Getty Former Vikings wide receiver Adam Thielen signed with the Carolina Panthers in the 2023 offseason.
The Buffalo Bills have financial room to make moves at the upcoming trade deadline and some holes to fill, with one insider suggesting the team could reunite Stefon Diggs with his former receiving partner.
Ryan Talbot of NewYorkUpstate.com broke down 10 potential trades the Bills could make before the October 31 trade deadline, including one that would send Carolina Panthers wide receiver Adam Thielen to Buffalo. Many insiders have suggested the Bills could bolster their wide receiving corps at the deadline, and Talbot believes the resurgent Thielen might be the best fit.
Adam Thielen Has ‘A Lot More Juice Left’
The Bills built some cap space on October 24 after restructuring the contract for left tackle Dion Dawkins, creating close to $3.9 million in space. While the move was necessitated by an injury to tight end Dawson Knox that will require the Bills to bring another player to the active roster, it also gave them more space for potential trades.
The Bills fell to 4-3 with a loss to the New England Patriots on Sunday, putting them at the edges of the playoff picture. Talbot suggested the Bills could follow the example of the Philadelphia Eagles — who already pulled the trigger on a trade for Tennessee Titans safety Kevin Byard — in stocking up for a potential Super Bowl run.
Talbot wrote that Thielen is in the midst of a resurgent season that could make him a good addition to their receiving corps and reunite him with former Minnesota Vikings teammate Diggs.
“To be honest, Thielen has proven that there is a lot more juice left in his game than I expected in Carolina,” Talbot wrote. “In six games this season, Thielen has caught 49 passes for 509 yards and four touchdowns. In Buffalo, Thielen would be reunited with Stefon Diggs. The veteran is not part of the Panthers’ long-term plans, but they want to hold onto him as he has been Bryce Young’s favorite target.”
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Diggs is in the midst of a strong season, making 55 receptions for 678 yards and six touchdowns, but the Bills have struggled to find consistency out of the rest of their receiving corps. Gabe Davis, the team’s No. 2 receiver, has 22 catches for 347 yards and four touchdowns but also made some key drops and has been inconsistent in his performances.
If the Bills do look to trade, they could also fill some of the holes on defense created by long-term injuries to linebacker Matt Milano, cornerback Tre’Davious White and defensive tackle DaQuan Jones.
Bills Hope to Take Advantage of Short Week
With the NFL trade deadline still one week away, the team is first Bills trfocused on moving beyond the rough loss to the Patriots and taking advantage of a short week. The Bills host the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Thursday, and quarterback Josh Allen said the team would be looking over what went wrong on Sunday and trying to fix it.
“Well, I wish I knew the exact answer because we’d have it fixed by now,” Allen said, via AtoZ Sports. “We’re going to watch this film and find a way to get there, whatever it is. Our season is not over. It’s a long season. Feels pretty bleak right now, but we’re going to figure it out.”