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There are a few things I enjoy doing when it comes to the Buffalo Bills, and one of them is going down a statistical wormhole. Sometimes I find something interesting. Other times I find something that makes me question what the hell I was doing with my afternoon.
This time, I wanted to go through Brandon Beane’s history at the NFL trade deadline.
Not his draft-day trades. Not the offseason deals. I want to concentrate strictly on trades Beane made during the regular season leading up to the deadline. And I want to take it a little further. It’s easy to say a trade worked or didn’t work based on the player Buffalo acquired. But what about the draft picks Beane traded away? Who actually got selected with those picks? Did any of those players develop into something?
We’re going all the way back to 2017, Beane’s first season, and examining every deadline deal through 2025.
Some worked. Some didn’t. And a few are more interesting than I remembered.
2017: Marcell Dareus and Kelvin Benjamin
October 27: Marcell Dareus to Jacksonville
Buffalo traded Dareus to Jacksonville for a conditional 2018 sixth-round selection that eventually became a fifth-rounder. That pick turned into Wyatt Teller, selected 166th overall. Dareus played 30 regular-season games with Jacksonville and recorded 2.5 sacks. He also helped the Jaguars reach the AFC Championship Game during the 2017 season. At the time, I hated this deal as I felt Dareus was being made an example by the new regime and I felt his play had suffered because of Rex Ryan’s scheme. I was wrong.
Meanwhile, Teller became one of the better guards in football. Unfortunately, he did most of that with Cleveland because Buffalo traded him in August 2019. That’s the frustrating part. Beane turned a massive contract into a pick that eventually produced an All-Pro offensive lineman, but the Bills didn’t benefit from Teller’s best years.
I give Beane credit for the original trade. What happened afterward is a different discussion.
Verdict: Win on the original trade.
October 31: Kelvin Benjamin from Carolina
Four days later, Beane sent Carolina a 2018 third-round pick and a seventh-round pick for Benjamin. The third-round selection, No. 85, became defensive back Rashaan Gaulden. The seventh-rounder, No. 234, became linebacker Andre Smith. Gaulden played 27 NFL regular-season games and never recorded an interception. Smith became a special-teams linebacker and eventually spent time with Buffalo.
Neither was exactly a franchise-changing player.
But what did the Bills get?
Benjamin played 18 regular-season games with Buffalo and recorded 39 receptions for 571 yards and two touchdowns.
That’s it.
Buffalo acquired a receiver who was supposed to help the offense and instead received less than 600 yards of production before releasing him. I understand the thinking. The Bills were trying to end a 17-year playoff drought and wanted another offensive weapon.
But the results weren’t there.
Verdict: Loss
2017 gave us an early look at both sides of Beane. One move cleared a big contract and produced a valuable draft pick. The other was a disappointing attempt to improve the offense.
2018: Nothing at the Deadline
Buffalo didn’t complete any regular-season trades before the October 30 deadline. Josh Allen was a rookie, the team was rebuilding, and Beane wasn’t exactly in a position where sacrificing future picks made sense. I guess if you want me to split hairs, maybe they should have tried dealing LeSean McCoy as he was a veteran and they ended up cutting him in the offseason.
No trades means no picks to trace.
Verdict: No grade.
2019: Zay Jones to Oakland
October 7, 2019 Buffalo traded Zay Jones to the Raiders for a 2021 fifth-round selection.
Jones was a 2017 second-round pick who led the Bills in receiving in 2018 with 56 receptions, 652 yards and seven touchdowns. He really seemed to be turning the corner after a disappointing rookie season.
But there was also that bizarre incident during the 2018 offseason when video surfaced of Jones running naked through a hallway in a Los Angeles apartment building during an altercation with his brother. It was one of those stories where you saw the video and wondered what the hell was going on. He was arrested, although prosecutors ultimately declined to pursue criminal charges and no one asked the Bills or him about the incident because, well, who the fuck knows why?
