How the Buffalo Bills acquired Kelvin Benjamin

A week ago today, the Buffalo Bills made a last-minute blockbuster trade for star wide receiver Kelvin Benjamin. The Bills traded their own third-round pick in the 2018 NFL Draft, along with the conditional 2019 seventh-round pick they received from the Chargers. The fascinating part is the wheeling and dealing that got us to this point.

In the Ronald Darby trade, the Philadelphia Eagles sent the Bills Jordan Matthews and a third-round pick, while in the Cardale Jones trade, the Chargers sent the Bills a seventh-round pick. Essentially, the Bills traded Ronald Darby and Cardale Jones for Kelvin Benjamin and Jordan Matthews.

The Bills now have a true number one receiver in Benjamin. Matthews and rookie Zay Jones can spend more time in the slot, which is where both of them are the most comfortable. Matthews, specifically, has been the top slot receiver in the NFL for the past few years. Coming into this season, he was the leading receiver in the NFL in receiving yardage from the slot since his rookie year in 2014.

Keeping five of the six picks they have in the first three rounds, the Bills were able to make a move to benefit both the now and the later. Benjamin is expected to make his debut this Sunday at home against the New Orleans Saints. The Bills are currently undefeated at home in four contests this season. The Saints are on a six-game win streak after starting 0-2. They sit atop the NFC South.