BREAKING: BILLS LINKED TO BLOCKBUSTER TRADE FOR SAINTS STAR
The Buffalo Bills excelled last season with an “everybody eats” approach on offense, but this year’s crop of wide receivers haven’t exactly been feasting.
Bills quarterback Josh Allen is still spreading the ball around to a wide group of pass-catchers, but their wide receivers have not taken as big a share of the workload. The Bills have only three receivers who have topped 100 total yards through five games, with Khalil Shakir leading the way with 235 yards. None of the team’s wide receivers are on pace to reach 800 yards.
One analyst suggests the team could find some help at the trade deadline, taking aim at a talented receiver who is expected to hit the trade block.
Bills Could Find Help in the NFC South
SI.com analyst Alex Brasky suggested the Bills could make a run at New Orleans Saints wide receiver Chris Olave, who has been floated as a trade target as the deadline approaches. Brasky noted that the Saints are slipping out of playoff contention and could look to sell off pieces to build draft assets for a rebuild.
“The New Orleans Saints have been rumored to be shopping their veteran players as they are 1-4 on the season while sitting in salary cap hell,” Brasky wrote. “Two Saints players that could potentially provide an instant boost to the Bills’ pass-catching corps, if available, are wide receivers Chris Olave and Rashid Shaheed, both of whom have been the subject of much discussion among Bills fans throughout the past several days.”
Olave had a strong start to his career, topping the 1,000-yard mark in each of his first two seasons while catching nine total touchdowns in that span. But he has been limited to eight games last season, making 32 receptions for 400 yards with one touchdown. He has 2,800 yards for his career.
The 25-year-old receiver is off to a promising start this year, making 33 receptions for 244 yards with one touchdown.
Brasky added that Shaheed could be a logical target, as he could give a boost to the wide receiving corps while also serving as a return specialist — a position that has been a question mark through the first five weeks of the season.
Bills Could Consider Another Target
If the Bills do choose to bolster their wide receiving corps at the NFL trade deadline, they could have other targets beyond Olave. Bleacher Report’s Alex Kay suggested the Bills could take a big swing, offering a pair of Day 2 draft picks to land A.J. Brown from the Philadelphia Eagles.
Kay noted that Brown is off to a slow start, on pace for just 660 yards this season, and could give the Bills the “true No. 1” receiver they have been missing since Stefon Diggs was traded to the Houston Texans last year.
“While slot wideout Khalil Shakir (22/235/2) and X receiver Keon Coleman (21/226/2) have played their roles adequately, tight end Dalton Kincaid leads Buffalo in receiving yardage (287) and receiving touchdowns (three),” Kay wrote. “There’s clearly room for a star like Brown to come in and take over as Allen’s top target down the stretch.”
Jets QB Justin Fields under fire for limited 'processing' in preseason
The biggest question coming into the summer about New York Jets quarterback Justin Fields has not been answered or even experimented with much during the preseason.
Fields is known for his ability to scramble, but has been criticized for his inability to consistently push the ball downfield as a passer during his time with the Chicago Bears and Pittsburgh Steelers.
On Saturday, Fields finished 1-of-5 passing for four yards in the Jets' 31-12 loss to the New York Giants at MetLife Stadium.
Zack Rosenblatt of The Athletic has noticed that the Jets aren't requiring Fields to attempt deep throws at practices, joint practices and preseason games. Rosenblatt doesn't believe Fields' 3.9 air yards per attempt in the preseason can translate to winning when the games start counting in September.
"So far this summer, Fields has not inspired confidence that he’s a different quarterback than he was in Chicago and Pittsburgh — that is, an extremely athletic quarterback with good arm strength but limitations in terms of accuracy and processing," Rosenblatt wrote.
"It’s only the preseason and far too early to panic, but it is fair to wonder how long the Jets can survive without a passing game that can threaten defenses. A quarterback who’s not willing to take shots down the field, in the preseason, is not someone who’s going to scare opposing defensive coordinators."
The Jets don't have another realistic option to start at quarterback other than Fields. Tyrod Taylor is a career backup. Adrian Martinez and Brady Cook are battling for a spot on the practice squad.
The Jets need to see what Fields can do when he has to throw the ball downfield to win games. Even if Fields doesn't chuck passes in preseason games, the Jets coaching staff needs to force the 2021 first-round pick to attempt deep throws at practice.
If Fields cannot execute that part of the offense, the Jets should look at bringing in another quarterback before the regular season.
