The Kelvin Benjamin trade was a controversial move made by the Buffalo Bills in October 2017. The Bills acquired Benjamin, a wide receiver, from the Carolina Panthers in exchange for two draft picks, a third-round pick and a seventh-round pick.
Breaking: Panthers WR Kelvin Benjamin has been traded to the Bills, per @AdamSchefter pic.twitter.com/Z1jKs1dsuW
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) October 31, 2017
At the time, Benjamin was seen as a talented young receiver who could provide a much-needed boost to the Bills' struggling offense. However, the trade was heavily criticized by some fans and analysts who felt that the Bills had given up too much in exchange for a player who had struggled with injuries and inconsistency in recent years.
The trade was also seen as a bad fit for the Bills' offensive system, as Benjamin was a big, physical receiver who struggled to get separation from defenders.
The Bills' offense was built around a mobile quarterback in Tyrod Taylor, and many analysts felt that Benjamin was not a good fit for the team's quick-strike, high-tempo offense.
BREAKING: Panthers Trade WR Kelvin Benjamin To Bills https://t.co/X0YhrwELEQ pic.twitter.com/U2huXn7KyM
— NFLTradeRumors.co (@nfltrade_rumors) October 31, 2017
Ultimately, the trade did not pan out for the Bills. Benjamin struggled to make an impact on the field, recording just 16 catches for 217 yards and one touchdown in his half-season with the team. The Bills' offense continued to struggle, and the team missed the playoffs that year.
The trade was widely viewed as a mistake by the Bills and a missed opportunity to build a more dynamic and effective offense. It underscored the importance of careful evaluation and fit when making high-stakes trades, and the risks involved in trading away valuable draft picks for short-term gains.
#Bills attempted to trade for #Steelers WR Martavis Bryant last year, per @JFowlerESPN. Talks didnt go far and Buffalo eventually traded for Kelvin Benjamin.
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) February 25, 2018
Luckily for the Bills, the Panthers used the draft picks poorly, drafting cornerback Rashaan Gaulden in the third round and wide receiver Terry Godwin in the seventh round of the 2018 NFL Draft. Neither player has made a significant impact in the NFL so far. Photo Credit: Timothy T. Ludwig-USA TODAY Sports
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