NFL Trade Market 2026: Offseason Targets for the Buffalo Bills
There has been a lot of trade speculation around the Buffalo Bills this offseason, and the need to make a big splash. There have been rumors linking A.J. Brown, Justin Jefferson, and Maxx Crosby in trades with the Bills, and to me, they are all unlikely. I do think Buffalo is exploring the trade market, but it will not be for a player on an expensive contract unhappy with their current team.
There will be nine new Head Coaches in the NFL this season, ten, including Joe Brady, along with three new General Managers (Minnesota is the only one that didn't fire the HC too). That spells opportunity to me. There are 10 teams outside of Buffalo that will have a new voice and a new direction moving forward, which will open the door to trading players they inherited and not in their future plans.
There are two factors I am using with the teams that I will be focusing on in my trade scenarios. The Head Coach and/or General Manager were not with the team when the player was drafted, and the player is still on their rookie deal. I believe these are more realistic trade options for the Bills in their current cap situation. Identify a player who is missing a link that brought them to their current team, and a player who has not received their second contract yet.
No Love Lost: New GM and New Head Coach
WR Brian Thomas - Thomas was drafted 23rd overall in the 2024 draft by GM Trent Balke in the final season of his tenure with the Head Coach Doug Pederson. James Gladstone is now the GM with Head Coach Liam Coen. There were rumors during the 2025 Trade Deadline that Thomas was available and had fallen out of favor with the current staff. The trade for Jakobi Meyers and subsequent contract extension, the emergence of Parker Washington, and news that 2025 1st Round Pick Travis Hunter will be prioritizing offense over defense are more evidence that Thomas has become expendable. It's hard to gauge the package Thomas would warrant. Buffalo was sitting at pick 28, rumored to be expecting to pick Thomas there in the 2024 draft. Will they wait around this time or strike a deal?
WR Drake London - London was drafted 8th overall in the 2022 NFL draft by GM Terry Fontenot, two head coaches ago, with Arthur Smith. He is playing on his 5th-year option, which counts $16.8 million against the cap. This is a player the Bills should be calling about, even if he’s not being actively shopped around. London has averaged 77 receptions and 990 yards over four seasons catching passes from Marcus Mariota, Desmond Ridder, Taylor Heinicke, Kirk Cousins, and Michael Penix. I would think London is open to leaving, given the current status of the Falcons’ roster. If moved, I expect him to be more expensive than any of the other players mentioned, but he is also the best in the group.
Not My Choice: New GM
WR Jordan Addison - Addison was drafted 23rd overall in the 2023 draft by the Vikings with former GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah. He has had some ups and downs since entering the league, including a three-game suspension to start the 2025 season and a few legal issues. He has two traffic offenses, one a DUI, and a trespassing charge this January thats been ruled a misunderstanding. After hauling in 19 touchdowns in his first two seasons, he struggled this past season with 2nd year quarterback J.J. McCarthy under center, as most of the offense in Minnesota did. This might be a great opportunity for the Bills to pluck a player from a team under new leadership that needs a change of scenery.
Different Voice: New Head Coach
WR Marvin Harrison Jr. - Harrison was the coveted wide receiver of the 2024 NFL Draft. So far, his time in the NFL has been rather disappointing, with 103 catches and 1493 receiving yards in 29 games. He never really developed a chemistry with Kyler Murray in their 22 games together. Jacoby Brissett didn't change things with Harrison, only eclipsing 5 receptions in two contests after Brissett took over for the injured Murray. Now, Murray will be released, and Arizona has a new Head Coach, Offensive Coordinator, and Wide Receivers coach. Former Cardinals’ Wide Receivers coach, Drew Terrell, now holds the same role in Buffalo.
WR Michael Wilson - Wilson was drafted in the third round of the 2023 NFL Draft. He is entering the final year of his rookie contract after a breakout season in 2025, which really began when Brissett took over at QB and continued when Harrison went out with injuries. 56 of Wilson’s 78 receptions, along with 775 of his 1006 receiving yards, came after Week 10. Harrison missed weeks 11-12 and 14-15. Wilson wasnt the highly touted prospect coming out of college, but has proven to be a productive wide receiver in the NFL. I believe one of the two receivers will be moved before the 2026 season begins.
OLB Nick Herbig - I mentioned Herbig in my blog after Jim Leonhard was announced as the new Defensive Coordinator. Herbig played for Leonhard when he coached at Wisconsin, and is entering the final year of his rookie contract with the Steelers, and will have a new coach taking over in Mike McCarthy. He’s also stuck behind highly paid T.J. Watt and Alex Highsmith, so the chance of him getting paid while they’re on the roster in Pittsburgh is unlikely.
OLB Kayvon Thibodeaux - Thibodeaux is entering his 5th season with the Giants since they selected him with the 5th overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft. He had his best season in his second year, when he started all 17 games and posted career highs in sacks (11.5) and tackles (50). His Defensive Coordinator left after that season, and he has not come close to those numbers since. This past season, his head coach was fired, and a new staff is coming in, making this his fourth coordinator since the 2023 season. With Abdul Carter and Brian Burns on the roster and being on his 5th year option, a change of scenery may be in the cards for the young EDGE rusher.
