The Buffalo Bills have been on the cusp of reaching the Super Bowl for several seasons, always seeming to be just one step away. With another opportunity in 2024 approaching, the team is contemplating roster adjustments, possibly exploring trade options as they head into training camp.
Regarding potential trade candidates, edge rusher Von Miller is at the forefront. It’s important to note that these considerations are focused on trade potential rather than necessity or advisability. Miller, aged 35 and coming off a below-average season, is being evaluated with the ultimate goal of winning the Super Bowl in mind.
That’s a reasonable narrative. When you have a player who has “been there,” it can help in the critical moments when big plays are needed. Miller is certainly a playoff asset.
But let’s look at his performances in recent seasons. After five straight years of double-digit sacks, Miller had only eight in 2019. After missing all of 2020 with an ankle injury, he followed up with 9.5 in 2021 (let’s be nice and round it up to 10 for argument’s sake).
In 2022, Von Miller amassed eight sacks in what was considered an underwhelming season, marking his debut with the Buffalo Bills. However, in the subsequent year, despite participating in 12 games, he failed to register a single sack. Miller openly expressed regrets about playing in 2023, revealing to si.com that he was battling injury throughout the season, still recuperating from a torn ACL sustained in 2022.
“It’s crazy how you get injured, and you come back, and you really shouldn’t have even been playing, and people judge you by a product on the field,” Miller said.
OK, but … how else is a player judge except by the product on the field? Is he saying the Bills’ medical staff failed him, and shouldn’t have let him play?
Miller continued, “I could have easily sat out all of last season, but I couldn’t do my teammates like that. I felt like being later in my career, I didn’t want to sacrifice any of my years. But at the same time, I shouldn’t have been out there. I feel like people are judging me on that, so it’s making me a little bit angry, to be honest.”
But the Bills didn’t get where they wanted to be in 2023
The narrative surrounding Von Miller suggests he believes his sack-less 12-game season in 2023 was a sacrifice for the team’s benefit, implying his mere presence was beneficial regardless of his individual statistics. This perspective raises questions about whether Miller should have allowed a younger, healthier player to contribute instead of playing through injury. In professional football, where performance is paramount, Miller’s lack of accountability and high self-regard may not align well with a team-first mentality that typically fosters success.
Comparisons to a scenario involving star quarterback Josh Allen illustrate how playing through injury without producing results would likely draw criticism rather than praise. Miller’s stance appears to prioritize his own narrative of being a team player while simultaneously making the issue about himself, which can create tension within a team environment.
From a strategic standpoint, considering Buffalo’s needs, trading Miller could potentially yield significant returns, particularly in bolstering the receiving corps to support Allen. While Miller’s past accolades are noteworthy, including his last Pro Bowl appearance in 2019, the Bills must weigh whether he can deliver at crucial moments in the upcoming season to help the team finally achieve their Super Bowl aspirations.
Ultimately, the decision rests on whether the Bills believe Miller can still contribute at a high level or if trading him could address other pressing roster needs, potentially enhancing their chances for success in the 2024 season.
TE Dawson Knox has trade value, too
Just three seasons ago, Knox’s rather beastly performances put him on the NFL tight end map. He caught 49 passes for 587 yards, and perhaps more importantly, scored nine touchdowns. He had another good year in 2022 with 517 yads and six scores. But last year, limited to 12 games, he didn’t find a key role in the offense.
The emergence of Kincaid put Knox in a supporting role. But other teams might find the value worth a moderate trade offer. A problem for the Bills with Knox is his starting-tight-end contract. The four-year $52 million deal doesn’t wear well for a backup.
LB Nicholas Morrow could be in trade discussions
If the Bills retain Von Miller, they might explore trading a different linebacker, such as Nicholas Morrow. Morrow, now entering his seventh season, has been on multiple teams in recent years but has been consistently available on the field. He has played 14 or more games each season, and has played all 16 games four times. In 2022, he recorded 116 tackles with the Bears, and in the following year with the Eagles, he tallied 95 tackles and three sacks.
Buffalo has strengthened its linebacker corps this year with additions like Terrel Bernard, Baylon Spector, and the return of Matt Milano. Morrow initially joined as insurance for Milano, who was recovering from a leg injury last season. Depending on Milano’s progress and performance post-recovery, Morrow could increasingly be viewed as a viable trade option once the season begins.
