It wasn’t the most shocking thing for the Buffalo Bills to do. It came down to sheer numbers, and in the end, Boogie Basham was the odd-man out.
But he was not the only trade possibility.
Prior to Tuesday’s roster cut-down deadline at 4 p.m. the Bills dealt Basham to the New York Giants. However, AJ Epenesa’s name was tossed around in trade talks as well.
Per ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, Buffalo received trade offers for Epenesa before Basham’s departure. In the deal, Epenesa sticks with the Bills while Basham heads down to New Jersey.
The overriding reason for the trade came down to numbers in this position group. Von Miller, Greg Rousseau and Leonard Floyd are at the top of it. That left Basham, Epenesa and Shaq Lawson to fill in the bottom part. Then there’s Kameron Cline, who had some moments in preseason too, who could end up on the practice squad.
That’s just simply too many players for one position group.
However, it is worth noting the similarities between Epenesa and Basham.
The Bills selected Basham at the 2021 NFL draft. He was a second-round pick. Like Basham, Epenesa was a second-round draft selection (2020). Both players have really left something to desire in their careers to this point.
One has to wonder what trade packages were offered for both which led to Basham being dealt to the Giants.
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