The Buffalo Bills ultimately stood pat at the NFL trade deadline, but it wasn't for a lack of trying. In fact, the Bills were swinging for the fences.
According to NFL Network's Tom Pelissero, the Bills tried to acquire wide receiver Jaylen Waddle and defensive lineman Quinnin Williams from the Miami Dolphins and New York Jets, respectively.
Pelissero adds that the Bills were even the highest bidder for Waddle and offered a first-round pick and a third-round pick, but that wasn't enough.
"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 6th straight division title," Pelissero reported.
NFL Network's Cameron Wolfe adds that the Bills were "very aggressive" at the trade deadline in their quest to upgrade both wide receiver and defensive line.
He adds that Miami was looking for a first-round pick and "another significant pick" in return for Waddle.
Of course, Waddle ended up staying in Miami as the deadline passed, but Williams was shipped off to the Dallas Cowboys for one first-round pick, one second-round pick and defensive lineman Mazi Smith.
While a trade with the Jets and/or Dolphins was always going to be highly unlikely considering they are AFC East foes, it is nice to see general manager Brandon Beane at least try.
Buffalo had a massive need at both positions thanks to the injury to Ed Oliver and the disappointing play in the wide receivers room. Adding to that, the Bills had plenty of motivation to go for it with their Super Bowl aspirations.
It would have been interesting to see how the Bills could fit one or both of those contracts in with Buffalo only having $2.7 million in cap space.
Guess we'll never know.
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