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USA Today

This preseason has predominantly showcased one aspect of the Buffalo Bills -- they are deep. Crazy deep. 

The demonstration began with Jake Fromm leading a last-minute game-winning drive to beat the Detroit Lions in the first exhibition game. Then, Mitchell Trubisky resembled Denzel Washington in Man On Fire in his return to Chicago against the Bears, a game that featured a variety of dazzling performances from offensive skill-position players and defensive linemen. Buffalo's front office and coaching staff has to be as ecstatic as possible about the club's collective performance this preseason. 

We've barely seen Bills first-teamers. That's as expected. The second and third team have made waves. Let's pinpoint whose stock is up and whose is down as a result of the strong exhibition demonstration from the Bills to date. 

Stock up: Gregory Rousseau

Do you, Gregory. The No. 30 overall selection in April has six pressures on 19 pass-rush snaps -- including two sacks -- in two preseason games. He's utilized his length and converted speed to power much better than he did at Miami when he had 15.5 sacks as a redshirt freshman in 2019. 

As such a young player who opted out in 2020 and looks more like the tallest cornerback in the NFL than a defensive end, there was a general thought Rousseau's acclimation process would take considerable time. Based on what he's shown this preseason, that might not be the case. 

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Stock down: Mario Addison

Addison has not played a snap in the preseason to date, normally a fine indicator a player's job is safe as a prestigious member of the first-team unit. Addison might be one of the rare cases in which play of the more youthful, cheaper initial second-teamer leads to a demotion, release or trade. 

Rousseau, A.J. Epenesa, Efe Obada, and even 2021 second-rounder Carlos Basham have done major work through two exhibition games. That quartet coupled with longtime No. 1 EDGE in Buffalo, Jerry Hughes, very well could represent the defensive ends the Bills want on their opening-day roster who'll get ample opportunities to rush the passer. 

Stock up: A.J. Epenesa

Epenesa labored through a body reconstruction last year in what was already an unprecedented season. After weighing in at 275 at the combine, the Bills wanted him playing in the low 260s to maximize his quickness. While the 2020 second-round pick did flash more speed than what he demonstrated at Iowa, the power element of his game -- which was vital to his draft profile -- took a hit. 

This preseason, Epenesa has proven the strength is back. He has five pressures on a mere 19 opportunities, and a few have been of the highlight-reel variety -- nasty bull rushes directly into the quarterback's lap. Epenesa looks ready to take a giant step in his second season in Buffalo.    

Stock down: Dane Jackson

Jackson is the latest competition for Levi Wallace's No. 2 cornerback job, and like just about everyone who's come before him, he's lost to the former undrafted free agent from the University of Alabama. From training camp through the preseason, Jackson did not separate himself or even close play to Wallace's level in coverage. Jackson had an opportunity to be close to a full-time starter in his second season after hearing his name called in the seventh round a year ago. But it looks like he'll be relegated to rotational piece in 2021. 

Stock up: Devin Singletary

My word, Singletary has made a sizable impact on his reputation on just 10 preseason carries. He's averaged 6.3 yards per rush with a flat-out ridiculous seven missed tackles forced and a hefty 4.40 yards-after-contact-per-rush average. The touchdown he scored against the Bears looked like a play that was dead on arrival. Singletary took the outside pitch, cutback to the inside -- leaving the waiting defender whiffing at Soldier Field air -- before scampering in for six. The former third-round pick has been ultra-elusive from the moment he stepped on an NFL field. This summer, he's looked more dynamic than ever. 

Stock down: Vernon Butler

Due to the injury to Harrison Phillips, Butler probably will initially make the Bills, but the former first-round pick by the Panthers -- when GM Brandon Beane was in Carolina -- has done nothing of substance to showcase he's finally ready to become an impressive one technique in the NFL. 

The size and athletic traits are there -- Butler is 6-foot-4 and 330 pounds. Where have the splash plays been? Is he devouring double teams to free teammates? Not really. And the pass-rush productivity has almost been non-existent. 

Stock up: Reggie Gilliam

The Bills are a wide-receiver based team with an incredibly deep receiver group. Dawson Knox and Jacob Hollister look like the No. 1 and No. 2 tight ends, and during the Sean McDermott-Beane era, Buffalo hasn't been shy about carrying extra, versatile offensive linemen on the 53-man roster for insurance. Gilliam is a fullback-tight end hybrid who went undrafted in 2020. But even more impressively than a year ago, when he snuck onto the initial 53-man roster, Gilliam has proven himself as a multi-dimensional piece this preseason. Against the Bears in the second exhibition game, Gilliam scored two short-yardage rushing touchdowns and pass-protected like a seasoned veteran. He can catch too. Given Brian Daboll's experience utilizing well-rounded running backs in New England, Gilliam just might make Buffalo's roster again. 

Stock down: Cody Ford

He's moved positions early in his NFL career and battled injuries, so it hasn't been a cinch. But Ford is gradually drifting toward bust status. The former second-round selection is reportedly healthy but hasn't taken a clear step forward in pass protection through two preseason games, and that's where he was a liability in his first two pro seasons. 

The guard spot is the one uncertain position on the Bills roster, and the front office and coaching staff want Ford to win the starting gig. I can write he's unequivocally done that heading into the preseason finale. There's a chance he's beaten out by former undrafted free agent Ike Boettger. Yikes.  

Stock up: Efe Obada

Obada has the taken the second-most pass-rush snaps for the Bills this preseason, and he's rewarded the defense with the most pressures -- eight. As a former Panther, Obada has a connection to McDermott, Beane, and defensive line coach Eric Washington. At 6-6 and 265 pounds, the former International Pathway Player has positional flexibility, an attribute Buffalo loves.