The Buffalo Bills have had a relatively quiet offseason, largely due to the constraints on general manager Brandon Beane's budget. Aside from a notable trade for wide receiver D.J. Moore, Beane has had to be strategic in reshaping the roster for the 2026 season.
One area that still needs attention is the run defense, which ranked 28th in the NFL last season. With the NFL Draft approaching, Bills fans are eager to see how these defensive issues will be addressed. However, if Beane decides to make another bold move, a familiar face from the Broncos' defense could be an intriguing option.
Potential Trade Target: D.J. Jones from the Denver Broncos
Moe Moton from Bleacher Report recently pointed out potential trade targets for top championship contenders, and for the Bills, reuniting Jim Leonhard with D.J. Jones from Denver could be a smart play.
Jones, at 31, wouldn't require a hefty trade package, but the Bills would need to weigh the cost of giving up more draft picks. Buffalo currently holds seven picks in the 2026 NFL Draft, with five of those on the final day.
Trading a late-round pick for Jones could be a sensible move, especially if they restructure his contract to ease the cap hit. Jones is set to have a $14.6 million cap hit in 2026, with two years left on his three-year, $39 million deal with Denver.
While Jones isn't a complete fix for the Bills' defensive front-given his limited pass-rushing stats (15 sacks over nine seasons) and playing just 40% of Denver’s snaps last year-his veteran presence and run-stopping ability would be valuable. Last season, even with limited playtime, Jones recorded 39 tackles, four tackles for loss, and three sacks, consistent with his career averages.
With promising talents like Deone Walker and T.J. Sanders entering their second seasons and veteran Ed Oliver leading the charge, adding Jones could bolster the unit significantly against the run.
Ultimately, finding a player who can immediately contribute at Jones' level with a late-round pick is a tall order. For Bills fans, this potential move is definitely worth considering as the offseason progresses.