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Intriguing idea from Buffalo News’ Ryan O’Halloran.
Probably not going to happen, but, it could. He lays out the full possibilities. It’s not the wildest idea….
Ryan O'Halloran: Bills should make Broncos say 'No!' on trade offer for cornerback Pat Surtain II
Probably not going to happen, but, it could. He lays out the full possibilities. It’s not the wildest idea….
Ryan O'Halloran: Bills should make Broncos say 'No!' on trade offer for cornerback Pat Surtain II
A 28-point win over the Miami Dolphins on Sunday afternoon, followed by the Kansas City Chiefs’ three-point squeaker over the New York Jets hours later, confirmed the Buffalo Bills as equal parts the class of their division and conference.
But a reinforcement is required after top cornerback Tre’Davious White sustained a season-ending torn Achilles tendon.
It is time for General Manager Brandon Beane to go all in, which he has done before (see defensive end Von Miller in free agency).
It is time for Beane to get really bold, which he has done before (see trading a first-round pick for receiver Stefon Diggs).
Before the Bills fly to London on Thursday night for Sunday’s game against the Jacksonville Jaguars, Beane should call Denver Broncos GM George Paton.
Make Paton say, “Heck, no!” to a trade offer for terrific cornerback Pat Surtain II.
Surtain, 23, is in his third NFL season after being drafted ninth overall by Paton in 2021 and has six interceptions in 37 games.
Why the 1-3 Broncos should consider it: They don’t have enough good players and even if they beat the Jets this week, they are no match for Kansas City or even the Los Angeles Chargers in the AFC West. They need to rebuild their depth chart and Surtain is the best commodity to trade. Will it invite immediate scorn and pain? Of course. Will it help the Broncos become competitive down the line? Possibly.
…snip…
But it won’t come cheap (Part 1): A comparable price would be what Jacksonville got for disgruntled cornerback Jalen Ramsey in 2019 – first-round picks in 2020-21 and a fourth-rounder in 2021. Surtain is better than Ramsey and doesn’t carry any drama.
The Bills’ package should start with their 2024 first-round pick and cornerback Kaiir Elam (2022 first-round selection). It would be hard for Beane to deal Elam, who figures to be active Sunday for the first time this year. But the Bills have Christian Benford or Dane Jackson to play opposite Surtain and Taron Johnson is set as the nickel.
Our offer would be Elam, a 2024 first and a 2025 second that becomes a first if the Bills win the Super Bowl after the ’23 or ’24 seasons.
But it won’t come cheap (Part 2): Surtain will eventually be the NFL’s highest-paid cornerback; he is eligible for a contract extension in March 2024. The Bills would pick up his fifth-year option for 2025 (the industry website Over The Cap projects that at $19.73 million if Surtain makes a second Pro Bowl).
…snip…
The tough decision for Beane would be moving on from White after the season. (It’s OK to feel bad for White about his injury, but the game and the football business goes on – he would be the first to admit that.)
Cutting White would result in $10.36 million and $4.13 million “dead” cap hits in 2024-25. But the Bills create $6.26 million and $12.54 million, respectively, in space.
Surtain would be a bargain next year – his base salary is only $1.05 million and he has a $2.46 million roster bonus. The aforementioned fifth-year option number could be lowered with a contract extension that pushes money into the future when the cap will continue to rise.
Trading Elam would mean “dead” cap hits of $3.57 million and $1.78 million in 2023-24, respectively, per Over The Cap.
More…
But a reinforcement is required after top cornerback Tre’Davious White sustained a season-ending torn Achilles tendon.
It is time for General Manager Brandon Beane to go all in, which he has done before (see defensive end Von Miller in free agency).
It is time for Beane to get really bold, which he has done before (see trading a first-round pick for receiver Stefon Diggs).
Before the Bills fly to London on Thursday night for Sunday’s game against the Jacksonville Jaguars, Beane should call Denver Broncos GM George Paton.
Make Paton say, “Heck, no!” to a trade offer for terrific cornerback Pat Surtain II.
Surtain, 23, is in his third NFL season after being drafted ninth overall by Paton in 2021 and has six interceptions in 37 games.
Why the 1-3 Broncos should consider it: They don’t have enough good players and even if they beat the Jets this week, they are no match for Kansas City or even the Los Angeles Chargers in the AFC West. They need to rebuild their depth chart and Surtain is the best commodity to trade. Will it invite immediate scorn and pain? Of course. Will it help the Broncos become competitive down the line? Possibly.
…snip…
But it won’t come cheap (Part 1): A comparable price would be what Jacksonville got for disgruntled cornerback Jalen Ramsey in 2019 – first-round picks in 2020-21 and a fourth-rounder in 2021. Surtain is better than Ramsey and doesn’t carry any drama.
The Bills’ package should start with their 2024 first-round pick and cornerback Kaiir Elam (2022 first-round selection). It would be hard for Beane to deal Elam, who figures to be active Sunday for the first time this year. But the Bills have Christian Benford or Dane Jackson to play opposite Surtain and Taron Johnson is set as the nickel.
Our offer would be Elam, a 2024 first and a 2025 second that becomes a first if the Bills win the Super Bowl after the ’23 or ’24 seasons.
But it won’t come cheap (Part 2): Surtain will eventually be the NFL’s highest-paid cornerback; he is eligible for a contract extension in March 2024. The Bills would pick up his fifth-year option for 2025 (the industry website Over The Cap projects that at $19.73 million if Surtain makes a second Pro Bowl).
…snip…
The tough decision for Beane would be moving on from White after the season. (It’s OK to feel bad for White about his injury, but the game and the football business goes on – he would be the first to admit that.)
Cutting White would result in $10.36 million and $4.13 million “dead” cap hits in 2024-25. But the Bills create $6.26 million and $12.54 million, respectively, in space.
Surtain would be a bargain next year – his base salary is only $1.05 million and he has a $2.46 million roster bonus. The aforementioned fifth-year option number could be lowered with a contract extension that pushes money into the future when the cap will continue to rise.
Trading Elam would mean “dead” cap hits of $3.57 million and $1.78 million in 2023-24, respectively, per Over The Cap.
More…
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