In Week 7, the Buffalo Bills are 5-1 as they enter their bye week. The squad has established itself as one of the best in the league and a legitimate Super Bowl contender after defeating the Kansas City Chiefs on the road in Week 6. The Bills’ roster is very strong, but it doesn’t preclude them from making adjustments on November 1 during the NFL trade deadline. Here are three trades the Bills can make before the deadline to strengthen the group and prepare for the home stretch.
3. Johnathan Abram, Las Vegas Raiders
We’ll get to the star running back, who is the No. 1 trade target on our list, but first, let’s talk about some other areas where the Bills can strengthen their depth before the 2022 NFL trade deadline.
One is secure.
Damar Hamlin, a second-year player selected in the sixth round of the 2021 draught, has done well filling in for All-Pro Micah Hyde, who is out for the season. The Bills are currently weak at safety, therefore it’s concerning that Jordan Poyer had to take a van to the Chiefs game because he couldn’t fly due to a rib/lung issue.
Several past first-round picks, including safety Johnathan Abram and defensive lineman Clelin Farrell, are apparently being marketed by the 1-4 Las Vegas Raiders. Josh McDaniels has given Tre’von Moehrig and Duron Harmon more playing time, making Abram expendable.
You don t have to see Johnathan Abram, you ll hear him @JohnathanAbram1 @Raiders pic.twitter.com/fYwl0D7V1s
— The Checkdown (@thecheckdown) March 3, 2021
Abrams is a powerhouse in the box and probably won’t be the same kind of instant starter next to Poyer that Hyde was. However, he might be very effective against teams who emphasise the run, and at this juncture, the Bills would benefit from any seasoned safety.
Brandon Beane should research this potential trade partner for the Bills if the Raiders are serious about getting rid of Abram and are prepared to provide a late-round pick in exchange.
2. Austin Hooper, Tennessee Titans
Dawson Knox, a crucial component of the Bills offence, caught the game-winning touchdown against the Chiefs. But there isn’t much to mention behind him.
The other two tight ends on the Bills’ depth chart are Tommy Sweeney, a seventh-round pick in 2019 and undrafted second-year player Quintin Morris, who spent the most of last season on the practise squad.
Morris, who replaced Sweeney as the TE2 early in the season, has shown some promise, but neither one is an offensive weapon. It would offer offensive coordinator Ken Dorsey more options and enable him to be more inventive with formations and passing schemes if he brought in an experienced, pass-catching tight end.
The tight end up for grabs who could end up as a Bills trade deadline target is Austin Hooper of the Tennessee Titans.
The Titans are trying to sell the TE, who has only had 11 targets and six catches for 55 yards this year. Hopper was a Pro Bowl pass-catcher who has 146 catches for 1,447 yards and 10 touchdowns over his best seasons (2018–19).
It’s possible that Hooper finds his finest form once Josh Allen is handing him the ball, which might elevate the Bills offence to new heights.
1. Christian McCaffrey, Carolina Panthers
We appreciate your patience as we finished the amuse-bouche and appetiser before moving on to the main dinner. Everyone is buzzing about the Bills’ trade deadline deal for Carolina Panthers running back Christian McCaffrey.
McCaffrey has emerged as the most fascinating athlete who might be traded at the 2022 NFL trade deadline as the Panthers’ fire sale gets under way. The talent of the 2017 eighth-overall pick is obvious. The Stanford product recorded 287 carries for 1,387 yards in his best season (2019), 116 receptions for 1,005 yards, and 19 total touchdowns.
Christian McCaffrey REALLY likes scoring touchdowns. pic.twitter.com/O496Na16xU
— NFL on CBS (@NFLonCBS) October 6, 2019
The problem is that he only appeared in 10 games in the two seasons after that. McCaffrey isn’t your typical bell cow back at just 5-foot-11 and 205 pounds, and his physique hasn’t held up like one either. Although he has remained largely injury-free this year, it is still a concern.
However, the Bills may restrict McCaffrey’s usage to high-stakes scenarios and games with the support of backs like Devin Singletary and Zack Moss, hopefully protecting his health. The idea of a healthy Christian McCaffrey joining Allen and the Bills offence is fantastic for Bills fans and horrifying for the opposition.
McCaffrey’s money and the effort required to capture him are his additional drawbacks in addition to the health concerns.
The next three seasons would add $19.5, $19.5, and $15.4 to the cap, making him the highest-paid running back in the league. Similar to the deals for Tyreek Hill, Davante Adams, and A.J. Bouye, it would probably cost a first-round selection and more to sign him with Buffalo. transactions made by Brown over the summer.
That’s a lot to pay and give up, but GM Brandon Beane hasn’t exactly made a fool of himself in Orchard Park, so Bills supporters ought to be on board if he decides to make a trade deadline move for Christian McCaffrey.
The 3 best deals the Bills need to complete before the 2022 NFL trade deadline first appeared on ClutchPoints.