Fast-forward to 2019, and things started going downhill on the football field.
I remember the Week 4 game against New England, when Jones appeared to give up on a route that resulted in a Josh Allen interception. Watching that play, I remember questioning his effort. It looked like he wasn’t particularly interested in fighting for the football.
The following week against Tennessee, Jones barely saw the field. And then, just like that, he was traded to Oakland.
So what did that fifth-round pick become?
Tommy Doyle, an offensive tackle from Miami University, selected 161st overall in 2021. Doyle played 12 regular-season games for Buffalo without making a start. Injuries derailed his career, and he eventually retired. He did catch a touchdown pass from Josh Allen during Buffalo’s playoff destruction of New England, which was a pretty great moment.
Jones, meanwhile, continued playing. His best season came with Jacksonville in 2022, when he caught 82 passes for 823 yards and five touchdowns.
Here’s where I have mixed feelings.
Beane got a fifth-rounder for a player who wasn’t contributing much. That’s reasonable. But that draft pick never became anything significant for Buffalo, while Jones eventually showed he could still be a productive NFL receiver. Now, to be fair, Oakland didn’t get Jones’s best season either. That happened with Jacksonville.
Verdict: Slight loss in hindsight.
I don’t hate the original decision. I just don’t think the eventual return was particularly good.
The 2019 trade deadline was a pretty active one, with several contenders making aggressive moves.
The Rams went all-in on Jalen Ramsey, giving up two first-round picks, while the 49ers added Emmanuel Sanders and the Ravens picked up Marcus Peters for relatively little. Both Sanders and Peters helped their teams make serious playoff runs, with Sanders reaching the Super Bowl. In case you were wondering, this was when the Bills had Kevin Johnson opposite Tre White.
Meanwhile, New England surrendered a second-round pick for Mohamed Sanu, a move that never really paid off. Looking back, there were difference-makers available, and some came at very reasonable prices. It’s another example of teams willing to gamble on improving their chances in January rather than sitting on their draft picks.
2020: No Deadline Trades
2020: Beane Stands Pat While the Rest of the NFL Makes Moves
The Bills didn’t make a trade at the 2020 deadline, but that doesn’t mean there weren’t opportunities to improve the roster.
Look at some of the players who changed teams. Baltimore acquired Yannick Ngakoue for a third-round pick and a conditional fifth. Seattle landed Carlos Dunlap for an offensive lineman and a seventh. Tennessee picked up Desmond King for a sixth-round pick, while Tampa Bay acquired Steve McLendon for a swap of late-round selections.
And remember, Tampa Bay went on to win the Super Bowl.
I’m not saying any of these players would have magically put Buffalo over the top. But considering the Bills eventually lost to Kansas City in the AFC Championship Game, it’s worth wondering whether another defensive piece could have helped. What interests me is the cost. Several teams acquired established NFL players without surrendering premium draft capital.
Beane decided to stick with what he had, and Buffalo finished 13-3.
Was it the right decision? Maybe. But seeing what other teams paid for defensive help makes it a fair question.
Verdict: No grade.
2021: Another Quiet Deadline
2021: Beane Stands Pat While the Rams Get Von Miller
The Bills were 5-2 at the deadline, coming off an AFC Championship Game appearance, and Brandon Beane decided to do absolutely nothing. Meanwhile, the Rams traded second- and third-round picks for Von Miller. He recorded five sacks in eight regular-season games, added four more in the playoffs, and helped Los Angeles win the Super Bowl.
And here’s what pisses me off about that deal. Buffalo eventually signed Miller to a massive six-year, $120 million contract the following offseason. So instead of acquiring him for a Super Bowl run like the Rams did, we paid him a fortune when he was another year older. And we all know how that worked out. Kansas City also acquired Melvin Ingram for a sixth-round pick, while Arizona landed Zach Ertz and Carolina picked up Stephon Gilmore. I’m not saying those players would have guaranteed Buffalo a championship. But established veterans were available, sometimes for relatively little draft capital.
