The Buffalo Bills have swung a training camp trade, but it was a deal that went in the opposite direction as expected. The Bills sent a 2023 conditional seven-round pick to the Carolina Panthers for linebacker Andre Smith.
The team announced the move on Monday. With a deep roster, the Bills were expected to send out a roster bubble player or two for in order to acquire additional late selections. Instead, the Bills acquired a new face, but still sending some out is not off the table and still could happen in the coming days.
The Bills likely made the most looking to get ahead in the waiver wire order as NFL teams will be trimming their rosters down in the coming days. Cut down day across the league is scheduled for 4 p.m. Saturday.
Per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, the Panthers had Smith on the trade block because they intended to cut him as early as Monday. In trading a seventh rounder three years down the line, the Bills acquire the team a guy who was a seventh-round pick himself in 2018. Over the course of his two pro seasons, Smith has appeared in 19 games.
During the course of last season, Smith played the most special teams snaps of anyone on the Panthers, 315. Expect him to join the Bills as a player who will contribute in that area, if he’s on the team’s fine 53-man roster.
The interesting note in terms of keeping Smith on the roster might be running back Taiwan Jones. The 32-year-old suffered a knee injury in practice and has been sideline the past few days of training camp. Could his injury potentially be more serious than once feared?
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