3 Position Bills Needs Ahead of the 2024 NFL Trade Deadline

Tuesday, November 5th will be a defining day in United States history, a 24-hour period during which people across the country will have to make key decisions that will have immediate—and potentially long-term—consequences.

We are, of course, referring to the NFL trade deadline at 4:00 pm on Tuesday. The Buffalo Bills, who have a 7-2 record and a comfortable lead in the AFC East heading into the deadline, could be ready to make a move or two before the general manager trade window ends. Brandon Beane has expressed his willingness to make additional deals several times. since acquiring wide receiver Amari Cooper from the Cleveland Browns in mid-October.

Although Buffalo currently sits in second place in the AFC, its roster is not flawless and does not lack areas in need of improvement; There are positions on the roster that could use additional talent, and there are potentially available players around the league that can be acquired at an affordable price. That being said, here are three items the bills should consider before the clock strikes 4:00 pm on November 5th.

If there was a position that Buffalo supporters were to picket outside Beane’s office, it would be a defensive tackle. The Bills’ interior defensive line has been extremely disappointing in the first half of the season, struggling both against the run and the pass.

Buffalo’s defense has allowed 1,111 yards in the first nine games of the season, which in itself is not egregious; What’s concerning is that the team’s average yards per carry allowed is 4.8, which is sixth-worst in the league. There was sparse strong running play in the middle of the line, but these were largely decided at the point of attack, with the opposition full-backs often having large holes to run through in the center of defence. The Bills’ linebackers struggled against the run, and the defense had to make several plays in support of the run, particularly in Week 9; however, their responsibility in this regard will be somewhat reduced by improved defensive play.

Buffalo also hasn’t gotten a consistent pass rush unit, with its defensive tackles totaling just three sacks through nine games. Ed Oliver, despite being injured for part of the year and showing flashes of brilliance, has been overall underwhelming in his outstanding 2023 campaign, with just one sack and 17 pressures per PFF to date. Combine the group’s disappointing performance with Rookie DeWayne Carter injured (which will keep him out for at least three more games), and it’s clear the Bills could use some help at the position.

Adding another defensive tackle, perhaps Tennessee Titans safety Sebastian Joseph-Day or Miami Dolphins veteran Calais Campbell, would not only elevate the unit’s floor in both run defense and passer attack, but would also reduce the load on the overall protection. Playing better against the running backs will take the pressure off the linebackers and safeties. Eating blocks more effectively on defense will allow players on the edge to hit home more often. More pressure from the middle of the line will benefit the entire unit.

The Bills can likely make it through the rest of the season with defensive tackle at their disposal, but if there is a “dire need” on the roster right now, it will most likely be at inside cornerback. If Beane is going to make a move ahead of the deadline, this is likely the position he will be in.

Connected: What Bills QB Josh Allen had to say about WR Keon Coleman after his INT performance dropped

Buffalo’s roster tends to be very different at defensive tackle, making it difficult to find additional positions to work around instead of ones Beane should improve on. The Bills could use some improvement at safety, as while Taylor Rapp played well, Damar Hamlin looked pretty boring and could probably be improved.

However, the Bills have options further down the depth chart that they can turn to before looking outside the organization. The team just invested in Utah cornerback Cole Bishop, a second-round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, and while he doesn’t look like a star at the position, they still view him as a long-term starter; beginning his acclimation to the starting lineup could be a wiser long-term decision if Buffalo believes changes are needed at safety. The Bills also have two-time Super Bowl champion Mike Edwards, whom they signed to a one-year deal this offseason; it is constantly inactive and reportedly open to exchangebut he could also provide a spark on the bench if needed.

However, at this point, neither Bishop nor Edwards are a clear upgrade over Hamlin, and if that’s what the team wants, it may have to look outside the organization for solutions. Jacksonville Jaguars cornerback Andre Sisco is a player who has recently been discussed in trade talks, but with a base salary of more than $3 million this season, he may prove too expensive for the cash-strapped Bills.

Connected: Did the Bills miss the mark on signing WR Curtis Samuel?

Buffalo’s cap situation has ebbed and flowed throughout the season and has mostly looked strong since the mid-October acquisition of Amari Cooper. Five-time Pro Bowler Keon Coleman and Khalil Shakir make up the top three and are a more than capable trio for Josh Allen to have success with; nevertheless, Cooper missed Week 9 with a wrist injury.And Coleman suffered a sore wrist himself during the 30-27 win over the Miami Dolphins..

Wide receiver is a position of need depending on the availability of Cooper and Coleman; if none of their injuries are long-term concerns, the team’s aerial attack will likely be fine to close out the season. If these are ailments that could cause either player to miss time or impact their play, then the Bills could make an extra move on the wing. Mack Hollins excels in a niche offensive role, and Curtis Samuel hasn’t taken full advantage of his opportunities; However, they also aren’t players that a team should feel comfortable putting in a more prominent role if Cooper or Coleman miss time.

Darius Slayton could have been a target for the struggling New York Giants given Beane’s rapport with New York’s front office, but the pass catcher was injured in Week 9. it would be nice to have.

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