It happens every summer. A few players surprise in training camp and earn a spot on the 53-man roster. Last year, sixth-round pick Christian Benford rode a strong camp and preseason all the way to a starting role in Week 1. So who are this year's training camp sleepers for the Bills?
OL Alec Anderson
An undrafted rookie signing last year, the UCLA product developed so well on the practice squad that there were reportedly teams interested in adding him to their active roster. Anderson chose to continue his development with the Bills, and with the ability to play guard, tackle, and center, he could challenge one of the primary reserve linemen for a spot on the 53-man roster.
LB Travin Howard
The former Rams linebacker impressed with his athleticism and change of direction skills in the OTA and minicamp practices. That's an important factor if one wants to be a starting linebacker candidate in Buffalo's defense. Howard appears to be more of a fit as a weakside backer, and a strong camp and preseason could put him in contention for the backup spot to Matt Milano. The key for him is to stay healthy, which has proven difficult in his last three NFL seasons.
CB Ja'Marcus Ingram
Ingram has the body type the Bills covet at the cornerback position. He's long and lanky, which helps him make plays on the ball. Stepping into an injury-riddled secondary to play in Week 3 at Miami last season, Ingram held his own in his first career game on a call up from the practice squad. The cornerback position is loaded with Christian Benford not transitioning to safety and Cam Dantzler a late free agent signing. He'll have to put together a monster camp, but there's talent there.
DE Kingsley Jonathan
The Syracuse product flashed some ability when he was active for the Christmas Eve game in Chicago last season. This after playing five games for the Bears earlier in the season after Chicago signed him off Buffalo's practice squad. The Bills seem to have a plan for him, but will the defensive end position, that recently added veteran Leonard Floyd, have too many rungs to climb on the depth chart to make the active roster?
OT Brandon Shell
For Bills fans, Shell might be somewhat of an unknown, but he's got 72 starts under his belt in his seven-year career. He's a proven commodity at the tackle position, playing on the right side for most of his career. He's expected to be competition for both incumbent starter Spencer Brown and 2022 swing tackle David Quessenberry.
TE Joel Wilson
Signed late in the offseason, the undrafted rookie chose to sign with New Orleans, which was offering a sizable signing bonus, but didn't pass their physical. The Bills scooped him up and at 6-4, 250, he has the requisite size and demonstrated good route running acumen in the pass game this spring. Again it's going to be a tough position to crack, especially with the other rookie at the position being a first-round pick, but a practice squad role could be the floor with a good camp.
Scroll through to see the best shots from the Bills veteran media day shoot on June 12, 2023. This gallery is presented by Ticketmaster.
Josh Allen (17) at Buffalo Bills Media Day, June 12, 2023 in Orchard Park, NY.
Josh Allen (17) at Buffalo Bills Media Day, June 12, 2023 in Orchard Park, NY.
Josh Allen (17) at Buffalo Bills Media Day, June 12, 2023.
Damien Harris (22) at Buffalo Bills Media Day, June 12, 2023 in Orchard Park, NY.
Damien Harris (22) at Buffalo Bills Media Day, June 12, 2023 in Orchard Park, NY.
Dane Jackson (30) at Buffalo Bills Media Day, June 12, 2023 in Orchard Park, NY.
Dane Jackson (30) at Buffalo Bills Media Day, June 12, 2023 in Orchard Park, NY.
Dane Jackson (30) at Buffalo Bills Media Day, June 12, 2023 in Orchard Park, NY.
Dane Jackson (30) at Buffalo Bills Media Day, June 12, 2023 in Orchard Park, NY.
Dane Jackson (30) at Buffalo Bills Media Day, June 12, 2023 in Orchard Park, NY.
Dane Jackson (30) at Buffalo Bills Media Day, June 12, 2023 in Orchard Park, NY.
Dane Jackson (30) at Buffalo Bills Media Day, June 12, 2023 in Orchard Park, NY.
Dane Jackson (30) at Buffalo Bills Media Day, June 12, 2023 in Orchard Park, NY.
Deonte Harty (11) at Buffalo Bills Media Day, June 12, 2023 in Orchard Park, NY.
Deonte Harty (11) at Buffalo Bills Media Day, June 12, 2023 in Orchard Park, NY.
Josh Allen (17) at Buffalo Bills Media Day, June 12, 2023 in Orchard Park, NY.
Josh Allen (17) at Buffalo Bills Media Day, June 12, 2023 in Orchard Park, NY.
Josh Allen (17) at Buffalo Bills Media Day, June 12, 2023 in Orchard Park, NY.
