The Buffalo Bills have arranged to trade center Russell Bodine to their division rival, the New England Patriots, per a report by ESPN’s Marcel Louis-Jacques and Adam Schefter. NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport adds that the Patriots are sending the Bills a sixth-round pick in compensation.
Bodine signed with the Bills last season, and took over as the starting center partway through the year. He ultimately started ten games for the Bills before a broken fibula ended his season. In 2018, Bodine was Buffalo’s best option at the pivot, but the Bills drastically overhauled the position in the offseason. They signed Mitch Morse to a rich contract, and added Jon Feliciano and Spencer Long, two experienced veterans with the ability to play center. In that new roster situation, Bodine was the odd man out.
The Patriots have been trying to reinforce their offensive line recently, especially with the news that starting center David Andrews may head to injured reserve with blood clotting. Bodine may not start for New England, but his starting experience is valuable nonetheless.
In two days, the Buffalo Bills have added a fifth-round pick and two sixth-round picks, trading two offensive linemen. The Bills have one more day remaining before their roster must drop to 53 players.