Trading For This Player May Be The Answer For The Buffalo Bills

As the NFL approaches Week 9 of the 2023 season, the Buffalo Bills are facing the second half of their regular season without a number of key players. Currently, the Bills have 10 players on the Injured Reserved list. One stat will certainly tell you how important these injury losses are.

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According to spotrac.com, the Bills currently have over $42.1 million of salary on their injured reserve list, which accounts 18.91 percent of their salary cap. Both, the amount and the percentage, are tops in the NFL. Not a stat that any team wants to be number one.

When Buffalo linebacker Matt Milano went down with a fractured leg earlier this month in the Bills loss to Jacksonville in London, head coach Sean McDermott lost the heart of his defense. Milano was having the type of season that generates the whispers of Defensive Player of the Year accolades. Those players aren't easy to replace, especially when you add All Pro cornerback Tre'Davious White and veteran defensive end DaQuan Jones to the losses. However, with Tuesday's 4pm NFL trade deadline closing in, Bills' general manger Brandon Beane could bring in some help.

Minnesota's veteran linebacker Jordan Hicks has been a centerpiece for the Vikings much-maligned defense for the past two seasons. The 31-year old has done his part and is currently second on the team in tackles. However, according to nfltraderumors.com, because of Hicks' contract and younger players looking for snaps, the Vikings are likely to make Hicks available to the right bidder.

McDermott and general manager Brandon Beane know that the clock is ticking on their opportunities to lead this franchise back to the Super Bowl for the first time in 30 years. Trading for an experienced veteran like Hicks won't replace Milano, White and Jones on the defensive side of the ball. However, Hicks will add the experience and knowledge that those players brought on every snap. This is a good move for the Bills, one of a few that they must make on Tuesday, if they hope to be playing in February.