The Bills eventually lost to Kansas City in the infamous 13-second game.
The Rams went all-in and won a Super Bowl. Buffalo waited, then spent $120 million on the guy who helped the Rams win it.
My verdict: No trade to grade, but plenty to complain about.
2022: Nyheim Hines and Dean Marlowe
November 1: Nyheim Hines from Indianapolis
Beane traded running back Zack Moss and a conditional 2023 sixth-round pick, which became a fifth-rounder, to Indianapolis for Nyheim Hines. The pick became No. 162 overall, which the Colts used to select tight end Will Mallory from Miami. Mallory never developed into a significant offensive contributor, but Moss did. In 2023, he rushed for 794 yards and five touchdowns with Indianapolis.
And what did Buffalo get?
In nine regular-season games, Hines had six carries for minus-three yards and five receptions for 53 yards and a touchdown. That’s pretty awful production for someone brought in to help the offense. And if I am going to be honest, what was the point of this deal? You had 3 RBs with Singletary, Moss and Cook. We needed to trade a RB for like a CB or a 3rd WR. If you remember, this when they brought back Zombie John Brown and Vaxx Beasley for the heroic run.
But then there’s January 8, 2023.
Buffalo’s first game following Damar Hamlin’s cardiac arrest in Cincinnati. Hines returned the opening kickoff against New England 96 yards for a touchdown. Then he did it again, this time from 101 yards out. Two kickoff-return touchdowns in one game. One of the most emotional afternoons I’ve ever experienced as a Bills fan. I don’t think I’ll ever forget it. Unfortunately, Hines suffered a serious knee injury the following offseason and never played another regular-season game for Buffalo. I can appreciate those two unforgettable returns while still admitting Buffalo didn’t get the offensive player it thought it was acquiring.
Verdict: Loss in football value, but an unforgettable moment.
November 1: Dean Marlowe from Atlanta
Buffalo also acquired Marlowe for a 2023 seventh-round pick, No. 245 overall.
Atlanta subsequently traded that pick to New England in the Jonnu Smith deal. The Patriots used it to select cornerback Isaiah Bolden from Jackson State, who never developed into an established NFL starter. Marlowe played four regular-season games for Buffalo, recording one tackle. Not exactly a meaningful contribution, but we’re also talking about a seventh-round pick.
Verdict: Wash.
Looking back at the 2022 deadline, neither deal was particularly impressive. The Hines trade gave us an unforgettable memory, but the overall production wasn’t there. Meanwhile, other teams were making much bigger moves, including San Francisco acquiring Christian McCaffrey, Baltimore landing Roquan Smith, and Kansas City trading for Kadarius Toney, who eventually contributed to its Super Bowl championship.
Once again, it raises the question of whether Beane did enough to improve a team with legitimate championship aspirations.
2023: Rasul Douglas from Green Bay
October 31, 2023-Rasul Douglas from Green Bay
This is one of my favorite trades Beane made during the regular season. Buffalo sent Green Bay a 2024 third-round selection and received cornerback Rasul Douglas and a 2024 fifth-rounder.
The Packers used the third-round pick, No. 91, on linebacker Ty’Ron Hopper from Missouri. Hopper has primarily been a reserve linebacker and special-teams contributor through his first few NFL seasons. The fifth-round pick Buffalo received, No. 160, became Edefuan Ulofoshio from Washington. Ulofoshio appeared in four regular-season games for Buffalo and never became an established member of the defense.
But the actual player Beane acquired made an immediate difference. Douglas recorded four interceptions in nine regular-season games with Buffalo in 2023. That included two interceptions against New England on December 31, with one returned for a touchdown. He finished his Buffalo tenure with 24 regular-season appearances, 23 starts and four interceptions. The Bills needed secondary help after losing Tre’Davious White. Douglas provided it almost immediately.
Now, did he turn into a long-term cornerstone? No.
