Report: Buffalo Bills considering trading defensive end Trent Murphy

With the NFL trade deadline approaching, the Buffalo Bills have been linked to numerous players at myriad positions. A report from ESPN’s Dan Graziano indicates that the team may be looking to trade at least one veteran away, as well.

In a tweet referencing recent trades of Everson Griffen and Carlos Dunlap, Graziano writes that he has heard two other edge rushers names involved in trade talks. One is Takkarist McKinley of the Atlanta Falcons, and the other is Buffalo’s Trent Murphy.

Murphy, 29, is in the final year of a three-year deal he signed with the Bills in March 2018. In 35 regular season games with the Bills, he has 72 tackles, 10.5 sacks, 15 tackles for loss, and 28 quarterback hits, as well as an interception, four pass breakups, four forced fumbles, and three fumble recoveries.

Murphy’s playing time is down significantly this season. After appearing on a higher percentage of the defensive snaps (65%) than any other edge player in 2019, Murphy has only played on 42% of the defensive snaps this season. In an effort to shake things up along the defensive front, he was even a healthy scratch against the Kansas City Chiefs.

Murphy carries the fifth-highest salary cap number on Buffalo’s roster for 2020, counting $9.775 million against the cap. Thus far, he has 12 tackles, 1.5 sacks, five quarterback hits, and one tackle for loss in six games, five of which have been starts.