Josh Allen (17) at Buffalo Bills Media Day, June 12, 2023 in Orchard Park, NY.
James Cook (4) at Buffalo Bills Media Day, June 12, 2023 in Orchard Park, NY.
Josh Allen (17) at Buffalo Bills Media Day, June 12, 2023 in Orchard Park, NY.
Josh Allen (17) at Buffalo Bills Media Day, June 12, 2023 in Orchard Park, NY.
Josh Allen (17) at Buffalo Bills Media Day, June 12, 2023 in Orchard Park, NY.
Josh Allen (17) at Buffalo Bills Media Day, June 12, 2023 in Orchard Park, NY.
Josh Allen (17) at Buffalo Bills Media Day, June 12, 2023 in Orchard Park, NY.
Nyheim Hines (0) at Buffalo Bills Media Day, June 12, 2023 in Orchard Park, NY.
Nyheim Hines (0) at Buffalo Bills Media Day, June 12, 2023 in Orchard Park, NY.
Nyheim Hines (0) at Buffalo Bills Media Day, June 12, 2023 in Orchard Park, NY.
Kyle Allen (9) at Buffalo Bills Media Day, June 12, 2023 in Orchard Park, NY.
Kyle Allen (9) at Buffalo Bills Media Day, June 12, 2023 in Orchard Park, NY.
Kyle Allen (9) at Buffalo Bills Media Day, June 12, 2023 in Orchard Park, NY.
Christian Benford (47) at Buffalo Bills Media Day, June 12, 2023 in Orchard Park, NY.
Christian Benford (47) at Buffalo Bills Media Day, June 12, 2023 in Orchard Park, NY.
Tyler Bass (2) at Buffalo Bills Media Day, June 12, 2023 in Orchard Park, NY.
Tyler Bass (2) at Buffalo Bills Media Day, June 12, 2023 in Orchard Park, NY.
Tyler Bass (2) at Buffalo Bills Media Day, June 12, 2023 in Orchard Park, NY.
Reggie Gilliam (41) at Buffalo Bills Media Day, June 12, 2023 in Orchard Park, NY.
Tyler Bass (2) at Buffalo Bills Media Day, June 12, 2023 in Orchard Park, NY.
Tyler Bass (2) at Buffalo Bills Media Day, June 12, 2023 in Orchard Park, NY.
Tyler Bass (2) at Buffalo Bills Media Day, June 12, 2023 in Orchard Park, NY.
Tyler Bass (2) at Buffalo Bills Media Day, June 12, 2023 in Orchard Park, NY.
Dawson Knox (88) at Buffalo Bills Media Day, June 12, 2023 in Orchard Park, NY.
Dawson Knox (88) at Buffalo Bills Media Day, June 12, 2023 in Orchard Park, NY.
Damien Harris (22) at Buffalo Bills Media Day, June 12, 2023 in Orchard Park, NY.
Jordan Phillips (97) at Buffalo Bills Media Day, June 12, 2023 in Orchard Park, NY.
Damien Harris (22) at Buffalo Bills Media Day, June 12, 2023 in Orchard Park, NY.
Damien Harris (22) at Buffalo Bills Media Day, June 12, 2023 in Orchard Park, NY.
Leonard Floyd (56) at Buffalo Bills Media Day, June 12, 2023 in Orchard Park, NY.
Damien Harris (22) at Buffalo Bills Media Day, June 12, 2023 in Orchard Park, NY.
Leonard Floyd (56) at Buffalo Bills Media Day, June 12, 2023 in Orchard Park, NY.
Damien Harris (22) at Buffalo Bills Media Day, June 12, 2023 in Orchard Park, NY.
Leonard Floyd (56) at Buffalo Bills Media Day, June 12, 2023 in Orchard Park, NY.
Damien Harris (22) at Buffalo Bills Media Day, June 12, 2023 in Orchard Park, NY.
Damien Harris (22) at Buffalo Bills Media Day, June 12, 2023 in Orchard Park, NY.
Dion Dawkins (73) at Buffalo Bills Media Day, June 12, 2023 in Orchard Park, NY.
Dion Dawkins (73) at Buffalo Bills Media Day, June 12, 2023 in Orchard Park, NY.
Taylor Rapp (20) at Buffalo Bills Media Day, June 12, 2023.
Khalil Shakir (10) at Buffalo Bills Media Day, June 12, 2023 in Orchard Park, NY.
Khalil Shakir (10) at Buffalo Bills Media Day, June 12, 2023 in Orchard Park, NY.
