The NFL deadline has passed and the Buffalo Bills got in on the fun as they acquired some major secondary help. They acquired safety Amani Hooker from the Tennessee Titans (along with a 5th-round pick) in exchange for a 2nd-round pick.
Buffalo had a major problem with their pass-defense, but they managed to get a huge upgrade with the addition of Hooker, who now joins a contender.
This is the type of move that the Bills needed to make to take advantage of where they are currently at in this season. Sitting at 7-1 and coming off a big 23-6 win over the Minnesota Vikings, the Bills just sent a message to the rest of the NFL that they mean business.
With Buffalo adding help at the deadline, there are clear winners and losers with Hooker coming to Buffalo.
Winners and losers from Amani Hooker-Bills trade
Winners
GM Brandon Beane
Whether you believe that Hooker is a big splash of a trade or not, the Bills got a huge upgrade at safety and it's all thanks to Brandon Beane. He had to show that he deserved his promotion to President of Football Operations back in January.
He had limited cap space to work with, but he landed the Bills some major defensive help on the backend. Excellent work, Beane.
DC Jim Leonhard
In his first year as the defensive coordinator for the Bills, Jim Leonhard has been having a tough time defending the pass. While the run-defense has significantly improved this season, it doesn't make up for what the pass-defense has done.
With the addition of Hooker, that gives Leonhard a versatile defender who is a ballhawk. His presence will now allow Leonhard to get more creative in the secondary.
OLB Greg Rousseau
Coming out of Week 9, Greg Rousseau is tied for the second most sacks in the league (8). He is thriving under Leonhard's scheme and there's a chance he would already have double digit sacks if the Bills' secondary could have held their ground just for another second or two.
Now with Hooker roaming in the secondary, the coverage is going to improve which means that quarterbacks won't be able to get rid of the ball as fast. That's where Rousseau comes in and brings them down for a sack.
S Amani Hooker
I mean, clearly Hooker is the biggest winner of this trade. He's been one of the more solid safeties in football, but the Titans have been a disaster since Mike Vrabel was fired after the 2023 season. Tennessee has been dysfunctional since then, and now Hooker is joining a contender in the Bills, who are the top team in the AFC.
Losers
S Damar Hamlin
When C.J. Gardner-Johnson was suspended for Week 8, Damar Hamlin started in his place and was solid against the Ravens. Then once Gardner-Johnson was released by the Bills, that put the Bills in a bigger hole at safety and they needed to address it.
Hamlin knows the system and was playing at a solid level, but the Bills needed an upgrade. With Hooker now coming to Buffalo, Hamlin is going back to just a rotational secondary player.
S Geno Stone
I truly thought that when Gardner-Johnson was released, Geno Stone was eventually going to be signed to the active roster since he has plenty of starting experience. However, the acquisition of Hooker may have just put Stone back on the practice squad for the rest of the season, and he may only get playing time if an injury occurs.
Add us as a preferred source on Google