'Quite Surprising': Latest Bills Rumors on Ed Oliver Trade Potential
Many have said that the only team capable of beating the Buffalo Bills is themselves. That philosophy could be the logic behind keeping an apparently disgruntled Western New York veteran.
In his latest for The Athletic, Joe Buscaglia said that the Bills trading defensive tackle Ed Oliver, especially on draft day, would be "quite surpris(ing)" considering the relative uncertainty surrounding the premier portions of Buffalo's defensive depth chart.
"My biggest advice is to not scout players on their social media accounts and guess what they mean on a vague post," Buscaglia writes to a fan inquiring about Oliver's status. "Oliver is one of their key defensive line pieces in trying to get to the Super Bowl this year, and operating without him would be a massive downgrade.
"They also already have to make up for not having Tremaine Edmunds and potentially Von Miller for some of the season. It wouldn’t make sense for them to add another thing to overcome during a critical year."
Oliver's Buffalo future appeared murky after he said he “enjoyed (him)self" in captioning a montage of highlights as a Bill on Instagram. He also posted (and deleted) another Instagram post where he demanded the Bills "show (him) the money." The ninth pick of the 2019 draft is set to play next season on a fifth-year option worth just over $10 million.
To Buscaglia's point, Edmunds moved on to the Chicago Bears earlier this spring while Miller's status for the early portions of next season is uncertain due to a torn ACL. Oliver appeared in 13 games last season, earning 34 tackles and tying his career-best from the year before with 14 quarterback hits.
But, even without the caveats brought about by Edmunds' departure and Miller's injury, Bills management appears keen to bring Oliver back for the long term, one way or another.
"Over the last two offseasons, (general manager Brandon Beane) has also alluded to wanting to keep Oliver past the 2023 season," Buscaglia says. "I wouldn’t expect that to change between now and the draft."
If the Bills are worried about Oliver moving on, it's possible they could use one of their six picks at the upcoming NFL Draft on an interior project. The draft will be held April 27-29 in Kansas City.
Geoff Magliocchetti is on Twitter @GeoffJMags
Bills Mafia! Get your Buffalo game tickets from SI Tickets ... here!
You're a member of Bills Mafia hungry for more Buffalo coverage? Read here
