortch
The rest of this list isn’t necessarily in order of priority, but I’d be lying to you if I wrote I didn’t place Dortch atop the list on purpose. Clearly, the Bills don’t want to use a roster spot on player who only returns kicks and punts (and I agree with that philosophy), but Dortch is also a wily veteran who’s averaged 40 catches for 361 yards over the past four seasons. He’s returned 99 punts and 75 kicks in his NFL career.
DL Dean Lowry
The 32-year-old Lowry was the consummate dirty-work defensive lineman for seven years in Green Bay and actually amassed a low-key 42 pressures during the 2021 season. He spent 2023 in Minnesota and 2024 with the Steelers but tore his ACL last year in training camp. He’s a thick 6’6” and 296 pounds and understands how to eat blockers to free teammates along the defensive line and linebacker group.
QB Will Levis
I know Levis has not worked out, which is why he was released in Tennessee. He is 27 now. But the talent is undeniable. While reckless, he has higher-end running abilities and a hose. He’s attempted slightly less than 600 passes in his NFL career. He’d be an intriguing as a practice-squad addition behind Josh Allen and Kyle Allen.
EDGE Bradyn Swinson
A 2025 fifth-round pick of the Patriots out of LSU, Swinson registered four pressures in each of the past two preseasons in New England. While his pressure rate didn’t even eight 8.0% — anything below 10% is low for an edge rusher — at 6’3” and 255 pounds with a 81 1/4” wingspan, I love him as a developmental rusher.
RB Jarquez Hunter
I have no idea if there’s like an unwritten gentlemen’s agreement between teams when this type of rare occurrence takes place. But the Dolphins traded for Hunter just a few days ago, and now released him in hopes of just stashing him on the practice squad (and riding themselves of the guaranteed portion of Tutu Atwell’s contract in the process). I compared Hunter to Kyren Williams as a prospect, and in the second preseason game just a few weeks ago, he looked ready to go, toting the rock 12 times for 57 yards and a score. The Bills do have two capable running backs presumably on their practice squad in Frank Gore Jr. and Ian Wheeler. But Hunter is a four-year high-caliber starter at Auburn.
Would the Bills claiming him on waivers set a bad precedent for Beane and Co? I’m not sure. But strictly from a team-building perspective, I’d consider signing him.
Cut players with past connections to Bills
LB Tyrel Dodson, CB Alex Austin, CB Kaiir Elam, CB/returner Brandon Codrington, WR Isaiah Hodgins, DL Carlos Basham
