After trading Stefon Diggs and letting Gabe Davis walk, the Buffalo Bills only selected one wide receiver in the NFL draft.
While second-round pick Keon Coleman appears to be an immediate starter, Bleacher Report’s Alex Kay proposed a trade to give quarterback Josh Allen a new weapon in wide receiver Terrace Marshall Jr.
Kay thinks that a 2026 seventh-round pick could send Marshall, the Carolina Panthers’ No. 59 overall pick in the 2021 NFL draft, to Buffalo.
“The Buffalo Bills are in desperate need of receiving help and are running out of both time and assets to acquire that assistance,” Kay stated. At the same time, Marshall is not a good fit for Carolina. With Allen at quarterback, Marshall may “hit the ground running and wind up as a surprise contributor for Buffalo in 2024,” according to Kay.
There goes Terrace Marshall.
The rookie’s first TD of the Preseason! #PITvsCAR pic.twitter.com/jbXWpjUtAt
— NFL (@NFL) August 28, 2021
“Given that Marshall is unlikely to turn things around in a Panthers uniform and is a strong contender to leave after the season, Carolina could try to recoup some value by releasing him a year early. The Panthers are unlikely to return anything near to the Day 2 pick they used to get Marshall, but a late-Day 3 pick should suffice to land the 23-year-old.
In three seasons, Marshall caught 64 of 110 targets for 767 yards and one touchdown. His connection to Joe Brady may make Buffalo an ideal choice for reviving the former CFP champion’s career.
“By joining the Bills, Marshall would reunite with Joe Brady, the current Buffalo offensive coordinator who had held the same position in Carolina during Marshall’s first season. In 2019, Brady served as the passing game coordinator and wide receivers coach at LSU, where Marshall accumulated 671 yards and 13 touchdowns on 46 receptions.
Given that the Panthers permitted Marshall to seek a trade during the 2023 NFL season, it’s reasonable to presume Carolina is open to accepting offers. Marshall showed promise during his first preseason, earning 181 receiving yards in three exhibition games, but that success did not last.
On October 19, 2023, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reported that Marshall Jr. has gotten clearance to seek a trade, according to sources. Carolina has discussed the situation with agent Vince Taylor, as the player demands a more prominent role. He’s welcome back if no trade is reached.”
No one would be surprised if Carolina and Buffalo made another trade. Most recently, the Bills traded down with the Panthers in the first round of the 2024 NFL draft, allowing Carolina to take Xavier Legette at No. 32. The Bills received No. 33 (Coleman) and a fifth-round pick (Sedrick Van Pran-Granger).
Kay stated, “The team’s most notable wideout signing was Curtis Samuel, a streaky playmaker who will likely see only a handful of targets each week…” Coleman might cover the vacuum left by Diggs’ departure, while 2022 fifth-rounder Khalil Shakir is expected to make a major leap in his third season. However, there is still plenty of potential for a breakthrough contender to occupy a key position in this offense… enter Terrace Marshall.
Speaking to reporters following the draft, Bills general manager Brandon Beane dismissed the possibility of a major offseason deal. A low-cost option, such as a free agent option or trade, may still be available. They have yet to fill the 90-man training camp roster.
Buffalo signed Chase Claypool last week, but he may not even make the squad. The Bills have around $2.8 million in salary space and will save another $10.2 million with Tre’Davious White’s post-June 1 release.
Marshall, who is entering the final year of his rookie deal, will have a $1.8 million cap charge in 2024. While the free agency market is shrinking, Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Michael Thomas, and Zay Jones are still available.