The Buffalo Bills brought in some help at wide receiver this week after striking out at the NFL trade deadline, but may have passed on the opportunity to bring back a familiar face.
Bills general manager Brandon Beane said the team tried to make some additions ahead of last week’s deadline but came up short when other teams weren’t willing to make deals. The team was expected to address a few positions, with wide receiver at the top of the list.
Beane found some help later, signing former Kansas City Chiefs receiver Mecole Hardman to add a speed element that the wide receiving corps has been sorely lacking. The Bills may have had another option out there — former draft pick Isaiah Hodgins, who instead returned to the New York Giants this week.
Giants Bring Back Former Bills Receiver
Hodgins started his career with the Bills as a 2020 draft pick but saw limited time before he was poached off the practice squad by the Giants in the 2022 season. Hodgins went on to carve out a significant role in New York, making 33 receptions for 351 yards and four touchdowns in just eight games that season.
Hodgins also made eight receptions for 105 yards and a touchdown in the team’s Wild Card playoff win over the Minnesota Vikings that season, the first Giants player to top 100 receiving yards since Hakeem Nicks in Super Bowl XLVI.
The Giants just poached Hodgins again, announcing that they took the wide receiver from the practice squad of the Pittsburgh Steelers and signed him to the active roster.
“Overall, Hodgins has 60 career catches for 634 yards and seven touchdowns in 31 games (14 starts) for the Bills (2020-2022) and Giants (2022-2024),” the Giants noted when announcing Hodgins’ signing. “Hodgins also spent time with the 49ers and Steelers but has not played in a regular-season game since Nov. 10, 2024, with the Giants.”
The Bills under Beane have been known to bring back many of their former players, which they did late in the offseason by signing veteran receiver Gabe Davis.
Hodgins will join a team that just fired head coach Brian Daboll, who served as Bills offensive coordinator during Hodgins’ time with the team.
Bills Boost Wide Receiving Corps
Though the Bills fell short on some of their trade deadline targets — reportedly missing out on Miami Dolphins receiver Jaylen Waddle when Beane balked at sending a 2026 first-round pick — Hardman’s addition is expected to help an offense that has struggled at times. Buffalo’s receivers have had difficulty getting separation from defenders, leaving quarterback Josh Allen facing intense pressure at times.
The 31-year-old, a three-time Super Bowl champion with the Chiefs, said he was excited for the opportunity to make a difference with a contender.
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