Three possible Buffalo Bills trade targets could be on the move today

Three possible targets for the Buffalo Bills’ defense could be on the move today as the NFL hastens toward the trade deadline. The Dallas Cowboys have told DT Dontari Poe and CB Daryl Worley they will be released if the team can’t trade them today according to Tom Pelisero of NFL Network. Ian Rapoport of NFL Network adds that Cincinnati Bengals DE Carlos Dunlap was told to stay home today as the team decides his future. (Update: Dunlap has been traded to the Seattle Seahawks.)

Poe was on the defensive line when Eric Washington, Buffalo’s current defensive line coach, was the defensive coordinator with the Carolina Panthers in 2018 and 2019. If he can vouch for Poe, it would make sense to bring him in either via trade or as a free agent after he is released. The run-clogger could step in for Star Lotulelei for the rest of the season just as he did in Carolina when Lotulelei signed in Buffalo.

Worley played for current Bills head coach Sean McDermott when he was the Panthers’ DC in 2017 and Bills’ general manager Brandon Beane was part of the front office that drafted him in the third round. He brings a wealth of starting experience and could play either boundary cornerback or as a larger slot cornerback.

Buffalo would have to pony up to trade for Dunlap as the pass rusher is likely coveted by other teams in the league. It would be much more difficult to add him to the roster, though, as he’s due more than $3.5 million for the rest of the season. The Bills have barely enough cap space to cover that. In 2021, his cap his is over $11 million with bonuses.

Update: Dunlap was traded to the Seahawks for OL B.J Finney and a 7th round pick.

Buffalo’s pass rush and defensive line was considered a weakness until they sacked Sam Darnold six times this past Sunday. That’s despite investing in several free agents and draft picks over the last two years. They’ve been dealing with injuries in their cornerback group and poor play at slot cornerback. We’ll see if Beane is willing to pull the trigger for the stretch run.

We’ve been profiling possibilities for the Bills at the trade deadline since last week. You can read all of those here:

• With the Cowboys as sellers, several players make sense for the Bills
• Bengals’ trade demands “seem unreasonable” in quest for Geno Atkins, Carlos Dunlap
• Slot cornerback options are available on the trade market
• Giants’ DT Dalvin Tomlinson could solve a lot of problems for the Bills