The NFL trade deadline is one of the weirdest traditions for sports fans. Heading into it, everyone can't help discussing potential transactions. Some are feasible, and some are so ludicrous that even the EA Sports Madden AI would reject them with the game set in "easy" mode.

Articles discussing trade scenarios are put out there by the thousands. Analysts predict certain moves are guaranteed to happen. Fans start daydreaming about how one player will single-handedly change the fate of the team.

And then the trade deadline comes and goes without anything major happening. Every once in a while, something big happens. For the most part, though, the NFL trade deadline tends to be a classical sports hype letdown.

So before we get into what's next, I'd just like Buffalo Bills fans to be warned about such a letdown as Christian McCaffrey rumors reach sky-high levels. Over the next few days, McCaffrey-to-the-Bills talk will be heard or read about everywhere you can find NFL content.

I don't care about your warning, give me McCaffrey to the Bills!

Okay, Bills Mafia, you win. Let's discuss what a trade for the star running back would look like for Buffalo.

Earlier this week, The Athletic's Bills' beat writer Joe Buscaglia outlined his proposal for the hypothetical deal in an article where various NFL writers pitched in offer ideas from the respective teams they cover.

Buscaglia's offer seems realistic as the insider shares what could be the missing piece of such a blockbuster trade. He calls it a "choose-your-own-adventure" package. Between picks and familiar faces, the deal makes a surprising amount of sense.

Here's how he structures it:

Bills get RB Christian McCaffrey.

Panthers get 2023 second-round draft pick and Zack Moss OR 2023 third-round draft pick and James Cook.

Joe Buscaglia provides additional insight by pointing out Dan Morgan's presence in Carolina. The former All-Pro linebacker and current assistant general manager is one of the reasons why Moss is in Buffalo in the first place. In 2020, Morgan was the team's director of player personnel.

"Both players were Day 2 selections in their respective draft classes. Moss has another year on his rookie deal, and Panthers assistant general manager Dan Morgan had a hand in drafting Moss in 2020."

Speaking of familiar faces, you've probably heard about the Beane-McCaffrey connection by now:

"Bills general manager Brandon Beane played a hand in drafting McCaffrey to Carolina," writes Buscaglia. "That familiarity for the Bills, knowing what they’re getting as both a person and player, will go a long way in Beane feeling comfortable sending out the necessary assets."

You can read Buscaglia's full explanation here.

Before you get too excited and buy a custom "McCaffrey" jersey online, you might want to re-read the opening paragraphs of this article. Not to mention, I'm not sure that the Panthers would be all too excited about such an offer.

McCaffrey – at 26 years old – remains an absolute weapon that no NFL team should want to deal away unless it's for multiple draft picks to build a team on.

Featured image via George Walker IV / Tennessean.com / USA TODAY NETWORK