Bills’ past target leaves a divisional rival, and blockbuster trade helps explain the cost of the DJ Moore move
Another win by Brandon Beane and the Buffalo Bills.
The Buffalo Bills were in on the trade talks for former Miami Dolphins wide receiver Jaylen Waddle at last year’s trade deadline, but nothing fell through. It appeared that the old regime simply didn’t want to trade in division, according to some comments made by general manager Brandon Beane.
With the recent blockbuster trade of Waddle going to the Denver Broncos, it brings into light the Buffalo Bills’ trade for DJ Moore, and how much of a win it was for the organization to pull that off. Denver and Buffalo both were trying to get Waddle during last year’s trade deadline.
Waddle went to the Broncos for a first-round pick, a third-round pick, and a fourth-round pick. Denver got Waddle and a fourth in exchange. For Buffalo, they traded a second-round pick that’s more like a third-round pick to the Chicago Bears in exchange for DJ Moore and a fifth-round pick.
Buffalo got a steal with trading for DJ Moore
Taking a look at the numbers, Waddle’s contract is $28.3 million per year while Moore’s is $24.5 million. Waddle turns 28 this year, while Moore turns 29. Miami paid the 30th and 94th pick, and Buffalo paid the 60th pick and got the 128th back. In terms of production over the past two seasons, the numbers are pretty surprising.
Moore has played in more games, has more receptions, more receiving touchdowns, more rush attempts, more rush yards, and more rushing touchdowns. Moore, in the last three years, had a lower yards per route run with 1.64 compared to Waddle’s 2.07, but Moore has far more 20+ air yard catches over the past three seasons with 32, while Waddle only has 15.
Moore has been the better player over the past few seasons and is only a year older than Waddle, while the Bills didn’t have to give up a king’s ransom to get a No. 1 wide receiver. The second-round pick seemed like a lot at the time, but now it’s looking like more of a steal, especially after the deal Miami made with Denver.
And that’s where the conversation really flips.
At the time, Buffalo giving up a second-round pick raised some eyebrows. But in today’s market, where teams are coughing up multiple premium picks and paying top-of-the-market money, the Bills look like they got ahead of the curve.
They didn’t just land a difference-maker on offense; they did it at a discount.
Now, with Moore in Buffalo and Waddle costing significantly more in draft capital and cash, general manager Brandon Beane’s move looks less like a gamble and more like a masterclass in timing.