The Buffalo Bills were considered among the NFL‘s top contenders coming into the season and largely looked the part after a dominant Week 4 win over the Miami Dolphins. A rough 1-2 stretch since then, though, has left the Bills at 4-3 and facing a potential turning point in the season.
That reality has also left Buffalo general manager Brandon Beane with decisions to make ahead of the Oct. 31 trade deadline.
It seems likely the Bills will look to bolster their team at the deadline as they sit just one win behind Miami for the lead in the AFC East, but who might some of their top targets be?
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Buffalo Bills Trade Deadline Moves
Buffalo has already created some additional flexibility for itself ahead of the deadline. The Bills restructured left tackle Dion Dawkins’ contract by converting base salary into a signing bonus to create roughly $3.9 million in 2023 cap space, according to NFL insider Field Yates.
What the franchise decides to do with that cap space remains to be seen, but it’s certainly a move that appears to portend some action ahead of the deadline.
Josey Jewell, LB, Denver Broncos
Perhaps Buffalo’s biggest position of need lies at linebacker, particularly after the productive Matt Milano went down with what is feared to be a season-ending injury in the Week 5 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Terrel Bernard (68 tackles, six tackles for loss, two interceptions) has been a force at linebacker as the team’s leading tackler, with Dorian Williams and Tyrel Dodson also playing significant roles. But the Bills could use a fourth LB to give them true two-deep depth.
Having quality depth there is especially important given the responsibilities their 4-2-5 scheme places on linebackers. Josey Jewell could certainly help fill that need.
The sixth-year player for the Broncos is coming off his most productive season as a pro in 2022, when he tallied 128 tackles (70 solo), four pass breakups, two interceptions, and two fumble recoveries in 13 appearances (all starts).
MORE: Buffalo Bills Depth Chart 2023
Jewell has remained solidly productive in 2023 and is in the final year of a two-year, $11 million deal with Denver, so there’s flexibility to move on after the season if needed.
If the price is not too steep from a Broncos team that has already shipped off multiple players away in recent weeks, it’s certainly a deal Buffalo should at least explore in an effort to shore up its biggest hole.
Donte Jackson, CB, Carolina Panthers
The Bills could also stand to add some depth at cornerback after losing Tre’Davious White to a season-ending ACL injury in their Week 4 win over the Dolphins.
Buffalo has gotten plenty of production from Taron Johnson, Christian Benford, Dane Jackson, Kaiir Elam, and even Cam Lewis to a lesser extent, but could still stand to add some depth on a defense that regularly utilizes five defensive backs.
Donte Jackson is one player who could help significantly in that regard. The sixth-year cornerback has been productive throughout his career and has remained dependable for Carolina this fall with 15 tackles (14 solo) and one TFL through five appearances.
Although he’s not a star by any means, Jackson could certainly add important depth to a CB room in need of it. His $1.08 million base salary for the 2023 season — only about half of which Buffalo would be responsible for — also makes a potential move easier to navigate salary cap-wise.
The Bills’ bevy of draft capital could also make a deal fairly straightforward to work out. They still own all seven of their own 2024 draft picks, along with a few others.
If the price is right, Buffalo could certainly stand to benefit from acquiring Jackson.
AJ Dillon, RB, Green Bay Packers
Adding some additional depth at running back could also be attractive for Buffalo, given the current state of its room.
James Cook has been a capable lead back this season, but Latavius Murray has contributed spottily at best behind him, and Damien Harris was recently placed on injured reserve after suffering a neck injury in the Bills’ Week 6 game against the Giants.
MORE: Will the Bills Trade Stefon Diggs?
AJ Dillon could certainly be available, as the Packers sit at 2-4 amid a rough start and appear unlikely to catch the Detroit Lions for the NFC North lead. The fourth-year RB has been a dependable secondary contributor in the league with just eight starts across his 51 career appearances.
He’s up to 79 carries for 255 yards and one touchdown, alongside five catches for 69 yards through six appearances (three starts) in 2023.
Dillon’s base salary for this season is roughly $1.33 million, of which Buffalo would likely only be responsible for a bit more than half. He’s also in a contract year, which provides valuable flexibility this offseason.