The Top 10 Realistic Trade Deadline Targets for the Buffalo Bills

The Buffalo Bills are on the verge of returning from their bye week, but there will be precious little time to evaluate the roster before the NFL trade deadline hits on Nov. 10.

That deadline falls just hours after the Bills play the Minnesota Vikings on Monday Night Football to wrap up Week 9, leaving them with only that prime-time clash and this weekend's matchup against the Baltimore Ravens to finalize their strategy.

As the market heats up, here are 10 candidates who could realistically find themselves employed in Western New York before Week 10 arrives.

Contract information courtesy of Spotrac.

10. Washington Commanders CB Rasul Douglas

AP Photo/Matt Slocum

Rasul Douglas

The Profile: The 31-year-old has 22 career interceptions and 96 starts dating back a decade. He's been on the field for 67 percent of Washington's defensive snaps this season, ranking 22nd among 73 qualified corners with a 67.0 grade at Pro Football Focus.

The Fit: Bills general manager Brandon Beane acquired Douglas at the 2023 deadline, and it would make sense to inquire about him again with Washington's season in the gutter. Douglas is on a cheap one-year deal in Washington, and he'd arguably provide an upgrade over Maxwell Hairston and rookie Davison Igbinosun as a veteran playmaker. 

The Predicted Cost: A 2027 seventh-round draft pick.

The Potential Obstacle: Igbinosun may be a liability, but he's emerging. Acquiring another cornerback now could come across as an admission from Beane that he erred in selecting Hairston in the first round in 2025 and Igbinosun in Round 2 one year later.

9. Arizona Cardinals LB Mack Wilson

AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin

Mack Wilson

The Profile: The 28-year-old has compiled more than 400 tackles over the course of an eight-year career with three teams. He's started all seven games this season in Arizona, where he continues to flash versatility and reliability but is far from spectacular. 

The Fit: He'd bring plenty of physicality to Buffalo while improving the defense's ability to cover tight ends. Wilson isn't a star, but he'd immediately bolster a bland linebacker group that is consistently vulnerable one way or the other. He'd cost the Bills less than $2 million before his contract expires this spring.

The Predicted Cost: A 2027 sixth-round draft pick.

The Potential Obstacle: Beane used Day 2 draft picks on Terrel Bernard and Dorian Williams just a few years ago, and both should in theory be in their primes. 

8. Tennessee Titans LB Cody Barton

AP Photo/Stew Milne

Cody Barton

The Profile: The 29-year-old—he turns 30 three days after the deadline—recorded at least 100 tackles in each of his first three seasons as a regular starter (2022–2024). He's somewhat of a journeyman, but he brings extensive starting experience. This season, the 2019 third-round pick has a top-20 pass-rushing grade among qualified off-ball linebackers at PFF.

The Fit: Barton would have a chance to pair with Bernard as a stuffer in run defense, or even replace him next to Williams on obvious passing downs. At the very least, he'd bring some much-needed oomph and variation to that position of need. 

The Predicted Cost: A 2027 sixth-round draft pick.

The Potential Obstacle: Not only would Barton cost $3.6 million the rest of this season, but the Bills would owe him another $7 million in 2027. 

7. Los Angeles Chargers S Elijah Molden

AP Photo/Greg M. Cooper

Elijah Molden

The Profile: The 2021 third-round pick is a versatile, high-IQ defensive back who shined in his debut season with the Chargers. The 27-year-old hasn't been as effective since and missed some time in September but ranks 18th among qualified safeties with a PFF grade of 73.5. 

The Fit: Molden could offer an upgrade over C.J. Gardner-Johnson as a disciplined deep safety who can also play in the box and handle slot duties. A deadline acquisition would cost Buffalo approximately $3.3 million against the cap for the remainder of this season.

The Predicted Cost: A 2027 fifth-round draft pick.

The Potential Obstacle: This isn't a rental—Buffalo would be on the hook for another $5.3 million next year—and the Bills already paid CJGJ to pair with the young Cole Bishop. The Chargers might also drive a hard bargain considering Molden's age and contract. 

6. Philadelphia Eagles CB Riq Woolen

AP Photo/Terrance Williams

Riq Woolen

The Profile: The 27-year-old intercepted six passes in a Pro Bowl rookie season in 2022 and remained a key contributor over the course of his four-year rookie contract in Seattle. He signed a one-year, $12 million deal with the Eagles in the 2026 offseason and currently ranks 48th among 114 qualified corners with a 63.1 PFF grade.

The Fit: Woolen brings sheer size, speed and talent to the table and has the scheme versatility to blend in quickly. He'd likely push to be the No. 2 corner immediately. 

The Predicted Cost: A 2027 third-round draft pick.

