The NFL is a cold business, but it's inevitable to feel the human element of the game sometimes. And that's what happened when the Green Bay Packers decided to trade veteran cornerback Rasul Douglas to the Buffalo Bills.

Douglas, who signed a three-year extension with the Packers one season ago, was so surprised with the trade that at first he thought it was a prank from general manager Brian Gutekunst — and he hung up the phone on the executive.

"My initial reaction… At first, Gutey called me, I thought it was like a joke," Rasul said during his first press conference in Buffalo. "He's like 'we're trading you', it was over, I just hung up. And I'm sitting there, and then (Packers president) Mark Murphy called me. And he got a voice like, it was not a joke. 'We're trading you to the Bills, I appreciate you for everything'. I was like 'oh, ok'".

Rasul Douglas said his role in Buffalo will be different, because he was a leader for the Packers and the Bills already have their leaders in place.

"We all can't believe it, but that's reality," Douglas said about his reaction after the trade from Green Bay. "That was home for me."

And it was not only Douglas surprised and disappointed with the move. Packers running back was Douglas' close friend since before the cornerback was acquired by Green Bay in 2021. They shared an emotional moment together at Lambeau Field after learning the news.

"It hurt. That's my guy," said Jones. "To lose one of your brothers, a close friend, damn near best friend, it's tough. But I got to come down here, he was still in the facility, and I got to talk to him. We got to have that moment, and just let him know I'm proud of him."

Fellow cornerback Keisean Nixon was also shocked.

"I was really lost for words. I understand it's a business, but I'm still sick to my stomach, honestly."

Douglas had been the Packers best cornerback this season, with a 75.2 PFF grade. However, there are fair reasons for the Packers management perspective to pull the trigger. Green Bay received a third-round pick for Douglas and a fifth-rounder, adding another top 100 pick in next year's draft. Moreover, the Packers opened up around $6 million in cap space for 2024.

"Obviously in the short term, you lose a good player, that's tough," Gutekunst said. "But at the same time, looking kind of long term, it's going to be in our best interests. Anytime you get a third-round pick, that's going to be within the top 100, probably going to be in the top 50 players you have on your board. That's something that was too good for us to pass up."

Without Rasul Douglas and with third-year cornerback Eric Stokes still on injured reserve for at least three more games, seventh-round rookie Carrington Valentine is expected to be the starter alongside Jaire Alexander and Keisean Nixon.

Bills got much more than just a talented cornerback in Rasul Douglas trade

The Buffalo Bills made a splash in the closing minutes of the NFL trade deadline by bringing in Rasul Douglas. They were able to secure much more than just a veteran CB.