Jordan Poyer (21) at Buffalo Bills Media Day, June 12, 2023 in Orchard Park, NY.
Micah Hyde (23) at Buffalo Bills Media Day, June 12, 2023 in Orchard Park, NY.
Deonte Harty (11) at Buffalo Bills Media Day, June 12, 2023 in Orchard Park, NY.
Deonte Harty (11) at Buffalo Bills Media Day, June 12, 2023 in Orchard Park, NY.
Micah Hyde (23) at Buffalo Bills Media Day, June 12, 2023 in Orchard Park, NY.
Deonte Harty (11) at Buffalo Bills Media Day, June 12, 2023 in Orchard Park, NY.
James Cook (4) at Buffalo Bills Media Day, June 12, 2023 in Orchard Park, NY.
James Cook (4) at Buffalo Bills Media Day, June 12, 2023 in Orchard Park, NY.
James Cook (4) at Buffalo Bills Media Day, June 12, 2023 in Orchard Park, NY.
James Cook (4) at Buffalo Bills Media Day, June 12, 2023 in Orchard Park, NY.
Spencer Brown (79) at Buffalo Bills Media Day, June 12, 2023.
Von Miller (40) at Buffalo Bills Media Day, June 12, 2023 in Orchard Park, NY.
Von Miller (40) at Buffalo Bills Media Day, June 12, 2023 in Orchard Park, NY.
Matt Milano (58) at Buffalo Bills Media Day, June 12, 2023 in Orchard Park, NY.
Matt Milano (58) at Buffalo Bills Media Day, June 12, 2023 in Orchard Park, NY.
Nyheim Hines (0) at Buffalo Bills Media Day, June 12, 2023 in Orchard Park, NY.
Nyheim Hines (0) at Buffalo Bills Media Day, June 12, 2023 in Orchard Park, NY.
Nyheim Hines (0) at Buffalo Bills Media Day, June 12, 2023 in Orchard Park, NY.
Nyheim Hines (0) at Buffalo Bills Media Day, June 12, 2023 in Orchard Park, NY.
Nyheim Hines (0) at Buffalo Bills Media Day, June 12, 2023 in Orchard Park, NY.
Nyheim Hines (0) at Buffalo Bills Media Day, June 12, 2023 in Orchard Park, NY.
Christian Benford (47) at Buffalo Bills Media Day, June 12, 2023 in Orchard Park, NY.
Kaiir Elam (24) at Buffalo Bills Media Day, June 12, 2023 in Orchard Park, NY.
Christian Benford (47) at Buffalo Bills Media Day, June 12, 2023 in Orchard Park, NY.
Christian Benford (47) at Buffalo Bills Media Day, June 12, 2023 in Orchard Park, NY.
Christian Benford (47) at Buffalo Bills Media Day, June 12, 2023 in Orchard Park, NY.
Christian Benford (47) at Buffalo Bills Media Day, June 12, 2023 in Orchard Park, NY.
Kaiir Elam (24) at Buffalo Bills Media Day, June 12, 2023 in Orchard Park, NY.
Dawson Knox (88) at Buffalo Bills Media Day, June 12, 2023 in Orchard Park, NY.
Dawson Knox (88) at Buffalo Bills Media Day, June 12, 2023 in Orchard Park, NY.
Dawson Knox (88) at Buffalo Bills Media Day, June 12, 2023 in Orchard Park, NY.
Dawson Knox (88) at Buffalo Bills Media Day, June 12, 2023 in Orchard Park, NY.
Dawson Knox (88) at Buffalo Bills Media Day, June 12, 2023 in Orchard Park, NY.
Dawson Knox (88) at Buffalo Bills Media Day, June 12, 2023 in Orchard Park, NY.
Jordan Phillips (97) at Buffalo Bills Media Day, June 12, 2023 in Orchard Park, NY.
Jordan Phillips (97) at Buffalo Bills Media Day, June 12, 2023 in Orchard Park, NY.
Jordan Phillips (97) at Buffalo Bills Media Day, June 12, 2023 in Orchard Park, NY.
Jordan Phillips (97) at Buffalo Bills Media Day, June 12, 2023 in Orchard Park, NY.
Jordan Phillips (97) at Buffalo Bills Media Day, June 12, 2023 in Orchard Park, NY.
Josh Allen (17) at Buffalo Bills Media Day, June 12, 2023 in Orchard Park, NY.
at Buffalo Bills Media Day, June 12, 2023.
Leonard Floyd (56) at Buffalo Bills Media Day, June 12, 2023 in Orchard Park, NY.
