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Buffalo Sports News

Bills Trade Rumors: Ball-Hawk CB Named Buffalo Offseason Target

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Bills Jack Jones

The Buffalo Bills enter the offseason with a pretty clear to-do list: upgrade their defense so quarterback Josh Allen doesn’t have to play the role of Superman in every meaningful game. A trade for Las Vegas Raiders cornerback Jack Jones would represent a high-upside gamble.

Alex Ballentine of Bleacher Report named the Bills as a possible landing spot for Jones. Ballentine called it an “interesting fit” that wouldn’t significantly impact the team’s salary-cap situation. The corner is scheduled to count $3.3 million against the cap in 2025, the final season of his four-year, $4.4 million rookie contract.

Given the way Buffalo’s pass defense collapsed in its AFC Championship Game loss to the Kansas City Chiefs—Patrick Mahomes averaged 9.4 yards per attempt while leading K.C. to 32 points—changes are almost certainly on the way in the secondary.

Bills Linked to Possible Raiders CB Jack Jones Trade

Buffalo’s Cornerback Situation

Christian Benford will be back as the Bills’ No. 1 corner next season. His 82.6 overall grade from Pro Football Focus ranked fifth among 223 players at the position. Taron Johnson, a 2023 Second Team All-Pro selection, will also return to patrol the slot in 2025.

The No. 2 corner role is a question mark, though. Rasul Douglas struggled this season following an initial impressive run after arriving to Buffalo in a 2023 trade. His drop off in performance makes it less likely the front office brings back the impending unrestricted free agent.

Although the Bills have two internal replacement options, Kaiir Elam and Ja’Marcus Ingram, it seems unlikely either one will start.

Elam is trending toward bust territory based on his play since Buffalo selected him in the first round of the 2022 NFL draft. Ingram has impressed in very limited action, but the coaching staff’s unwillingness to insert him in the Chiefs game after Benford’s injury raises questions.

So, in all likelihood, the Bills will look outside the organization for a boundary starter opposite Benford.

Jones’ NFL Track Record

Jones, a former 5-star college recruit, was selected by the New England Patriots in the fourth round of the 2022 draft. The Raiders claimed him off waivers in November 2023.

The 27-year-old California native has endured an up-and-down NFL career so far. His 53.9 PFF grade this season ranked 165th among corners. It wasn’t all bad, however, as his 16 passes defended tied for the fifth-highest total in the league.

Jones also possesses the ball-hawking skills Buffalo prefers on defense. The Bills led the league in turnover differential (plus-24) on the strength of 32 takeaways. The cornerback has been involved in nine takeaways (seven interceptions, a forced fumble, and a fumble recovery) in 41 games. He’s also scored four defensive touchdowns.

His ability to make the occasional game-changing play helps offset some of his coverage weaknesses.

Why Jones Makes Sense For Bills

Buffalo’s main area of need this offseason is the pass rush. It absolutely must find an upgrade on the edge after the failed Von Miller experiment. The defense simply hasn’t been able to create the consistent pressure needed to win in the playoffs in recent years.

In turn, a vast majority of the Bills’ usable cap space this summer will likely be ticketed for a high-profile defensive end. Two options include the Cleveland Browns‘ Myles Garrett, who requested a trade, or free agent Khalil Mack, who played college football at the University at Buffalo.

It’s going to leave limited financial resources for Buffalo’s other needs. It’s a group that includes defensive tackle, safety, and wide receiver.

As a result, Jones’ modest salary makes him an ideal fit. It also helps that he’s in the final year of his contract, so the Bills can move on quickly if he doesn’t work out. The acquisition cost also shouldn’t be any higher than a late-round draft pick, which limits the downside risk.

Final Verdict: Deal or No Deal?

Deal, but not right away. The Bills should let the offseason play out a little bit before deciding whether Jones is the best short-term option to fill the No. 2 corner void.

Buffalo first needs to find out whether it can secure Garrett, Mack, or someone in that mold. A potential game-wrecking edge-rusher. If not, it’ll be able to spread its resources more evenly among the positions of need. Pinching pennies wouldn’t be as necessary.

Jones isn’t the most exciting option. His middling performance means the Raiders probably won’t get a ton of calls about his availability. He’s the type of player the Bills should be able to acquire in July before training camp if needed.

That said, his ball-hawking nature and past 5-star pedigree make him an intriguing possibility as a buy-low candidate entering the Bills’ turnover-friendly defensive scheme.

Main Image: Mark Konezny – USA Today Sports

The post Bills Trade Rumors: Ball-Hawk CB Named Buffalo Offseason Target appeared first on Last Word on Pro Football.