DeAndre Hopkins Trade: Would Bills 'Get Over the Hump?' Ex NFL Star Weighs In
The Buffalo Bills have been one of the NFL's best teams across the past several years, making the playoffs in each of the last four seasons and thrice winning the AFC East.
And yet, in the words of quarterback Josh Allen, the Bills simply haven't been able to "get over that hump" and make, let alone win, the Super Bowl.
As such, much of Buffalo's focus this off-season has been on trying to take the next step - which may be less about what to do, but who to add.
One such option that's emerged of late, largely in hypothetical fashion, is trading for Arizona Cardinals receiver DeAndre Hopkins, a five-time Pro Bowler and three-time first-team All-Pro selection.
But is Hopkins truly the missing piece? Former NFL defensive tackle Gerald McCoy, who made six Pro Bowl's with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and last played in 2021 for the Las Vegas Raiders, shared his thoughts on NFL Network's "Good Morning Football" television show.
"I don't believe that D-Hop would put them over the top because I don't think offense has been an issue for them," McCoy said. "I think they get to the moment, and just don't get it done."
The Bills' offense has plenty of talent, including Allen and receiver Stefon Diggs and a number of complementary pieces such as receiver Gabe Davis, running backs James Cook, Damien Harris and Latavius Murray and tight ends Dawson Knox and first-round rookie Dalton Kincaid.
During Allen's tenure, Buffalo has played in eight postseason games, holding a record of 4-4. In the wins, the Bills have scored 27, 17, 47 and 34 points, respectively, while mustering 19, 24, 36 and 10 points in the losses.
So, if it's not the offense, what's holding Buffalo back?
McCoy cited penalties, noting the Bills had more than their opponent in each of their past two playoff losses, including a startling eight in January's divisional round defeat to the Cincinnati Bengals, who were only called for two.
Thus, it has less to do with how the offense has performed, instead focusing on mental lapses - at least in McCoy's eyes.
"I don't believe it's an offensive thing," McCoy said. "I believe it's a focus when it's time to focus and learning when to be the Buffalo Bills."
McCoy conceded that, naturally, everybody would like to have a player of Hopkins' caliber ... but for the Bills, he's simply not the piece to get them "over the top" or, perhaps, fix those focus woes.
Interestingly, McCoy is one of 10 players since 1990 to play at least 11 seasons and never make the postseason - but he was also one of the most dominant defenders in the league during the 2010s; his words carry legitimate value.
If anything, McCoy knows best what doesn't work - he's lived it. So, what's the solution? He provided his thoughts ...
"Regular season is great, but to beat that team, you can't every year get to this point and (say), 'oh, we don't know what it is, we have to figure a way to get over the hump,'" McCoy said. "I don't think bringing in more offense is the thing, because they're at the top of the league in offense every year.
"I think it's when you get into the playoffs, that's when everybody elevates their game. Buffalo has to get to that moment and just elevate (its) game."
Can the Bills take the lessons learned from years past and come out on the other side of the hump?
Only time will tell - McCoy provided several valid reasons as to why that hasn't happened in the past ... but that was then and this is now, and Buffalo's fully focused on the present with the intent of proving it's ready to move forward.
You can follow Daniel Flick on Twitter @DFlickDraft
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