By Nick Wojton / Billswire.usatoday.com
If you’re active on social media, you’ve probably seen some buzz of late surrounding the Bills and Houston Texans star defensive end, Jadeveon Clowney, but not so fast.
According to ESPN’s Marcel Louis-Jacques, a trade for Clowney is unlikely.
“The NFL’s landscape is fluid, of course, but at this point a trade between Buffalo and Houston is not likely,” ESPN reported.
Following the Bills hiring of former Texans General Manager Brian Gaine to serve as a Senior Personnel Advisor, fans and media members alike began connecting the dots and furthering the proposition.
Clowney, who is currently playing on the franchise tag, carries a cap hit of almost $16 million. Due to Brandon Beane’s roster makeover the past couple of seasons, the Bills would be one of the few teams that could actually absorb the hit. The Bills have approximately $22 million in salary cap space currently.
Beane has also stressed the importance of having a strong defensive line, and with only one bonafide defensive end in Jerry Hughes, the notion of fortifying it with a player of Clowney’s caliber makes some sense.
The issue becomes not only giving up the assets it would take to acquire Clowney, but doing so without any guarantee that he sticks around after next season.
As the ESPN report indicates, things are always changing, so while a trade might not be likely at the moment, never say never.