But when we look at the players selected with the draft picks and compare their production, Buffalo received the most immediate value. And it isn’t like the rest of the list I was super envy for..albeit DEs wouldnt have been a bad get.
Verdict: Win for Beane.
This is what I want from a deadline acquisition. Find a weakness, address it, and get meaningful production out of the player.
2024: Amari Cooper — The Right Idea, Wrong Results
October 15: Amari Cooper from Cleveland
Buffalo needed another receiver after trading Stefon Diggs, and Beane acquired Amari Cooper and a 2025 sixth-round pick for a 2025 third-rounder and a 2026 seventh. What made this deal attractive wasn’t just Cooper’s résumé. It was his contract. Because Cleveland had already paid most of his 2024 compensation, Buffalo was responsible for only about $807,000 in remaining base salary. That’s practically nothing for a five-time Pro Bowl receiver.
And at the time, I liked the trade.
Unfortunately, Cooper caught only 20 passes for 297 yards and two touchdowns in eight regular-season games. He added just six receptions for 41 yards in the playoffs. So much for giving Josh Allen another major offensive weapon.
But here’s where I have a problem when looking at what other teams did.
The Jets acquired Davante Adams from Las Vegas for a conditional third-round pick. Yes, his contract was considerably more expensive, especially beyond 2024. But Adams caught 67 passes for 854 yards and seven touchdowns in 11 games with the Jets.
And he hasn’t exactly stopped producing.
With the Rams in 2025, Adams caught 60 passes for 789 yards and 14 touchdowns. Through six games in 2026, he’s added another 480 yards and four touchdowns.
Would I have preferred Adams? Absolutely.
I understand Buffalo’s salary-cap situation, but I would’ve been perfectly fine with Beane acquiring Adams and working out a contract extension to lower his cap number and figure it out later. You’re talking about a proven receiver who has continued to produce at a high level.
And it wasn’t just Adams.
Not every one of those moves worked out. In fact, several were outright disappointments. But it shows how active teams were trying to improve their rosters during a championship window.
Meanwhile, Cooper’s production never came close to what Buffalo hoped for.
As for the draft compensation, Cleveland used Buffalo’s 2025 third-round pick, No. 94, to select quarterback Dillon Gabriel. The 2026 seventh-rounder eventually became defensive tackle Deven Eastern after passing through other teams. Buffalo’s incoming sixth-round pick was later included in the Kaiir Elam trade with Dallas, which used that selection on offensive tackle Ajani Cornelius.
None of that changes my opinion of the Cooper deal.
Beane deserves credit for finding an affordable veteran with a strong track record. The salary made sense, the acquisition cost was reasonable, and Cooper looked like a player who could help Buffalo immediately.
But the production wasn’t there.
And when I see what Adams has continued doing, it’s hard not to wonder what Josh Allen could have accomplished with him.
Verdict: Loss for Beane. Great contract value, disappointing production.
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2025: Everyone Was Shopping Except Brandon Beane
The 2025 NFL trade deadline was one of the busiest we’ve seen, with 22 in-season trades, the most since at least 1995.
And the Buffalo Bills made zero.
I’m not suggesting Beane should make a trade just because everyone else is doing it. But when I look at the players available and the compensation other teams gave up, I have some questions.
The Jets traded two defensive stars. Miami traded Jaelan Phillips. Jacksonville and Seattle found receivers without surrendering first-round picks.
Meanwhile, reports indicated Buffalo was pursuing Jaylen Waddle and Quinnen Williams. Garrett Wilson’s name also came up in speculation, although I haven’t seen confirmation that Buffalo made an offer for him.
Beane suggested afterward that division rivals weren’t exactly lining up to help Buffalo.
I understand that. But the Jets and Dolphins were clearly willing to trade players. They just weren’t able or willing to make those particular deals with Buffalo.
What about the next option? Jakobi Meyers? Rashid Shaheed? Another defensive lineman?
