Bills Could Reportedly Part Ways With Former First-Round Pick in Roster Shake-Up
Buffalo Bills head coach Sean McDermott is known for bringing in players he’s worked with before, particularly from his days as the Carolina Panthers’ defensive coordinator. This offseason, linebacker Shaq Thompson—one of the last remaining ties to that Carolina era—was brought to Buffalo. But despite the familiarity, Thompson may not make the final 53-man roster.
Shaq Thompson Projected to Be Cut
According to Ryan Talbot of Syracuse.com, the Bills are expected to stick with their existing linebacker group. Starters Terrel Bernard and Matt Milano are locked in, while Dorian Williams, Joe Andreessen, and Edefuan Ulofoshio are projected to serve as depth.
Talbot believes that injuries may ultimately cost Thompson his spot on the roster.
“Shaq Thompson has ties to Sean McDermott, but I can’t justify a roster spot for him at this point,” Talbot wrote. “The veteran has missed most of the past two seasons and will have to stay healthy to have any shot of making the initial 53-man roster. This summer should likely end the Baylon Spector experiment. He has talent, but cannot stay healthy.”
Thompson, a former first-round pick, has appeared in just six games over the last two years. From 2019 to 2022, he recorded over 100 tackles each season, but injuries have derailed his recent campaigns.
Joe Andreessen Could Be the Surprise of the Summer
While Thompson’s future in Buffalo appears shaky, second-year linebacker Joe Andreessen is trending in the opposite direction. After joining the team as a rookie minicamp tryout, Andreessen impressed enough to earn a contract and carve out a role primarily on special teams in 2024. He logged 26 tackles in 13 games and one start.
According to ESPN’s Alaina Getzenberg, Andreessen is positioning himself for a more prominent defensive role this year.
“Largely a special teams player as a rookie last year, Andreessen was signed after trying out at rookie minicamp, and he then earned a roster spot,” Getzenberg reported. “He made a significant statement going into his second season with his performance during the mandatory minicamp.”
With injuries affecting the linebacker group—including veteran Matt Milano and Baylon Spector—Andreessen’s consistent availability could give him the edge.
“Availability is something the Bills emphasize,” Getzenberg added. “Andreessen saw increased time during team drills, in part due to Spector’s injury. He made multiple notable plays, including an interception of Josh Allen. And he put himself in a good position to compete for the backup middle linebacker job.”
As training camp approaches, Andreessen’s upward momentum may be one of the more compelling storylines—while a familiar face in Thompson could find himself on the outside looking in.
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