The Potential Obstacle: The Eagles might see him as part of their future. Even if they don't, Buffalo could face significant competition for a 27-year-old rental corner who would cost his new team less than $1 million for the remainder of the season and is scheduled to become a free agent in 2027.

5. Los Angeles Chargers CB Donte Jackson

AP Photo/Kyusung Gong

Donte Jackson

The Profile: The 30-year-old—he turns 31 two days before the deadline—has 23 interceptions and 109 starts over the course of a nine-year career to date. Among cornerbacks who started at least six games in 2025, he ranked first with an opposing passer rating of 48.6 while intercepting four passes. 

The Fit: You're getting one of the most experienced and accomplished cover guys in the league for a Super Bowl run. Jim Leonhard has shown a strong preference for zone coverage this season, and Jackson would be in a position to excel there while helping a young defense cut down on communication issues. All at a cost of just $3.3 million for the remainder of 2026, which is a walk year for Jackson. 

The Predicted Cost: A 2027 third-round draft pick.

The Potential Obstacle: If Jackson is available, he'll be in very high demand. It's also not ideal that he's currently recovering from a hamstring injury. 

4. Arizona Cardinals S Budda Baker

AP Photo/Samantha Chow

Budda Baker

The Profile: The 30-year-old is an eight-time Pro Bowler who recorded a combined 284 tackles the last two seasons and is on pace for yet another triple-digit-tackle campaign in 2026. He may be slightly beyond his prime, but Baker already has a career-best 3.5 sacks despite a mediocre overall PFF grade of 54.8 thus far this year.

The Fit: While he wouldn't really be a one-for-one replacement for Gardner-Johnson, Baker would provide an upgrade over the still-green Bishop inside the box and could be a massive game-changer for the entire defense. His very presence would help the rest of a struggling secondary and linebacker corps excel. 

The Predicted Cost: A 2027 fourth-round draft pick.

The Potential Obstacle: The cap-strapped Bills would either have to convince Arizona to pay a portion of Baker's remaining 2026 salary or restructure other contracts to accommodate him. Asking the Cardinals to cover salary could mean adding draft capital to the deal. Baker is also under contract through 2027, when he is scheduled to earn approximately $17.8 million in salary and bonuses, none of it guaranteed, giving Beane another financial consideration beyond this season.

3. Tennessee Titans S Amani Hooker

AP Photo/Terrance Williams

Amani Hooker

The Profile: The 28-year-old has spent his entire eight-year career in Tennessee, where he hit a groove with five interceptions in 2024. He followed that up with a down year in 2025 but already has two picks and is PFF's ninth-highest-graded safety thus far in 2026. 

The Fit: He's got the versatility and experience the Bills could use both inside and outside of the box. You almost never have to take him off the field, lessening the burden on Gardner-Johnson and Bishop. 

The Predicted Cost: A 2027 third-round draft pick.

The Potential Obstacle: The $4.9 million 2026 price tag is manageable, but that'll shoot up above $10 million as Hooker hits 29 in 2027. The Titans also just traded Jeffery Simmons and might prefer to stop short of a fire sale, considering that they signed Hooker to an extension only a year ago. 

2. Indianapolis Colts S Cam Bynum

AP Photo/Ellen Schmidt

Cam Bynum

The Profile: The 28-year-old has intercepted eight passes since the start of 2024, establishing himself as one of the most versatile and reliable free safeties in the league. He hasn't missed a start since his 2021 rookie season in Minnesota. 

The Fit: Bynum would provide an immediate upgrade at the position, allowing the team to rely less on both Gardner-Johnson and Bishop. He'd also bring tremendous energy to the defense. 

The Predicted Cost: A 2027 third-round draft pick.

The Potential Obstacle: There's a strong chance the Colts still see Bynum as part of their future and refuse to include him as part of their current fire sale unless the return is off the charts. And while his $5.8 million cost for 2026 would be doable with some maneuvering, the Bills would be looking at a $14 million price tag next season. 

1. Philadelphia Eagles LB Zack Baun

AP Photo/Adam Bettcher

Zack Baun

The Profile: The 29-year-old two-time Pro Bowler has been on the field for more than 95 percent of Philadelphia's defensive snaps since the start of 2024. That year, Baun was a legitimate Defensive Player of the Year candidate. This year, his PFF grade of 79.1 ranks fifth among qualified players at his position. 

The Fit: Baun played under Jim Leonhard at Wisconsin. As an incredibly productive, versatile defender who can play off-ball or rush the passer, he'd be the ultimate new chess piece for Leonhard without rendering any of the current starters useless. 

The Predicted Cost: A 2027 second-round draft pick.

The Potential Obstacle: If the Eagles are willing to trade Baun, he'll have a lot of suitors considering the acquiring team would be on the hook for less than $700,000 for the remainder of 2026—even with $17 million in scheduled compensation looming in 2027. The price could easily exceed my prediction above via a bidding war.