NFL Trade Deadline: Do the Bills Need to Make Another Move?
The Bills traded for Amari Cooper on October 15th in a necessary move for the offense. We have already seen the benefits of this move, even if they haven’t been reflected in the box score. His addition has balanced out the receiver room and allowed the receivers on the roster to slot into the roles they should have been in all season. The field has opened up for a healthy Khalil Shakir. The development of Keon Coleman over the last three weeks has been eye-opening, and he now has the pressure removed from having to be “the guy” in the passing game that was there before the move, especially in the absence of Shakir. It’s also allowed Mack Hollins to return to his natural role on the team. I love that he is a great locker room guy and special teams player, but he should never have been in a position to be Josh Allen’s second or third wide receiver to start a game. I don’t know if Brandon Beane needs to make another move, but if he is going to, here are some names that should interest Bills fans.
Pipe Dream
Budda Baker - After being rumored to be on the move earlier this season, I don’t think Baker will get moved now that Arizona has found themselves atop the NFC West in a three-way race at 4-4. The Bills making a move for him would drastically improve a position that has been heavily scrutinized to start the season due to some inconsistent play. Finances come into play here as Baker’s contract is hefty, but he will be a free agent at the end of the season. There would need to be some restructuring and eating of money by the Cardinals to allow this move on the Bills’ side.
Travon Walker - I was surprised by Walker’s name mentioned due to Jacksonville's current state of affairs because I assumed he would be in their long-term plans. He will always be compared to Aidan Hutchinson because of their draft status as 1-2, but he’s having a good start to his career. He has 6.5 sacks this season, which puts him on pace to exceed his career high, 10, which he set last season. This is more of a far-fetched scenario than the one with Baker, but it’s a move that would help the pass rush immediately and replace Von Miller’s production after this season. Walker’s still on his rookie contract, so there would be team control beyond this year and flexibility because Miller’s contract will be off the books before the team decides on anything long-term. The cost to acquire is a factor here. Jacksonville won't be giving Walker away, so it's doubtful, but it's an interesting name to see out there.
Realistic Upgrades
Jeremiah Ledbetter - Ledbetter is on an expiring contract that would fit in the Bills salary cap and wouldn’t be an expensive acquisition. The 6’3”, 300 lb defensive tackle is a run stuffer and the twelfth-ranked interior lineman in run defense, per PFF. Yes, the Bills are coming off their best defensive effort against the run I can remember, but this type of move makes sense financially and improves an area that’s been a weakness most of the season. They are a middle-of-the-pack run defense that gives up 4.8 ypc on the season, so we must ignore the recency bias from the Seattle performance. Adding a player like Ledbetter would be a good depth piece for the DT rotation.
Quandre Diggs - Diggs is having a solid season for a Titans team that appears headed toward a rebuild after making a few trades over the last week. He is also on an expiring contract and does not appear to be in the team's plans after this season. Damar Hamlin has filled the free safety role for the Bills this season, but Diggs would be an immediate upgrade at the position. The price tag to acquire Diggs would likely be a pick swap or late-round pick, and the cap figure could be absorbed.
Trade Deadline Outlook
The Bills are not in a position where they need to make another move before the deadline. I didn’t list a lot of the names being floated around as “on the trading block” because I do not expect Buffalo to be in the mix for most of them, if any. Would adding a player like Baker or Walker be amazing? Yes. It’s just not realistic from a compensation or salary perspective. Diggs and Ledbetter are realistic, and I would be excited with either of them because they are legitimate upgrades in areas of need. Bills fans can expect improvements internally. The return of Von Miller will be a welcome addition to the pass rush. Matt Milano’s potential return before the season’s end is an addition that can’t be replicated in the trade market. I am happy as a fan that the team is in a position to be buyers at this point in the year, but also an opportunity to move some pieces for draft capital. Mike Edwards and Kaiir Elam’s names have been floated as players who could be on the move at the deadline. Again, I don’t want the Bills to make a move for the sake of making a move. If someone makes a reasonable offer, especially for Edwards, who hasn’t seen a lot of playing, the Bills should be open to making a deal. We are less than a week from the trade deadline, and I expect to see a flurry of moves around the NFL before it passes. Will Brandon Beane be in the mix?
