Rasul Douglas: Catalyst that has fueled the Buffalo Bills late-season surge

I've asked this question before in recent weeks but I'm going to ask it again anyway. Is the midseason trade for Rasul Douglas the best in-season move in Brandon Beane's tenure as the general manager of the Buffalo Bills? I think the numbers and win/loss record since his arrival answers that question with a resounding yes!

Beane made the deal for Douglas the day of the trade deadline, bringing over not just a solid cornerback but just as important, a culture and locker room guy. It was said shortly after the deal that several players stopped to chat with Douglas when they learned of the trade. Douglas was the glue of the Packers' defense and one of the team's most respected.

One team's loss is another's gain, right? With the Tre'Davious White injury, the Bills needed someone who could come in and be the team's number-one corner while learning the defense on the fly. Douglas has been that guy and then some. I don't think even the team's brass expected Douglas to perform at the level he is, and he's credited a lot of that to the duo of Micah Hyde and Jordan Poyer.

Through eight games since joining the Bills, Douglas has four Interceptions, eight passes defended, two fumble recoveries, a sack, and a touchdown. The team has gone 5 - 3 since he joined the Bills, including a 5 - 1 record over the last six games. Douglas has helped solidify a secondary that was in flux since Tre White went out with his injury back in Week four.

Douglas is under contract with the Bills through next season, so we know he's going to be on the team for at least one more season. Between him, and the continued development of Christian Benford, the Bills duo could be one of the best in the league going forward. He's given the Bills' defense the confidence upfront that guys like Leonard Floyd, A.J. Epenesa, and Ed Oliver can pin their ears back and go after the quarterback, knowing the coverage on the backend is solid.

As the Bills get ready to face the Miami Dolphins for the AFC East, let's keep in mind that Douglas wasn't on the team during the Bills' first matchup with Miami. I'm going to go out on a limb and say Douglas will get a pick in this game. Tua's game is built on timing and rhythm and there may not be a better corner than Douglas with anticipated these types of throws and stealing one or two.