The Buffalo Bills’ season ended in devastating fashion, but the fact remains that the team over-achieved this season by coming within one successful offensive drive of the Super Bowl.
So while QB Josh Allen and some of the most rambunctious, loyal fans in the NFL remain crushed less than two weeks after falling to the Kansas City Chiefs by just three points in the AFC championship game, there is reason for optimism and hope as well.
The number of such reasons is likely only to increase as the team adds this offseason through both free agency and the NFL draft. Buffalo also has a clear path to get into the trade conversations now swirling around six-time All-Pro pass rusher Myles Garrett, who officially requested a trade from the Cleveland Browns earlier this week.
Cleveland Browns defensive end Myles Garrett.
Ken Blaze-Imagn Images
Joe Buscaglia of The Athletic authored a trade proposal on Tuesday that would see Buffalo send Cleveland two first-round picks (2025 and 2026), a second-rounder (2026) and a fourth-round selection alongside defensive end A.J. Epenesa and cornerback Kaiir Elam. In exchange, the Bills would acquire Garrett, a third-round pick (2025) and a sixth-round selection (2025).
“The Bills were this close to getting to the Super Bowl this season and have long been proponents of getting pressure with only their front four,” Buscaglia wrote. “That group has never found the consistency Buffalo has desired, outside of the first half of 2022, before Von Miller suffered a torn ACL, and was again a problem this season. Getting an in-prime Garrett would immediately vault their defensive line into one of the best in the league, and as a right defensive end, would complement Greg Rousseau extremely well.”
Miller, who will play next season at 36 years old, has three years remaining on his $120 million contract and is a prime cut candidate for the Bills this offseason. Garrett, who will play his age-30 season in 2025, has two years remaining on his $125 million deal.
