The Buffalo Bills have taken some big swings in the past few years in hopes of boosting their pass rush, signing veteran Von Miller three years ago and landing Joey Bosa after cutting ties with Miller earlier this year.
The Bills could soon have another chance to make a big splash, with one of the biggest targets expected to hit the trade block within the coming weeks. Jeff Kerr of CBS Sports broke down the biggest storylines of the NFL offseason, noting that the impasse between the Cincinnati Bengals and star edge rusher Trey Hendrickson could be leading to a split — and a big opportunity for the Bills.
Bengals Could Trade Star Edge Rusher
Kerr predicted that the contract impasse between the Bengals and Hendrickson could have an end date, with the edge rusher holding the cards and the potential to force a trade.
“Cincinnati has failed to give Hendrickson an extension after paying Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins this offseason, which was the Bengals’ top priority,” Kerr wrote. “They want to keep Hendrickson and haven’t entertained trade offers for him, but Hendrickson may force their hand.”
With training camp approaching in the coming days, the Bengals could begin to get a bit impatient with Hendrickson and could look for a trade within the coming weeks to recoup as much as they can before losing him to free agency after the conclusion of his contract.
“If this holdout goes into late August, the Bengals will have little choice but to trade Hendrickson. They shouldn’t do that, but Hendrickson has the leverage here,” Kerr wrote. “This deal needs to be done early in training camp.”
Bills Named as Top Landing Spot for Trey Hendrickson
With trade rumors swirling around Hendrickson for several weeks, many insiders believe the Bills could be a top landing spot should he actually hit the trade block. Alex Kay from Bleacher Report wrote that Hendrickson would be a good fit.
“The Buffalo Bills would be a fantastic fit for the edge rusher,” Kay wrote. “The team is in need of more pass-rushing prowess, especially with offseason acquisition Joey Bosa already dealing with injuries that have kept him out of practice.
“While the Bills have been burned by blockbuster edge defender acquisitions in the past—Von Miller recorded a meager six sacks over his last 25 games in Buffalo after signing a six-year, $120 million deal with the club—Hendrickson could buck that trend as a slam-dunk pickup.”
The Bills have already made some big investments in their defense after the unit faltered in the playoffs over the last few years. The Bills spent a majority of their draft picks on the defense, with a particular focus on the secondary and defensive line.
The Bills under general manager Brandon Beane have been known to swing late-summer trades, though they often focus on players on the fringes of the roster and not blockbuster deals. But with the Bills looking to get past the rival Kansas City Chiefs and into the Super Bowl, Beane could be more willing to swing a big deal that can improve the defense.
