The Buffalo Bills went into this season with some question marks in the secondary, needing a training camp competition to determine who would start at safety alongside Taylor Rapp.
While second-year safety Cole Bishop emerged as the top candidate for the job, both he and Rapp have struggled at times this season. One NFL insider believes the Bills can find some much-needed help at the trade deadline, working with one of the few NFL teams with depth to spare at safety.
Bills Could Boost Secondary With Jason Pinnock
ESPN’s Bill Barnwell broke down some potential trade-deadline deals across the NFL, predicting the Bills could land San Francisco 49ers safety Jason Pinnock for a relatively modest price. He predicted the Bills would send a 2027 sixth-round pick in exchange for Pinnock and a 2027 seventh-round pick.
“The Bills badly need help at safety,” Barnwell wrote. “Cole Bishop and Taylor Rapp have struggled both in coverage and with tackling this season. The Bills aren’t going to give up on Bishop, a second-round pick in last year’s draft, but so many of the big plays they’ve struggled with this season have come in moments where Buffalo’s safeties either missed tackles or weren’t in position to even attempt one.”
The Bills also placed onetime starter Damar Hamlin on injured reserve, cutting into their depth at safety even more. Barnwell noted that there are not many NFL teams with enough depth at safety to make a trade, but the 49ers could be willing to spare Pinnock in exchange for some much-needed draft capital.
“Pinnock’s not going to transform the Bills’ defense, but he has been passable as a center fielder as a pro and would offer the Bills some depth,” Barnwell wrote. Bishop had to briefly leave the Falcons game, leading the Bills to turn to 34-year-old veteran Jordan Poyer for a handful of snaps. Poyer was once an essential part of Sean McDermott’s defense, but those days have come and gone.”
Bills May Focus on Other Areas at Trade Deadline
With the Bills heading into the bye week after two straight losses, some other major areas of need have arisen. On the offensive side, the team has struggled to get reliable contributions from its wide receiving corps, and area they could boost at the trade deadline.
Nick Brinkerhoff of USA Today broke down some potential targets for the Bills, including Philadelphia Eagles receiver A.J. Brown. While Brinkerhoff noted that Brown could be something of a long shot given Philadelphia’s desire to remain a Super Bowl contender, his growing discontent with the team could lead them to trade him.
Brinkerhoff added that Tennessee Titans receiver Calvin Ridley could be another trade target for the Bills. The Titans may wait to see how serious Ridley’s hamstring injury becomes, but could look to trade him if he’s healthy.
“Ridley’s contract situation could complicate matters, but the Titans waived the white flag on the season after firing Brian Callahan. The front office did not sign Ridley in free agency, meaning they have no connection to the receiver and could move on,” Brinkerhoff wrote.
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