Examining results of Buffalo Bills recent “seller” trades

Sometimes trades can become the backbone of a team ascending to contender status. Buffalo Bills president of football operations/general manager Brandon Beane is no stranger to trades. He’s been one of the most active GMs on the trade market since being hired by the Bills after the 2017 draft.

His previous contemporary, former Sabres GM Kevyn Adams, wasn’t shy about sending away players during the team’s playoff drought. Ironically, right after Adams was fired mid-season, the Sabres went on an historic run to their first divisional title in over 15 years because of many of the players Adams either drafted or acquired in trades. And the vast majority of those Sabres trades featured Buffalo moving a star (or established veteran) for draft picks or younger players with the long-term in mind.

Think — a “seller” type trade. That got me thinking. How have the Bills fared in these specific type of trades?

Here’s a rundown of such trades in the Beane era: Sammy Watkins Trade Bills got: CB EJ Gaines, No. 56 overall pick in 2018 draft (used in trade up to select Josh Allen) Rams got: Sammy Watkins, 2018 sixth-round pick (DT Sebastian Joseph-Day) Advantage: Bills Watkins didn’t flame out immediately in Los Angeles yet hardly reached his perceived upside. Joseph-Day has turned into a average defensive tackle.