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When it was first reported in early January that Buffalo Bills QB J.P. Losman was seeking a trade, many NFL experts predicted that it would be difficult for the Bills to trade their "disgruntled" quarterback. Now, just before the start of free agency - and the trading period - reports are surfacing that four teams are speaking with the Bills about the young veteran signal-caller.
Mike Florio at Pro Football Talk names the Kansas City Chiefs and Miami Dolphins as two teams talking to the Bills about Losman. DraftDaddy.com adds the Atlanta Falcons and San Francisco 49ers to that list. Considering the fact that this year's free agent quarterbacks constitute a weak class, coupled with a question mark-laden rookie class, a young vet like Losman - a player who has game experience - has to be tempting to some teams. That's especially true now that Rex Grossman is off the market.
I've mentioned the Falcons as a possible suitor several times. Former Bills head coach Mike Mularkey - part of the Bills regime that drafted Losman - is currently the offensive coordinator in quarterback-depleted Atlanta, so the Falcons seemed like a natural fit. The Chiefs are likely looking for stiffer competition to Brodie Croyle than Damon Huard provides. The Dolphins and 49ers are a bit more curious, however - Miami has the top pick in the draft and a young quarterback in John Beck, while the 49ers have a former top draft pick in Alex Smith and a young vet in Shaun Hill whom they're high on as well. Losman just does not seem like a good fit for either organization - and the likelihood that he's traded within the AFC East to a rebuilding Dolphins club seems remote.
As I've mentioned in the diary discussion on this very subject, I'm all for trading Losman - if the price is right, and if the Bills are certain they can find a competent backup to Trent Edwards. The Bills aren't in a position where they have to trade Losman, and the chances are still good that he's backing up Edwards in red, white and blue in 2008. If a good offer comes along, however, the Bills still have the option of pulling the trigger.
Lions DT Shaun Rogers
The other name making the rounds in Bills-related trade rumors is Shaun Rogers. As author jri111 reported earlier this week, Rogers will be moved as soon as the Lions can find a suitor, and rumor has it that two AFC teams from the same division are the front-runners for his services. It's very possible that those two teams are the New York Jets and our own Bills; the Jets are looking for a nose tackle for their 3-4 base defense, while the Bills are looking for bulk inside for the Cover-2. We're all aware of Rogers' ties to Dick Jauron (Jauron coached Rogers to two Pro Bowls while in Detroit); it seems likely that Rogers could re-gain that Pro Bowl form under his old coach.
To be honest, I've become smitten with the idea of adding Rogers. Sure, he's got a little baggage, but when it comes right down to it, Dick Jauron gets players to perform. Rogers would immediately become the best player on Buffalo's roster and his presence would do wonders along a pretty porous defensive line. Connor Byrne has a good article on Rogers; Sean Yuille of Pride of Detroit thinks that the Jets are the ideal trading partner.
The trading period, just like free agency, opens up at midnight Friday morning. We're getting close to the fun stuff, Bills fans. Hang on tight, and leave your thoughts on the Losman and Rogers trade rumors.