2021 NFL draft: Bills moving up? 4 potential trade partners for Buffalo
The Bills saw their name tossed into a wild 2021 NFL draft trade scenario on Monday. After a quiet pre-draft buildup, Buffalo had the idea of them trading up floated out there.
According to ESPN NFL draft guru Todd McShay, the Bills have expressed interest in moving up in Round 1 from their current spot at No. 30. In fact, there’s even a target: Clemson running back Travis Etienne.
Per the report, the Bills want to jump ahead of the Jets, Jaguars and Steelers to grab Etienne. Of those teams, the Jets have the highest pick at No. 23 overall, excluding their No. 2 overall pick which is likely going to be a quarterback.
So in order to make such a bold move, there is another side to the coin to consider: Buffalo needs a trade partner.
Here are four potential trade partners for the Bills to consider talking to:
Head coach Ron Rivera of the Washington Football Team. (Photo by Nic Antaya/Getty Images)
Washington Football Team
In Jimmie Johnson’s trade value chart, the value of the Bills’ first two picks is 912. Washington’s No. 19 is 875. Pretty cut and dry idea here.
Typically when you’re doing the moving up, you have to sweeten the pot even further, so maybe the Bills toss another late-round pick here… but the relationship between Washington coach Ron Rivera and the Bills via coach Sean McDermott & general manager Brandon Beane runs deep. Maybe Rivera wouldn’t be a stickler for another late rounder, but regardless, that relationship foundation helps a potential trade like this formulate.
Raiders head coach Jon Gruden. Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports
Las Vegas Raiders
Considering the Raiders sit at No. 17, a couple spots ahead of the Football Team, the Bills would have to bring another pick into the fold here to make this deal happen. Maybe that’s a 2021 pick, maybe it’s in the future.
But the reasoning for considering the Raiders is the relationship between these two sides. Raiders coach Jon Gruden is pulling the strings there and he’s already had a couple of trades go down with the Bills involving the likes of wide receiver Zay Jones and quarterback AJ McCarron. It’s happened before, so why not again?
Bears linebacker Khalil Mack. Credit: Matt Cashore-USA TODAY Sports
Chicago Bears
The Bears are in an interesting spot at the draft. Slated to pick at No. 20 overall… they still certainly still should be in the market for a quarterback. But it all depends on how the draft unfolds.
Many predict as many as five QBs will be drafted in the top-10 or 15 picks. If the asking price is too rich to get up there, the Bears could be in a scenario where they stay at their pick and when they’re on the clock… decide to trade back instead.
It’s pretty common for teams to agree to trades pre-draft, too.
Perhaps Beane and Bears general manager Ryan Pace can have a deal in place where… if Chicago decides they want to trade back because their target has been picked, the Bills will be the team that jumps up.
Bills quarterback Josh Allen (17) throws under pressure against Indianapolis Colts defensive tackle DeForest Buckner. Credit: Rich Barnes-USA TODAY Sports
Indianapolis Colts
The Colts enter the draft holding the No. 21 pick in Round 1. This is more about their number of picks, though.
Currently Indy has only six selections in the seven-round event. Considering that, the Colts might be in the market to simply find some more players after trading for quarterback Carson Wentz this offseason. He’ll need help.
