The Buffalo Bills did not make any trades at the recent NFL deadline, but general manager Brandon Beane was reportedly active in pursuing significant player acquisitions. According to NFL Network“s Tom Pelissero, the Bills attempted to trade for wide receiver Jaylen Waddle from the Miami Dolphins and defensive lineman Quinnen Williams from the New York Jets.
Pelissero noted that the Bills were the highest bidders for Waddle, yet both the Dolphins and Jets resisted helping a division rival. “The Bills were the high bidder for Dolphins WR Jaylen Waddle and also tried to acquire then-Jets DL Quinnen Williams before Tuesday”s trade deadline, per sources. In both cases, their AFC East rivals ultimately gave Buffalo no help in its push for a sixth straight division title,” Pelissero reported.
Additional insights from NFL Network”s Cameron Wolfe reveal that the Bills were “very aggressive” in their attempts to strengthen both their wide receiver corps and defensive line. Wolfe mentioned that Miami was seeking a first-round pick along with “another significant pick” in exchange for Waddle, although it remains unclear if the Bills went that high in their offer.
Ultimately, Waddle remained with the Dolphins when the deadline passed, while Williams was traded to the Dallas Cowboys for one first-round pick, one second-round pick, and defensive lineman Mazi Smith. Given the fierce competition within the AFC East, trades with the Jets and Dolphins were always going to be challenging, but Beane”s efforts highlight his determination to improve the team.
The Bills are facing pressing needs at both the wide receiver and defensive line positions, particularly due to injuries to Ed Oliver and underwhelming performances from the current receiving unit. With aspirations for a Super Bowl run, Buffalo had ample motivation to seek reinforcements.
As the dust settled after the trade deadline, the Bills were left pondering how they could have accommodated the contracts of either or both players, especially with only $2.7 million in cap space available. Fans will likely speculate about what could have been had the trades materialized.
In related NFL news, updates on other players and teams continue to emerge, including injury reports and potential trades that did not come to fruition.
