Buffalo's roster is a lot more talented and deeper in its third year under general manager Brandon Beane and head coach Sean McDermott. It has prompted NFL clubs to call One Bills Drive, looking to pry away some talent before final cuts are made. That's why it's no surprise that for the second time in two days the Bills executed a trade.
A day after moving offensive lineman Wyatt Teller to Cleveland in a trade with the Browns, the Bills send veteran offensive lineman Russell Bodine to the Patriots in exchange for a 2020 sixth-round pick.
New England clearly had a need at center after their starter David Andrews was hospitalized with a blood clot in his lungs. He has since been released from the hospital, but there is no known prognosis on a return of any kind for the 2019 season.
Bodine was originally signed by the Bills as a free agent last year and made 10 starts for Buffalo in 2018. He battled through injury last season and had a pair of offseason surgeries this past winter, including one on his shoulder.
Through the course of training camp Bodine did not get many reps with the starting unit. Bodine lined up at guard in the team's final preseason game Thursday night.
The five-year veteran will provide depth at the center spot behind Ted Karras and James Ferentz, who are first and second on the Patriots depth chart in the pivot in the absence of Andrews.
Knowing a good number of teams are calling Buffalo trying to acquire talent before cuts are made is a strong indication as to the job the Bills personnel department has done in building a strong roster that goes well beyond who their top 53 players might be when final cuts are made on Saturday at 4 pm.
Buffalo now has nine draft choices lined up for the 2020 draft with three in round six after the trade with New England.
