{"id":869599,"date":"2026-04-19T02:30:40","date_gmt":"2026-04-19T02:30:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/869599\/"},"modified":"2026-04-19T02:30:40","modified_gmt":"2026-04-19T02:30:40","slug":"how-bills-dewayne-carter-declaring-recovery-timeline-impacts-buffalos-draft-plan","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/869599\/","title":{"rendered":"How Bills’ DeWayne Carter Declaring Recovery Timeline Impacts Buffalo’s Draft Plan"},"content":{"rendered":"

When DeWayne Carter tore his Achilles tendon<\/a> before the start of the 2025 season, there was concern not only about his status for that campaign but also for the start of 2026.<\/p>\n

With that said, during a recent appearance<\/a> on the\u00a0Centered on Buffalo\u00a0podcast, Carter declared that he will be ready for training camp this summer.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ll be ready to go,\u201d said Carter regarding his readiness for training camp. \u201cI\u2019m excited. I\u2019m really excited.\u201d<\/p>\n

That\u2019s good news for Carter, but questions remain as to how the Bills view his status and potential to contribute in new defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard\u2019s defense. Their confidence, or perhaps lack thereof, in his ability to still make a difference for the team moving forward could have quite the impact on how the Bills see their roster as it stands entering the NFL Draft.<\/p>\n

Touted prospect\"DeWayne<\/p>\n

Bills defensive tackle DeWayne Carter heads to the field on the opening day of Buffalo Bills training camp at St. John Fisher Universtiy. | Shawn Dowd\/Rochester Democrat and Chronicle \/ USA TODAY NETWORK<\/p>\n

Carter was once a significant part of the team\u2019s plans along the defensive line after he was selected in the third round of the 2024 draft. However, an injury-plagued first professional season forced a slowed start to his career before he sustained a season-ending ailment last summer.<\/p>\n

Entering the third year of his rookie deal, a pivotal year for him and the team, he should be presented with an opportunity to earn his spot, but nothing will be guaranteed. Buffalo drafted two interior defensive linemen in the first four rounds of the draft a year ago in second-rounder T.J. Sanders and fourth-round pick Deone Walker, and the Bills are believed to be searching for help at the position<\/a> entering the 2026 draft.<\/p>\n

If they are still high on Carter\u2019s prospects, that would allow them the luxury of waiting to address the position late in the draft or perhaps through free agency shortly thereafter. If not, it could lead the Bills to spend a premium selection on a big body inside, with Carter\u2019s spot on the roster being up for grabs.<\/p>\n

Poor results\"DeWayne<\/p>\n

Buffalo Bills defensive tackle DeWayne Carter (90) stretches during Minicamp at Highmark Stadium. | Gregory Fisher-Imagn Images<\/p>\n

After a year in which Buffalo allowed the fifth-most yards rushing in the league [2,315] and produced the 20th-most sacks [36], it makes sense that one of its presumed targets in the upcoming selection process is a boost for the team\u2019s D-line. However, that presumption assumes the Bills have completely given up on Carter, which may not be the case.<\/p>\n

Even when he was on the field during his rookie campaign, there wasn\u2019t much to write home about when it came to Carter\u2019s production.\u00a0Pro Football Focus\u00a0gave him an overall grade of 41.4<\/a> during the 2024 season, which was 121st out of 132 players. He finished that year with 14 tackles, five tackles for loss and three quarterback hits while playing 42% of the team\u2019s defensive snaps. Still, he hasn\u2019t truly been given a chance to develop, and if he can stay healthy, anything could happen.<\/p>\n

Along with Carter, Sanders and Walker, Ed Oliver is the team\u2019s top returning defensive lineman. But other than that, contributing roles will be up for grabs beginning at St. John Fisher University, where the team will meet for training camp in a few months.<\/p>\n

And based on his recent remarks, Carter expects to be in the thick of that competition for playing time. We\u2019ll see how things play out, but if the Bills make a move for an interior DL with one of their picks early in the draft, that could spell trouble for Carter\u2019s chances to crack the roster out of camp.<\/p>\n

Sign up to our free newsletter and follow us on Facebook, X and Instagram<\/a> for the latest news.<\/p>\n

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