NFL Spin Zone
Fansided

Buffalo Bills: 5 Players who won’t survive 2017 training camp

By Brenden Deeg

Jun 14, 2016; Orchard Park, NY, USA; Buffalo Bills quarterback Cardale Jones (7) drops to pass as offensive coordinator Greg Roman rushes during mini-camp at the ADPRO Sports Training Center. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Hoffman-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 14, 2016; Orchard Park, NY, USA; Buffalo Bills quarterback Cardale Jones (7) drops to pass as offensive coordinator Greg Roman rushes during mini-camp at the ADPRO Sports Training Center. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Hoffman-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
6 of 6
Next
Aug 23, 2014; Orchard Park, NY, USA; Buffalo Bills inside linebacker Preston Brown (52) looks to make a tackle on Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Bobby Rainey (43) during the second half at Ralph Wilson Stadium. Tampa Bay beats Buffalo 27 to 14. Mandatory Credit: Timothy T. Ludwig-USA TODAY Sports
Aug 23, 2014; Orchard Park, NY, USA; Buffalo Bills inside linebacker Preston Brown (52) looks to make a tackle on Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Bobby Rainey (43) during the second half at Ralph Wilson Stadium. Tampa Bay beats Buffalo 27 to 14. Mandatory Credit: Timothy T. Ludwig-USA TODAY Sports /

1. Preston Brown

The biggest surprise of the Buffalo Bills training camp will be Preston Brown losing his starting spot. The fourth-round pick out of Louisville is entering training camp fighting for a roster spot after being a large part of the Bills defense the past three seasons. The middle linebacker has had over 109 tackles in each of his three years in the league, including 139 last season for the Bills.

With these stats, the question is, why would the Bills cut such an integral part of their defense?

Total tackles by a player doesn’t always tell the whole story. Brown doesn’t have the ground breaking speed a middle linebacker needs to succeed in this league. He was constantly getting beat on the outside runs last season. He also struggled in covering opposing tight ends, as he was often picked on in the passing game.

Next: Fantasy Football: Top 101 PPR players, Nos. 101-99

Last season, Pro Football Focus gave Brown a measly overall grade of 49.8. It’s hard to see a team cutting a player with 139 tackles the previous season, yet Brown is in a tough position as he tries to regain his spot. McDermott is looking to shake things up on defense, and it could all start with cutting Brown. With second-year linebacker Reggie Ragland coming into camp gunning to take his spot, Brown could be a camp cut for the Bills.

Home/Buffalo Bills