-Marcus Easley should be back if they're not going to be silly about it; he's a damn good gunner.
Prediction: Back
-Lee Smith would probably mesh well as a blocking TE; but with this new coaching staff and how Roman runs things? I have no idea how much weight is put on his inability to catch consistently and be reliable.
Prediction: Unsure
-Erik Pears; bad tackle, atrocious guard.
Prediction: Gone
-Jerry Hughes was a good pass rusher. He certainly benefited from being on the best defensive line in the league, but that also doesn't mean he's not a good football player. Assuming the money is relatively commensurate with where he sees himself, he'll be back. Unless a team is foolish enough to really throw a huge wad of cash at him, he's probably going to stay put. By foolish, I think most teams are aware of the defensive line as a unit, so handing him a lot of money is risky, however he could get a considerable offer that might pique his interest. I still he'll be back in Buffalo, more than likely
Prediction: Back
-Jarius Wynn seemed to do alright for us in a pinch, and could be a good depth signing. I think it depends what the team offers him and what other teams will offer him, and what type of role he might have with them. Since we're shifting back to a Rex style defense, the odds of him returning aren't as good, considering the success Manny Lawson had in this system. He might get a decent look from another team as well.
Prediction: Gone
-Brandon Spikes was encouraged to look elsewhere in the NFL for a 3-down linebacking job, as he sees himself as a player capable of filling that role. I don't think many teams will, however. But you know the saying, it only takes one team to do it, and maybe someone out there is desperate for a linebacker, defense presence, or run stuffer. Who knows, really. With Kiko out, they might be more enticed to bring Spikes back into the fold, maybe just not much more than before. I'm sure their offer still stands if he wants to come back, it's all a matter of what he finds out there. I'd lean towards him finding a more enticing gig elsewhere.
Prediction: Gone
-Larry Dean did well on Special Teams, if I recall correctly. They could also use a little linebacker depth. Barring another signing at the position, he'll likely be back to serve as a reserve defensive player and a decent special teamer. They probably don't want to part with the guys that helped make that unit what it was last year.
Prediction: Back
-Stevenson Sylvester would probably be a depth signing, if anything. Like Larry Dean, it's worth seeing who Rex might bring in, not that Harris won't be leaving the Jets. I'm inclined to think Rex will bring in somebody, so that leaves Sylvester the odd man out in a numbers game.
Prediction: Gone
-Da'Norris Searcy is going to get paid, like he should. He's been a consistently, and sneakily, good starter for the Bills through a number of scheme changes and rotations at the position. More often than you might think, he found himself around the ball or involved in a big play. He's not a stellar athlete, but he more than makes up for it in his mental game. It's a shame the Bills won't have enough money to invest in him, thanks to the Aaron Williams deal. Not that I resent that deal, of course, but paying Searcy starter money would tie up too much money at safety when Duke Williams was hot on his heels for the starter job.
Prediction: Gone, sadly.
-Chris Hairston will likely not be back. He didn't seem a whole lot of the field, there's some second year players who are itching for more snaps, and they're bound to bring in more guys to patch up the offensive line. Maybe they bring him back, but I highly doubt he makes the final 53.
Prediction: Gone
So, in the end, only Easley, Hughes, and Dean return, which I don't find all that surprising. There's not a whole lot of eye-popping talent in our free agent crop, and with a coaching change, there's not much incentive to bring most of them back. Lee Smith is the only wild card of the bunch, I don't know whether Greg Roman wants more jack-of-all trade types to deceive opposing defenses, or if he's fine with a one-trick pony in Lee Smith. Time will tell. Time, free agency, and the draft.