Big Trades Showcase New Vision

Has it sunk in yet?

- Ludwiczak Mark

At 12:49 p.m. on Aug. 11, the Bills completed a pair of blockbuster trades that will have a major impact on this season and beyond. Sammy Watkins was sent to the Los Angeles Rams for cornerback E.J. Gaines and a second-round pick, and cornerback Ronald Darby was sent to the Philadelphia Eagles for receiver Jordan Matthews and a third-round pick.

It may not have been Cornelius Bennett arriving from the Indianapolis Colts, but it sure comes close.

Once you get past the initial shock of it all — seriously, the Bills traded Sammy Watkins! — there’s a wide range of emotions to deal with. The good news is that unlike so many other big moves from recent Bills history — the Mario Williams contract, Rex Ryan, and, yes, the initial trade to select Watkins in the first place — both moves make sense when you take a step back and look at the big picture.

This is Brandon Beane and Sean McDermott making their mark on their new team, but doing so with a purpose. This is about recognizing where the Bills stand and just how far they must realistically go in order to become a contender.

Most important of all, it gives the Bills a bounty of high draft picks heading into next year’s draft — which is expected to have some of the best quarterback prospects we’ve seen in years.

If this all results in Buffalo finally finding its next franchise quarterback, trust me, it will all be worth it. It certainly looks like it’s headed in that direction.

Watkins was a fan favorite, albeit a flawed one. Expectations were off the charts after the Bills moved up to select Watkins with the fourth overall pick back in 2014. It was exciting for a variety of reasons; the Bills had just acquired the best receiver in all of college football and had done so in an aggressive, flashy manner. But it was also a very flawed move. The Bills were essentially doubling down on EJ Manuel and risking their future to do so.