Trading Jason Peters: Easier Said Than Done

So it looks more and more like the Bills and Jason Peters are not going to reach a contract agreement any time soon (and yes, I am tempting fate by saying so because I hope they do) which has led many to believe that a trade is now imminent.

It’s certain that the Bills want to avoid another lengthy holdout, which some speculate could last until week 10—unrealistic in my view because Peters would be shooting himself in the foot financially.

But the Bills are not alone in thinking that Jason Peters has not earned the right to be the top paid LT in the game. In fact, I suspect that the very reason Buffalo has been unable to sign Peters is going to be the very same reason they are going to have difficulty trading him:

Any team that trades for Jason Peters inherits his demands.

Nobody is going to trade away top picks for a guy who they believe will be difficult to sign to a long-term deal and will likely holdout.

Why would any team assume that once Peters leaves Buffalo, that he will have an epiphany and demand reasonable money—which Buffalo has already offered.

If the reality of the situation is that Jason Peters no longer wants to play in Buffalo, he should be forthcoming about that and stop making this a salary issue, because he’s becoming a turn-off for everyone, not just the Buffalo Bills.

Frankly, the Bills and Peters are losing leverage by the minute, and if he’s not moved well before the draft, you can expect the Bills to accept a lowball offer from a team willing to take the risk, and subsequently you can expect Peters to continue his holdout in another city.

Jason Peters is killing his career and costing himself millions. He needs to find another agent—one with a big-picture mentality.

Mr. Peters, I am at your service.