Buffalo Rumblings
When the 2025 NFL trade deadline came and went on Tuesday, November 4, Buffalo Bills fans were disappointed learn that general manager Brandon Beane didn’t manage to make any moves. After Beane talked to the media, he made it clear that it wasn’t for a lack of trying — that he was mad as anyone about what transpired.
Trades are a tricky business in professional sports, and in the NFL most organization heads are unwilling to negotiate deals that could benefit their direct divisional rivals. At least not without fully fleecing them in the process.
Fans were left to speculate if Beane tried to pry anyone away from either the New York Jets or Miami Dolphins, two franchises clearly struggling and going nowhere at the moment. A new report on Sunday morning now gives some insight into Beane’s week, and the idea that he was big-game hunting within the offices of his Eastern competition.
It turns out that One Bills Drive did, in fact, try to negotiate deals to land at least two premiere players from their AFC rivals. Per Tom Pelissero, Beane was targeting defensive tackle Quinnen Williams from the Jets and wide receiver Jaylen Waddle from the Dolphins.
It’s unclear what Beane offered for Williams, The Jets ultimately dealt Williams to the Dallas Cowboys for defensive tackle Mazi Smith, a 2026 second-round pick, and a 2027 first-round pick.
The Dolphins ended up hanging on to Waddle with no deal. Pelissero also reported that Beane and the Bills did offer Miami Buffalo’s first-round pick but in 2027. Other reports have Buffalo also offering a 2026 third-round pick as part of the deal. The trade reportedly fell through because Miami wanted the Bills’ 2026 first-round pick.
Undoubtedly, either player would have significantly boosted Buffalo’s production. It would have also made for a very interesting Sunday afternoon at Hard Rock Stadium with the Waddle making a return to South Beach just a few days later.
