A hybrid DE/DT, the big man is an intriguing player for the Bills
The Buffalo Bills use a heavy rotation along the defensive front. This puts an added emphasis on depth players. Unlike along the offensive line, however, the Bills don’t generally put much emphasis on versatility among the team’s defensive end players.
Granted, the Bills do some cross-training between one-tech and three-tech defensive tackles, but they don’t generally kick their edge players inside. Sometimes they’ll do it in obvious pass situations with some of their bigger-bodied defensive ends, but for the most part, the edge players stay outside.
That’s part of what makes the subject of today’s edition of “91 players in 91 days” so intriguing. He’s a defensive end, but he has the size to handle duties as a three-tech in 3rd & Long situations. Can he make the 53-man roster this year?
Kameron Cline
- Number: 96
- Position: DE
- Height/Weight: 6’4”, 283 pounds
- Age: 26 (27 on 2/19/2025)
- Experience/Draft: 1; signed with the Indianapolis Colts following the 2020 NFL Draft
- College: South Dakota
- Acquired: Claimed by Bills off waivers on 5/5/2023
Financial situation (per Spotrac): Cline signed a reserve/futures contract on January 22 after Buffalo’s season ended. That two-year deal is worth a total of $1.954 million, of which $9,000 is guaranteed. If he’s released, that guaranteed figure is what Buffalo will carry in the form of a dead-cap charge. If he makes the roster, Cline carries a cap hit of $919,500 for the 2024 season.
2023 Recap: Cline spent the offseason and preseason with the Bills after spending the previous three seasons as a member of the Indianapolis Colts. Cline appeared in all three of Buffalo’s preseason games, and he was extremely productive overall. He totaled five tackles, one of which went for a loss, and added 1.5 sacks. He didn’t make the final roster, however, and he was waived at the end of the preseason. He signed to Buffalo’s practice squad the day after he was waived.
At some point, Cline suffered an injury that required the team to place him on the practice squad Injured Reserve, which they did on November 7. He returned to the practice squad on December 28. Cline wasn’t elevated from the practice squad at all during the regular season or the playoffs.
Positional outlook: Cline is one of 10 edge players competing for a spot on the roster. He’s joined by Greg Rousseau, A.J. Epenesa, Casey Toohill, Dawuane Smoot, Von Miller, Javon Solomon, David Ugwoegbu, Rondell Bothroyd, and Kingsley Jonathan.
2024 Offseason: Cline is healthy and participated in all offseason work. He’s ready for training camp.
2024 Season outlook: I don’t believe that Cline is a serious contender for a roster spot, but that doesn’t make me any less intrigued by his potential. He has some hybrid possibilities up front, and if he’s productive again in the preseason, it might make him a little more difficult to stash on the practice squad.
However, with Rousseau, Epenesa, and Miller easy roster locks, that leaves two spots for the remaining players. Jonathan is clearly ahead of Cline in the coaching staff’s eyes, and I’d imagine that both Smoot and Solomon are, as well. Cline is likely ticketed for the practice squad again, barring an incredible training camp and preseason.