The Buffalo Bills apparently made at least some effort to add a wide receiver before the 2025 NFL trade deadline.
No deals actually happened, though, and that limited the Bills’ passing attack the rest of the season, even with the eventual free agent signing of Brandin Cooks.
Turns out, though, that Jaylen Waddle was legitimately in play, at least from the Bills’ point of view.
Bills front office leader Brandon Beane told Adam Schein on Monday that there was one WR “I know we had the strongest offer on. Maybe they just decided it wasn’t enough, or maybe they just decided they didn’t want to send him in division.”
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Reading between the lines, that’s definitely Beane talking about Waddle.
Plugged-in reporter Tyler Dunne added to Beane’s comments with his own insight on X on Tuesday morning.
Dunne confirmed that he believed the Dolphins were using the Bills to try and drive up Waddle’s price.
“I don’t think Miami was ever serious,” Dunne wrote. “Tried using Bills as a pawn.”
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Dunne did add some encouraging news as Buffalo heads into the offseason still needing to upgrade at wideout.
“Now — with more options — I think Bills are aggressive at receiver,” Dunne writes.
Free agency, and less of a pressurized timeline on trades, give Buffalo ways to finally get Josh Allen some better targets.
With offensive coordinator Joe Brady promoted to head coach, the Bills need to bulk up the offense as best they can to maximize Allen’s prime. Somehow, they finally have to get some wide receiver action not just in play but completed.
