According to multiple reports, the Buffalo Bills are interested in trading up to the third overall selection in the 2019 NFL Draft. The New York Jets currently sit at number three and are desperate to secure more picks after trading away their second-round pick in 2019 as part of the package for Sam Darnold in 2018.
Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports said this afternoon that two general managers told him the Bills have a deal in place with the Jets if Kyler Murray and Nick Bosa go in the first two picks. Buffalo would be targeting Alabama defensive tackle Quinnen Williams with the trade up.
Rich Cimini, ESPN’s Jets blogger, echoed the statement just before 5:00 PM EST, saying teams think the Jets have a buyer for the third overall pick. From The Athletic NYC, Connor Hughes confirmed Cimini’s report at 6:00 PM Eastern.
FOX Sports’ Peter Schrager told folks to slow down on the talk, though, saying a deal wasn’t imminent.
There is no doubt Williams is a prize, and is likely the best player in the Draft. He’s a slippery interior lineman with great power but also penetration ability that would make him a perfect fit as a 3-tech defensive tackle in Sean McDermott’s defense. He would replace Kyle Williams in the spot.
To get up to pick three, Buffalo is going to have to ship premium assets to the Jets. We hypothesized earlier this week that it could take as much as the team’s top three picks in 2019 plus a 2020 first rounder. If the Jets are really desperate, maybe Buffalo will get to keep their 2020 pick or move it down to a lower-round selection. According to the modern value chart, the Bills would only need to pay 2019 first-, second-, fourth-, and seventh-round picks in a vacuum.
In the last 25 years, there have been 3 trades involving division teams in round 1 of the NFL draft.
— Thad Brown (@thadbrown7) April 25, 2019
Most recently, Browns and Ravens swapped picks 12 and 13 in 2006.
The last time division teams in the top 10 made a trade was 1976.
Bears and Lions traded picks 8 and 10.#Bills
We’ve covered Williams heavily in the last few days. Those scouting reports are linked below:
Keep in mind, this could just be the Jets drumming up trade interest. They have been desperate to trade down for weeks according to reports. So don’t take it as gospel.