Which Patriots players would we add to the Bills’ roster this season?
The Buffalo Bills and New England Patriots have opposite records. This doesn’t mean that there are no talented players on New England’s roster, however. There are a few players wearing the colors of Buffalo’s divisional rival who could absolutely help our boys in Orchard Park, NY to be a better team.
Given how poorly the Patriots have performed on offense this year, it was basically a nonstarter to add a Patriots’ offensive player. Buffalo’s skill players and offensive line are just better than what’s rostered in New England, and the quarterback situation is essentially the reverse-Uno card of a drought-era game. With respect to Drake Maye, his own parents would likely trade him for Josh Allen if they were running an NFL franchise — or at least they would if they wanted to keep their jobs.
Which players would we add to Buffalo’s roster? There are three defensive players who I believe could come aboard and help the Bills right now. Remember, we’re ignoring the salary cap here. I’m only considering how these players would fit in Buffalo’s scheme and whether or not they’ll be healthy enough to contribute this year — not necessarily just this Sunday.
With that in mind, here are the three players we’re stealing from Foxborough.
DT Davon Godchaux
I intended to draft defensive tackle Christian Barmore instead, as the Alabama lineman is basically a physical carbon-copy of Buffalo’s DaQuan Jones and Austin Johnson — long, stout anchors at the one-tech. Barmore is on the non-football injury list due to blood clots, a scary issue that will likely shut him down for the year.
While Barmore would fit what the team already has, Godchaux gives them a different element — the 330-pound bowling ball could add some heft to the front, keeping bodies and pressure off the Bills’ linebackers and allowing them clean shots at opposing ballcarriers. Godchaux has 50 tackles this season, and while he doesn’t offer anything in terms of pass-rush prowess, his role would be to eat space up front in a rotational sense.
Godchaux would be better than Jordan Phillips, who’s been inactive on game days, and he would give the Bills a player type on the defensive line that they don’t often have, but I think would benefit the defense tremendously.
CB Christian Gonzalez
You know what’s better than having one stud at corner in Christian Benford? Having two studs at corner by virtue of adding cornerback Christian Gonzalez. We could call the duo “The Missionary,” although we might receive a Cease and Desist letter from Snoop Dogg and Dr. Dre if we tried.
Gonzalez has been outstanding in his first full season after playing in just four games of an injury-riddled rookie year. Gonzalez has allowed just 55.6% of the passes thrown his way to be completed. He’s allowed 470 receiving yards on 81 coverage attempts. He has 11 pass breakups and two interceptions while allowing two touchdowns and a quarterback-rating-against of just 70.5 overall. He’s also a willing tackler, making 57 stops against just three missed tackles this season.
Yes, Rasul Douglas would be relegated to the bench, but for Buffalo’s defensive secondary, two Christians is better than one.
S Kyle Dugger
The Bills have run a lot of dime over the last two seasons. They generally sub in a hybrid corner-safety, Cam Lewis, in those situations. Imagine if they had Dugger to play the old Jordan Poyer role of that dime linebacker?
Dugger has been miserable in coverage this year, allowing four touchdowns and a quarterback rating against of 131.9 on the season. However, if there’s a coaching staff that I’d trust to maximize the athletic ability of someone like Dugger at the safety position, it’s in Buffalo.
Especially as safeties Taylor Rapp and Damar Hamlin have dealt with injuries, adding someone like Dugger to the fold would prevent the Bills from having to rely on a rookie in Cole Bishop, a 37-year old in Kareem Jackson, or a man who was semi-retired until three weeks ago in Micah Hyde.
In this fantasy scenario, I’m trusting the process and letting head coach Sean McDermott, defensive coordinator Bobby Babich, and safety coach Joe Danna to unlock a more perfect version of Dugger.
Which Patriots players are you adding to the Buffalo roster, and why do you want them? Let us know below!