That’s what bothers me more than failing to land one particular star.
This was also around the time when I started wondering whether Brandon Beane and Sean McDermott were really on the same page anymore. After the deadline, Beane expressed confidence that Buffalo had a roster capable of winning a championship. But McDermott was asked whether he believed this was a Super Bowl team, and his response struck me as noticeably more reserved. Rather than making the same kind of declaration Beane had made, McDermott emphasized his belief in his team.
Now, I’m not going to pretend that automatically means the two weren’t getting along. Coaches and general managers answer questions differently. And I don’t know what was being said behind closed doors.
But I thought the contrast was interesting.
Beane was expressing confidence in the roster he assembled. McDermott was the guy who had to coach that roster every Sunday, and he didn’t seem nearly as eager to make the same proclamation. Maybe I’m reading too much into it, but this was one of the first times I really started wondering whether there was a disconnect between the two.
Because there’s a difference between believing you have a good football team and believing you have a Super Bowl-winning roster. And when the general manager is telling everyone he believes the roster is capable of winning a championship, while the head coach is more cautious about saying the same thing, I think that’s worth paying attention to.
Was McDermott simply being careful with his words? Or was he trying to tell us something about the roster without directly criticizing the man responsible for putting it together?
I don’t know the answer.
But looking back at the 2025 deadline, I think it’s fair to ask whether Beane and McDermott had different opinions about how close Buffalo really was. The Bills eventually finished 12-5 and lost another heartbreaking playoff game, this time to Denver. I’m not saying one trade automatically changes that outcome. But I also don’t think we should dismiss the decision to stand pat when other contenders were actively improving their rosters.
My verdict: No completed trade to grade, but a missed opportunity worth questioning.
And perhaps the more interesting story wasn’t just the players Buffalo failed to acquire. It was whether the general manager and head coach agreed about what the team already had.
The Final Verdict- What If?
After looking through these years, I come away with a few thoughts. Beane has had some success turning veteran players and draft capital into useful assets. The Marcell Dareus trade and Rasul Douglas acquisition stand out. But when it comes to acquiring offensive help during the season, the results haven’t been especially encouraging. Kelvin Benjamin, Nyheim Hines and Amari Cooper combined to provide far less offensive production than Buffalo expected.
Now, you can look at the players on the list of other deadline deals and say, “Well, none of these guys were really that good anyway. Would any of them have actually helped the Bills?”
And that’s a fair argument. I’m not going to sit here and pretend every player traded at the deadline would have been the missing piece to a Super Bowl championship.
But here’s how I look at it.
Every single year, when the Bills lose in the playoffs, we sit around afterward trying to figure out what went wrong. The defense couldn’t get a stop. The offense didn’t make enough plays. The pass rush disappeared. The receivers couldn’t get open.
And inevitably, we start playing the what-if game.
What if the Bills had gone after Von Miller earlier? What if they had made a move for Davante Adams? What if they had acquired another defensive player at the 2020 deadline? What if they had made just one more move to address a weakness everyone could see?
Would any of those players have changed the outcome? Maybe. Maybe not.
But that’s really my point.
When you’re this close to winning a Super Bowl, and you’ve got Josh Allen playing quarterback, I don’t think you can simply dismiss opportunities to improve because there’s no guarantee they’ll work.
Of course there’s no guarantee. There’s no guarantee the players you already have are going to get the job done either.
And after another playoff loss, when we’re all sitting there wondering why the defense couldn’t make one more stop or why the offense couldn’t produce one more drive, I can’t help but wonder whether one of those players we passed on could have made a difference. Maybe the player wouldn’t have changed a damn thing.
But wouldn’t you rather have tried than spend another offseason wondering what if?
Great analysis, as always.
My opinion is this: you're 6-1, on top of the AFC, looking to make a Super Bowl run. Now is the perfect time for Beane to go all-in, push all his chips to the middle, right when you're on top, fill a weakness or two, and establish complete dominance over the conference.