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ORCHARD PARK, NEW YORK - DECEMBER 28: Josh Allen #17 of the Buffalo Bills warms up prior to the game against the Philadelphia Eagles at Highmark Stadium on December 28, 2025 in Orchard Park, New York. (Photo by Nic Antaya/Getty Images)
The Buffalo Bills face a bit of a crossroads. After an overtime loss in the divisional round of the AFC playoffs in Denver, Buffalo fired HC Sean McDermott after eight playoff appearances in nine seasons. Despite all that success, McDermott only had two appearances in the AFC Championship Game and couldn’t get over the hump and notch a Super Bowl appearance.
The Bills chose to promote former offensive coordinator Joe Brady to their head coach opening. Brady wasn’t an out-of-nowhere hire — he had interest from other teams as well, and could have been a finalist for the Raiders or Cardinals opening had Buffalo not moved so quickly to lock him up. As a result, there’s a lot of continuity in Buffalo despite the head coaching change.
ESPN Trade Proposal Sends the Buffalo Bills a Star Wide Receiver
A.J. Brown
GettyARLINGTON, TEXAS – NOVEMBER 23: A.J. Brown #11 of the Philadelphia Eagles reacts to a first down in the first quarter against the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium on November 23, 2025 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
On Thursday, ESPN insider Dan Graziano proposed a trade from the Bills to the Eagles for star WR A.J. Brown. After a tumultuous season in Philadelphia — during which he publicly clashed with the team multiple times — Brown’s future with the Eagles has come into question. He’s been the subject of many trade rumors, and with the Bills desperately needing some star power at receiver, it’s not hard to connect the dots.
“Whether general manager Brandon Beane thinks so or not, quarterback Josh Allen could really benefit from a true No. 1 wide receiver to stress defenses,” Graziano wrote, proposing the Bills swap their first-round pick (No. 26) for Brown. “And Brown’s 2026 contract is not an overpay financially for a top WR.”
“It’s tough to imagine Buffalo getting a surefire, instant-impact playmaker at its current draft slot in the first round. So why not use it to get a veteran one? Is there a more win-now situation than Buffalo’s? As for the Eagles, a first-round pick for a 28-year-old wide receiver with only one year of guaranteed money left on his contract doesn’t sound like a bad return.”
ESPN Eagles reporter Tim McManus was skeptical the Eagles would decide to move Brown in the end, despite the proposed offers from the Bills and others. Still, it’s an avenue the Bills would be foolish to ignore.
The Buffalo Bills Need a Top-Flight Wide Receiver One Way or Another
Even if the Bills don’t make a play for a big-time wide receiver on the trade market like Brown, they need to add some weapons in the passing game to help out Allen. Buffalo’s second-leading wide receiver mustered just 404 receiving yards on the season. They need to get more dynamic on the outside.
If the Bills keep their first-round pick, they could have the opportunity to draft someone like Washington’s Denzel Boston or N.C. State’s KC Concepcion. But there’s no guarantee either player would hit the ground running, and Buffalo can ill afford to miss out on another draft pick at this position. Swapping that pick for Brown would be a much safer solution.