On Friday, the Buffalo Bills officially granted wide receiver Cole Beasley permission to seek a trade. Beasley is a capable receiver, having totaled 82 receptions in each of the last two seasons for Buffalo, proving himself to be a dependable target for superstar quarterback Josh Allen. However, removing Beasley from the roster would free up some cap space for the Bills, a wise move considering the depth they have at the receiver spots. Of course, Beasley's camp approaching Buffalo about a trade doesn't necessarily mean that they'll move him. That said, here are three reasons why the Bills must find a way to trade Cole Beasley.
*Watch NFL games LIVE with fuboTV (click for free trial)*
3 Reasons Why The Bills Must Trade Cole Beasley
3. Trading Beasley frees up cap space
By trading Beasley, the Bills stand to free up as much as $6.1 million in cap room. For a team that is currently projected to be about $6 million over the cap, getting Beasley's numbers off the books represents a good start this offseason. While there shouldn't be a huge demand for the 32-year-old, he's still a capable slot receiver who can certainly fit in to most teams' offenses in this pass-first NFL. If Buffalo finds a good fit, they need to trade Beasley, as it's the first step in them building a better team around Allen for 2022, which should be a crucial item on the to-do list.
2. Trading Beasley removes a locker room distraction
Like it or not, Cole Beasley was a distraction to the Bills this year. In a league where nearly all of the players are vaccinated, Beasley is not. That's his choice, however wise it is or not. What isn't particularly wise is the fact that he continuously brought up his issues with the NFL's policy on vaccinations and his gripes with the league's rules on the matter. The Bills can't be pleased with either matter, as being unvaccinated in today's NFL is almost akin to not being in the best shape possible. It threatens a player's availability. Not only that, but continuously talking about it certainly isn't going to do the franchise any favors. Beasley is free to choose whatever he wants to do regarding the vaccine. However, the Bills can remove the distraction that he became out of their locker room by trading him.
1. Trading Beasley frees up playing time for younger players
The Bills undisputed number-one wideout is Stefon Diggs. No player is changing that part of the hierarchy. However, fellow wideout Gabriel Davis appeared to step up as a number-two level option during the playoff loss to the Kansas City Chiefs. Isaiah McKenzie also flashed some potential late in the year. Add in the fact that the Bills have been linked to receivers such as Jameson Williams in the NFL Draft, and it's easy to see how the receiver depth chart begins to get crowded. Past age 30, Beasley simply doesn't fit the Bills' timeline, yet is still playing at a high enough level that the franchise could receive something in return for him. They must do so by trading him.
Follow Us
Subscribe