4 trades the Buffalo Bills can make during second wave of free agency
By Kevin Devine
The Buffalo Bills entered the season with limited salary cap room, knowing that a big-ticket free agent splurge like last year’s Von Miller deal was unlikely. GM Brandon Beane has navigated the first wave of the 2023 NFL free agency period with aplomb, restructuring contracts, adding useful additions to improve the Bills’ weapons. Even holding firm on his own valuation of Jordan Poyer before striking to re-sign the Bills star safety when the opportunity presented itself.
Yet, Bills fans remain antsy, knowing that the team is squarely in the middle of a window of contention that should remain open for several years due to the presence of superstars Josh Allen and Stefon Diggs paired with a solid defensive core. Fans want an addition that will move the needle and put the 2023 roster over the top and take them from contenders to Super Bowl favorites.
While Beane has been wise to balance putting together a competitive roster without sacrificing future flexibility the way the Los Angeles Rams did by giving up too many significant early draft picks, there are still moves that the Bills can make without sacrificing their future. After releasing WR Isaiah McKenzie they have approximately $11 million of cap space available while still leaving room to sign draft picks and maneuver within the season.
If needed, they could extend or restructure several other contracts such as Micah Hyde or Boogie Basham in order to create additional space throughout the season. All this can be done without trading a major contract such as Ed Oliver, which remains a possibility to gain additional cap room if needed.
With room to maneuver and several needs left to be filled to complete their roster for 2023, let’s take a look at 4 potential trade targets for the Bills to prioritize during the second wave of the free agency period. While some will clamor for the Bills to make a big splash for a big-ticket DeAndre Hopkins, Jerry Jeudy or Derrick Henry-type player, the following are all players who both could legitimately be shopped by their teams over the coming weeks and would more realistically fit into the Bills plans for a variety of reasons, without hampering them significantly moving forward.