3 players Buffalo Bills should dangle as last-minute trade bait
Could the Bills float a few names out there in exchange for some draft capital, prior to the start of the season?
By Ryan Heckman
With the regular season fast approaching, teams are now getting their rosters ready for cut downs. The Buffalo Bills enter their final preseason game against the Chicago Bears with most of their roster set.
But, could a potential change be on the horizon if other needy teams came calling?
General manager Brandon Beane has never been one to shy away from making a move if he sees it benefiting his Bills. In this case, we wanted to explore a handful of names that the team might dangle out there as trade bait before the regular season kicks off.
1. Ryan Bates, G
Last year, general manager Brandon Beane fought hard to keep veteran offensive lineman Ryan Bates in Buffalo. He succeeded, only to later opt for some competition for Bates, who struggled over the 2022 season.
Buffalo drafted O'Cyrus Torrence who now looks like he'll be the starter for the foreseeable future. Meanwhle, Bates is a nice depth player to have just in case. But, maybe the Bills could throw his name out in trade discussions for teams needing a guard.
Bates did perform admirably two seasons ago, and could still have the potential to turn things around at only 26 years old. Over the course of the 2021 season, Bates shined especially when it came to pass blocking, where he earned a strong grade of 74.5 in that department.
If the Bills could get something like a mid-round pick (think, fifth or even sixth-round) for Bates, he might be worth losing for that price, especially if Torrence looks the part.