The AFC is wide open.
Every team, including the Buffalo Bills, has clear flaws. With no true frontrunner in the conference, this might be the year Buffalo should consider making a few deals at the NFL trade deadline.
After six games, the Bills’ biggest issues are at wide receiver on offense and at all three levels of the defense. With no shortage of issues to address, who could Buffalo target ahead of the November 4th deadline?
Here’s a look at ten targets for Buffalo.
Wide receiver
Jakobi Meyers, Raiders: Jakobi Meyers requested a trade earlier this season, but the Raiders shut it down. Weeks later, after a 2-4 start, Las Vegas seems more open to the idea of moving Meyers.
Meyers was listed as inactive ahead of Sunday’s game against the Kansas City Chiefs. If Buffalo were looking to add a wide receiver ahead of the deadline, Meyers would be a good fit in the offense. Meyers can line up outside or in the slot and he’s an excellent blocker.
Meyers’ production is also undeniable. He’s gone over 800 yards receiving in every season since 2021.
Calvin Ridley, Titans: The Titans should be sellers at the trade deadline after firing their head coach. With that in mind, Buffalo should inquire about Ridley, a wide receiver coming off back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons.
Ridley would give Buffalo’s wide receiver room an immediate boost. Entering this week, Ridley is averaging 18.1 yards per reception, the third-best YPR average in the league. Considering Buffalo’s downfield passing struggles, Ridley would help immediately in this area.
Ridley is currently dealing with a hamstring injury, but, if healthy, Ridley would be an upgrade to the wide receiver room.
Rashid Shaheed, Saints: Although he’s nowhere near as polished as Meyers or Ridley, Shaheed is an interesting name to watch. The 27-year-old has excellent speed (4.38 40-yard dash) and has averaged 15.6 yards per reception in his career. If Buffalo is looking for a field stretcher, Shaheed makes a lot of sense.
In addition to playing receiver, Shaheed is a special teams standout returner. He made the All-Pro team and Pro Bowl roster in 2023 for his return ability and was a 4-time All-American kick returner in his collegiate career.
Defensive tackle
Jeffery Simmons, Titans: Is it realistic? No, but if you are going to go all-in, Simmons is the type of player you try to acquire at the NFL trade deadline.
The spine of Buffalo’s defense has been flawed all season long and Simmons would immediately fix the defensive front. Injuries have plagued the defensive tackle position early in the season. The team was able to get Ed Oliver back before the bye after he missed several weeks with an ankle injury, but rookie T.J. Sanders is currently on the injured reserve and DaQuan Jones is likely out for a few weeks after popping his calf pre-game against the Atlanta Falcons.
A Simmons-Oliver combination with Deone Walker getting mixed in would significantly improve the defensive tackle room and make life easier for Buffalo’s edge rushers and linebackers.
It’s important to note that Simmons exited Sunday’s game against the Patriots with a hamstring injury.
Linebacker
Logan Wilson, Bengals: If the Bills wanted to add a linebacker, Logan Wilson is a realistic target. Cincinnati recently demoted Wilson for rookie Barrett Carter. Yet, when the Bengals needed a big play on Thursday Night Football, it was Wilson who delivered.
Josh Allen’s former teammate at Wyoming has been solid in his NFL career and did not receive a good explanation for his benching.
“It was surprising,” Wilson said. “The reason I was given was because they wanted a spark on defense. I don’t know what exactly that means. I asked if there was anything I can do to improve and be better, and wasn’t really given a great reason. That’s the hardest part of the whole situation. That’s not going to change who I am because of the cards I’ve been dealt. I’m going to continue to be a good teammate, support (Carter) with anything he needs and any help he needs. That’s going to continue to be who I am.”
In addition to being a team captain, something that would appeal to Buffalo, Wilson is also a strong tackler. This season, Wilson has the best missed tackle rate among all Bengals linebackers. Considering Buffalo’s issues with tackling, Wilson would be a welcome addition to the linebacker room.
Cornerback
Cam Taylor-Britt, Bengals: Buffalo could stand pat at cornerback if Maxwell Hairston’s return is imminent, but Taylor-Britt is a player worth inquiring about. The former Bengals starter was a healthy scratch on Thursday Night Football. As a rookie, Taylor-Britt looked like an emerging star.
Bengals head coach Zac Taylor said Taylor-Britt needs to be more consistent to get back on the field.
While the talent is certainly there, Buffalo could opt against adding Taylor-Britt due to his struggles tackling this season. The Bills are among the worst tackling teams in the league and Taylor-Britt’s missed tackle percentage of 26.7 is second-worst on the Bengals among players with at least 100 defensive snaps.
Riq Woolen, Seahawks: Another trade candidate is Seattle’s Riq Woolen. Head coach Mike McDonald is making it seem as if Woolen is going nowhere, but he’s fallen on the depth chart in Seattle.
Woolen’s athleticism is off the charts, but he has struggled since his rookie year, which saw him record six interceptions and a defensive touchdown. Buffalo’s cornerback play has been a disaster this season, so you could do worse than rolling the dice on Woolen’s athletic traits.
Safety
Jason Pinnock, 49ers: Bill Barnwell gets credit for this idea, but it’s a good one. Pinnock, a capable starter, is buried on the 49ers’ depth chart behind Marques Sigle, Ji-Ayir Brown and Malik Mustapha.
Buffalo’s biggest weakness on defense this season has been at the safety position. Taylor Rapp and Cole Bishop have both been liabilities, but Rapp’s fall-off has really been noticeable. Pinnock would give the Bills an option to replace Rapp if they didn’t feel that rookie Jordan Hancock was ready, or if they had questions about Jordan Poyer potentially filling in for the remainder of the year.
Jeremy Chinn, Raiders: Another safety to inquire about would be veteran Jeremy Chinn. The 27-year-old signed a two-year deal with the Raiders in the offseason and should be made available after the team’s 2-5 start.
Buffalo showed interest in Chinn years old during the pre-draft process. The former defensive rookie of the year runner-up has recorded 100 tackles of more in three of five seasons.
Ashtyn Davis, Dolphins: In-division trades don’t usually happen, but the Dolphins’ season is all but over. Considering Buffalo’s safety issues, the team should consider reaching out to Miami about Davis’ availability. He signed a one-year, $2.5 million contract this season and is set to hit free agency next year. Davis is an excellent athlete with terrific recovery speed.
In addition to playing safety, Davis has played nickel cornerback reps in his career.
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