Buffalo Bills
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Bills named losers of Jaylen Waddle trade.
The Buffalo Bills tried to trade for Jaylen Waddle at last year’s trade deadline, but Miami opted not to trade him to a division rival.
To begin the offseason, Buffalo acquired DJ Moore from the Chicago Bears to be the team’s No. 1 wide receiver. However, Miami ended up trading Waddle to the Denver Broncos this offseason in an intriguing move.
Following the deal getting made, NFL analyst Stephen A. Smith was asked who won or lost the trade, and he pointed out the Bills.
“My answer to this question, believe it or not, is the Buffalo Bills,” Smith said on First Take. “That’s what came to my mind, because I keep thinking about how they had a chance to get Waddle. The report stated that Miami wanted a first-round pick in 2026, and Buffalo wasn’t willing to give up anything until 2027. How do you pass up giving Josh Allen (a weapon like) Jaylen Waddle? How do you pass that up? …
“Buffalo and Denver are two elite teams in the AFC, and I think you let the other team get Jaylen Waddle instead of getting him yourself.”
Although Buffalo did trade for Moore, Smith thinks the Bills should have pulled the trigger on the Waddle trade at the deadline. And, perhaps, it would have been enough to get past the Broncos in the Divisional Round.
Bills Tried to Acquire Waddle
Buffalo tried to acquire Waddle at the deadline and offered Miami a solid package.
With the Dolphins having a poor season, Waddle’s name came up in trade rumors. Ultimately, Miami didn’t move him, but Buffalo put together a good offer, which included a 2027 first-round pick.
“The Bills offered a 1st-round pick to the Dolphins before the trade deadline for Jaylen Waddle. Miami ended up declining. Didn’t want to trade in the division,” Ari Meirov of The 33rd Team wrote in a post on X. “They get a 1st-round pick, No. 30 overall, from the Broncos in the offseason.”
Miami ended up getting a first-round pick this season for Waddle, which the team wanted. Waddle is under contract through 2028.
Buffalo Added Moore
Although the Bills didn’t trade for Waddle, the team did acquire Moore from the Bears.
Moore is a true No. 1 receiver, and he’s excited to catch passes from Josh Allen and be a focal point of the offense.
“He’s a field general,” Moore described Allen. “You see him out there trying to conduct things and the way he does it, is successful, and I just want to be a part of that. …
“I’m excited. I’m excited for the new challenge and a new journey. I think my time in Chicago, it ran its course and it ended on a great note with it being a great season in how it ended,” Moore said. “Now it’s time to do that here.”
Moore recorded 50 receptions for 682 yards and 6 touchdowns as it was a down season last year. However, he should be around a 1000-yard receiver in Buffalo as he will be the team’s true No. 1 receiver and be a focal point of the offense.
Moore, meanwhile, also reunites with Joe Brady, who was his offensive coordinator with the Carolina Panthers.