Tre'Davious White picked the perfect time to look like his old self again.
In Buffalo’s gritty playoff win on the road in Jacksonville, the veteran cornerback reminded everyone why he was once considered one of the top defensive backs in the league. After returning to the Bills this season following a stint away, there were whispers-fair or not-that maybe age and injuries had taken their toll.
But on that playoff stage, White looked anything but washed. He looked like a difference-maker.
That performance has fans and analysts alike revisiting the winding road that brought White to Buffalo in the first place-a road that, interestingly enough, runs straight through Kansas City and a quarterback named Patrick Mahomes.
Let’s rewind to the 2017 NFL Draft.
The Bills originally held the No. 10 overall pick. But instead of using it themselves, they made a franchise-altering trade, sending that pick to the Kansas City Chiefs. The Chiefs used it to draft Mahomes, a move that changed the trajectory of their franchise forever.
Buffalo, meanwhile, moved back to No. 27 in that draft. That’s where they selected Tre'Davious White.
But the ripple effects of that deal didn’t stop there.
The Bills also received the 91st overall pick in 2017, which they flipped to move up and draft wide receiver Zay Jones. That same maneuver helped them trade up again for offensive lineman Dion Dawkins-now a cornerstone of their offensive line and one of the best left tackles in football.
Then came the 2018 first-rounder from Kansas City, which slotted in at No. 22.
Buffalo packaged that pick to move up six spots and draft linebacker Tremaine Edmunds, a key piece of their defense for several seasons. That same trade netted them a late-round pick they used on cornerback Siran Neal, who’s carved out a role as a versatile depth piece and special teams contributor.
So, let’s connect the dots: from trading away the Mahomes pick, the Bills walked away with White, Dawkins, Edmunds, Neal, and-briefly-Zay Jones. That’s a haul that helped shape the core of a team that’s been a consistent playoff contender.
It’s true, the Bills weren’t likely to take a quarterback in that 2017 draft. They were in a different place as a franchise, and Mahomes wasn’t viewed as the sure thing he’s become. But the irony remains: the Bills gave the Chiefs the pick that became one of the most dynamic quarterbacks in NFL history, and in return, they built a foundation that’s helped them rise back into AFC relevance.
Tre'Davious White, in particular, has been a major part of that story. And now, as he flashes signs of his Pro Bowl form again, he’s doing more than just holding up his end of the deal-he’s reminding everyone that Buffalo didn’t walk away empty-handed from that trade. Far from it.
In fact, if White continues to play at this level, he might just help the Bills write a new chapter in their postseason journey-one that could finally bring them back to the mountaintop.