Buffalo Bills Trade Block Candidates
While writing my recent key takeaways blog, I thought a few players may be on the trade block before the 2025 season kicks off. The Bills have bolstered their roster this offseason, particularly the defensive line, and have a few players entering the final year of their current contracts, with players behind them waiting for an opportunity. Buffalo also needs some cap relief as they currently sit with $2.6 million in space with an entire draft class to sign on top of in-season flexibility if there is an injury.
Buffalo already moved off from Kaiir Elam with a pre-draft trade to the Dallas Cowboys, and I believe there are a few more moves they can make this offseason that would benefit them in the short and long term. Here are three players that I can see being moved this summer if a trade partner is found.
Most Likely to be Traded
A.J. Epenesa - Epenesa is entering the second year of his two-year extension with a $7+ million cap hit at a position that went from an area of weakness to one with a plethora of talent. Greg Rousseau and second-year rusher Javon Solomon join Epenesa as returning players from last year’s group. The additions of Joey Bosa in free agency and the selection of Landon Jackson in the draft make Epenesa expendable. This is all before factoring in the addition of Michael Hoecht and how he will be utilized in the pass rush rotation.
So, what are the financial benefits of trading Epenesa? If the Bills conduct a trade before June 1st, they would receive a $3.339 million 2025 cap savings and a $4.148 million dead cap in 2025. After June 1st, they would reap a $6.2 million 2025 cap savings with the dead cap split over the 2025 and 2026 seasons. Epenesa is not a cut candidate as there isn’t financial value to doing so. A trade saves money, which is vital for a cap-tight team like the Bills, but it also gives Epenesa a chance for more playing time on a team that needs his services more than Buffalo. He finished last season playing 55% of the snaps as a DE2, and that will not be the case in 2025.
Potential Trade Partners: Detroit, New Orleans, Washington
David Edwards - Edwards is also entering the final year of a two-year extension he signed after joining the team on a 1-year free agent deal before the 2023 season. He’s a player who has performed well for the Bills, starting 16 games last season and playing 96% of the snaps on offense. This would be another trade based on the low likelihood that Edwards re-signs with the Bills. He is due for a pay raise with his next contract, and the Bills have players in the pipeline behind him. Tylan Grable, Alec Anderson, and Sedrick Van Pran-Granger are all returning candidates for this spot, along with free agent signing Kendrick Green.
A trade of Edwards provides equal savings as a release, with both bringing a $4.03 million cap savings with a $875k dead cap number for 2025. Offensive line is a valuable position in the NFL, and Edwards has proven he is a starting caliber left guard in the league who should have a market if the Bills are interested in moving him to open a role for a younger player at the position.
Potential Trade Partners: Carolina, NY Giants, Tennessee
Wild Card Trade Candidate
Curtis Samuel - I consider Samuel a wild card candidate because I don’t know if there is a trade market for him. I also don’t believe the Bills are actively trying to move off of him, but Elijah Moore’s signing does make him expendable. Joe Brady has high praise for the 28-year-old receiver, so a trade isn’t a slam-dunk from the Bills’ side either: “The more Curtis Samuels that are on your football team, the better.” I am probably higher on Samuel than most, so I don’t necessarily want this to happen, but I believe the Bills would have to do it if the opportunity presented itself from the savings it would create.
Samuel has the team's 8th highest cap hit at a little over $9 million. Releasing does not help the Bills financially; it actually hurts them if they were to do so before June 1st. A trade is the only way to see cost savings. A pre-June 1st trade would have a cap savings of $3.89 million with a $5.175 million dead cap hit. A trade after June 1st would increase the savings to $7.34 million with the $5.175 figure spread out over the 2025 and 2026 seasons. Not a likely scenario to see unfold, but a WR needy team could be interested.
Potential Trade Partners: Atlanta, Denver, Las Vegas,
Not Happening
James Cook and Dawson Knox were two names I saw as players the Bills could move off from during the NFL Draft. I didn’t believe it would happen then, and I do not see it happening now. I don’t know if Cook will come to terms on a new contract with the team, but I do believe Brandon Beane when he said, “he will be here this year and hopefully beyond.”
I know Knox gets a lot of scrutiny from fans, especially with his growing cap number and his dip in production since Dalton Kincaid’s arrival. Knox is a valuable piece to the offense and a contract extension to lower the number, or a rework like Matt Milano did this off-season, is much more realistic than seeing him moved.
