Buffalo Bills acquire Kelvin Benjamin in trade deadline stunner
The Buffalo Bills made a stunning move at the trade deadline to acquire Kelvin Benjamin from the Carolina Panthers, improving their weapons on offense…
The Buffalo Bills have been making deals left and right since the Sean McDermott regime took over, and they continued that with a big, bold move at the buzzer of the NFL’s trade deadline on Tuesday. Buffalo acquired wide receiver Kelvin Benjamin from the Carolina Panthers in exchange for third- and seventh-round draft choices.
In all, not too hefty a price to pay for a big receiver like Benjamin, who could benefit greatly from this new change of scenery.
Benjamin had become one of Cam Newton’s favorite targets from the day he first stepped onto the field for the Panthers, but missed the entire 2015 season with a torn ACL. He rebounded with a solid year in 2016, and is putting up right around career average numbers so far in 2017.
Adam Schefter was the first to report this trade:
Panthers traded WR Kelvin Benjamin to Buffalo for 3rd and 7th round picks, per source. Benjamin rejoins HC Sean McDermott, GM Brandon Beane.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) October 31, 2017
The reunion in Buffalo makes some sense for Benjamin, as the Bills don’t really have a true number one target in the passing game. The Bills have been trading away most of their big name players this year, and somehow have found a way to surpass any and all expectations.
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At 5-2, this move makes it seem like the Bills are pushing the chips they have into the center, going all in for the rest of this season.
The team’s leading receivers at this point are LeSean McCoy and Charles Clay, so having someone like Benjamin could open up plenty of options for the rest of the offense.
So far this season, Benjamin has caught 32 passes for 475 yards and two touchdowns. Those numbers aren’t great but the weapon Benjamin is in the red zone and as a deep threat could be huge for Buffalo down the stretch of a potential playoff season.
I like this trade for Buffalo, and for the Panthers, it allows them to get Curtis Samuel more playing time, as well as feature Devin Funchess a little more in the passing game. Still, it has to be a little crazy for Cam Newton to no longer have Benjamin, who has been something of a safety valve, or Greg Olsen, who is out with injury this season.