Training camp is here, and for the Bills, the conversation has already been swallowed up by the usual big-ticket names and offseason noise. But tucked underneath all of that are a few players who could matter plenty once the pads come on - even if they’ve barely been mentioned.
Joshua Palmer is one of the easiest guys to overlook. The receiver room has been reshaped enough this offseason that it’s simple to lose sight of him, especially after the Keon Coleman theatrics, then the D.J.
Moore trade, and then the drafting of Skyler Bell. Still, Palmer is going to make this 53-man roster.
His 2025 season was quiet and interrupted by injuries, but he brings the kind of physical profile that fits what Joe Brady wants. He can work as the Y or slide into a jumbo slot role, and that toughness gives Buffalo another useful piece on offense.
Greg Rousseau belongs in that same forgotten-but-important bucket. With Jim Leonhard shifting to a 3-4 defense and the roster additions that followed, it’s easy to get distracted and forget about the former first-round pick who is now listed as an OLB.
Rousseau has the traits to handle the conversion, and there’s real upside if it clicks. He hasn’t gotten much attention with Bradley Chubb signed and T.J.
Parker drafted, but he enters camp healthy and with a fresh season ahead of him.
Dee Alford is another name that has already slipped into the background, which is a little strange given how significant the signing was. The premium slot corner is expected to take over for now-Vegas Raider Taron Johnson, and that’s not a small role. Cornerback talk has been loud all offseason, but the nickelback spot looks settled with Alford in line to handle it.
Then there’s T.J. Sanders, who got lost in the shadow of Deone Walker’s rookie buzz last season.
Walker made the headlines at defensive tackle, while Sanders had a much quieter arrival. That’s part of why he’s been easy to forget, along with the team’s changing defensive approach and the large 2026 defensive draft class.
But Sanders is a 6-foot-4, 297-pound athlete who should have a chance to earn a role under the new defensive coordinator. Training camp will be his chance to show that the measurables can turn into production.
In Other News...
Former Bills Lineman Had An Unexpected Place In Taylor Swift's Circle
Taylor Swifts security detail has long included a familiar face from football, a former NFL offensive lineman who has stayed in her trusted circle while building a separate career in business and recruiting. His path into that role started in an unusual way, with a request that came through Swifts family and led to a job protecting her at public appearances, including an autograph signing event.
The connection is a reminder of how often NFL careers spill into unexpected places after football, and this one has a Buffalo tie tucked inside it as well. The story has been told publicly by the former lineman himself, who recounted how the relationship began and how it has continued, but one of the more interesting details is how quickly a one-time security assignment turned into a lasting part of Swifts inner circle. [Read more 🡒]
Bills Newcomer Has A Real Chance To Shake Up Camp Decisions
The offseason pipeline from the UFL to the NFL has already sent 23 players to new teams, and a handful of those signings are worth watching when training camp opens. Among the names drawing attention are Tanner Brown, Major Burns, Ian Wheeler, Hakeem Butler and Sean Fresch Jr., each arriving with a different path to a roster spot based on what they showed in spring football and what their new clubs need.
For Buffalo, the intrigue centers on how a newcomer can fit into a crowded camp picture and force the issue before the roster starts to take shape. The Bills have enough established pieces to make every fringe job feel competitive, so any player trying to break through will need to offer more than just a good practice rep, especially with special teams and depth roles likely to decide who sticks. [Read more 🡒]
Bills Enter Camp With Pressure Of A Whole New Era
The Bills head into camp with a very different feel around them, and not just because the roster has been reshaped. Joe Brady is taking over the sideline after the coaching change, while Buffalo also added D.J. Moore and brought in Bradley Chubb and C.J. Gardner-Johnson to give the team a new look on both sides of the ball. It is the kind of offseason that can reset expectations quickly, especially when a team already has a reigning MVP under center.
Josh Allen remains the center of everything, coming off another huge season as the Bills try to turn all that change into something bigger. The new staff and the new pieces give Buffalo a chance to sell a fresh start, but the pressure is obvious too, because this is still a team measured by playoff results and the missing championship run. For Allen, the margin for another promising year without the ultimate payoff keeps getting smaller. [Read more 🡒]