Leonard Floyd (56) at Buffalo Bills Media Day, June 12, 2023 in Orchard Park, NY.
Leonard Floyd (56) at Buffalo Bills Media Day, June 12, 2023 in Orchard Park, NY.
Khalil Shakir (10) at Buffalo Bills Media Day, June 12, 2023 in Orchard Park, NY.
Leonard Floyd (56) at Buffalo Bills Media Day, June 12, 2023 in Orchard Park, NY.
Leonard Floyd (56) at Buffalo Bills Media Day, June 12, 2023 in Orchard Park, NY.
Leonard Floyd (56) at Buffalo Bills Media Day, June 12, 2023 in Orchard Park, NY.
Cam Lewis (39) at Buffalo Bills Media Day, June 12, 2023.
Kingsley Jonathan (59) at Buffalo Bills Media Day, June 12, 2023.
Dion Dawkins (73) at Buffalo Bills Media Day, June 12, 2023 in Orchard Park, NY.
Dion Dawkins (73) at Buffalo Bills Media Day, June 12, 2023 in Orchard Park, NY.
Tyler Bass (2) at Buffalo Bills Media Day, June 12, 2023 in Orchard Park, NY.
Dion Dawkins (73) at Buffalo Bills Media Day, June 12, 2023 in Orchard Park, NY.
Jordan Poyer (21) at Buffalo Bills Media Day, June 12, 2023 in Orchard Park, NY.
Dane Jackson (30) at Buffalo Bills Media Day, June 12, 2023 in Orchard Park, NY.
Jordan Poyer (21) at Buffalo Bills Media Day, June 12, 2023 in Orchard Park, NY.
Jordan Poyer (21) at Buffalo Bills Media Day, June 12, 2023 in Orchard Park, NY.
Jordan Poyer (21) at Buffalo Bills Media Day, June 12, 2023 in Orchard Park, NY.
Jordan Poyer (21) at Buffalo Bills Media Day, June 12, 2023 in Orchard Park, NY.
Jordan Poyer (21) at Buffalo Bills Media Day, June 12, 2023 in Orchard Park, NY.
Jordan Poyer (21) at Buffalo Bills Media Day, June 12, 2023 in Orchard Park, NY.
Micah Hyde (23) at Buffalo Bills Media Day, June 12, 2023 in Orchard Park, NY.
Micah Hyde (23) at Buffalo Bills Media Day, June 12, 2023 in Orchard Park, NY.
Von Miller (40) at Buffalo Bills Media Day, June 12, 2023 in Orchard Park, NY.
Von Miller (40) at Buffalo Bills Media Day, June 12, 2023 in Orchard Park, NY.
Von Miller (40) at Buffalo Bills Media Day, June 12, 2023 in Orchard Park, NY.
Matt Milano (58) at Buffalo Bills Media Day, June 12, 2023 in Orchard Park, NY.
Matt Milano (58) at Buffalo Bills Media Day, June 12, 2023 in Orchard Park, NY.
Matt Milano (58) at Buffalo Bills Media Day, June 12, 2023 in Orchard Park, NY.
Matt Milano (58) at Buffalo Bills Media Day, June 12, 2023 in Orchard Park, NY.
Matt Milano (58) at Buffalo Bills Media Day, June 12, 2023 in Orchard Park, NY.
Matt Milano (58) at Buffalo Bills Media Day, June 12, 2023 in Orchard Park, NY.
Billy Buffalo at Buffalo Bills Media Day, June 12, 2023 in Orchard Park, NY.
Billy Buffalo at Buffalo Bills Media Day, June 12, 2023 in Orchard Park, NY.
Tyler Bass (2) at Buffalo Bills Media Day, June 12, 2023 in Orchard Park, NY.
Billy Buffalo at Buffalo Bills Media Day, June 12, 2023 in Orchard Park, NY.
Kaiir Elam (24) at Buffalo Bills Media Day, June 12, 2023 in Orchard Park, NY.
Kaiir Elam (24) at Buffalo Bills Media Day, June 12, 2023 in Orchard Park, NY.
Kaiir Elam (24) at Buffalo Bills Media Day, June 12, 2023 in Orchard Park, NY.
Reggie Gilliam (41) at Buffalo Bills Media Day, June 12, 2023 in Orchard Park, NY.
Reggie Gilliam (41) at Buffalo Bills Media Day, June 12, 2023 in Orchard Park, NY.
Reggie Gilliam (41) at Buffalo Bills Media Day, June 12, 2023 in Orchard Park, NY.
