The Buffalo Bills have reached the postseason in seven straight seasons, yet a Super Bowl appearance has continued to elude them. During that span, defensive struggles have often been the deciding factor, with the unit surrendering 38, 42, 27, 27, 32, and 33 points in six of their seven playoff elimination losses.
Last season, star quarterback Josh Allen once again performed at an MVP level, leading Buffalo to the No. 4-ranked offense in the league. However, the defense remained a major concern, particularly against the run.
The Bills ranked 28th in rushing yards allowed and gave up the second-most rushing touchdowns, along with the third-highest yards per carry in the league. Despite those issues, Buffalo did not significantly address the interior defensive line in free agency.
Now, with All-Pro defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence seeking a trade from the New York Giants, an opportunity may have emerged.
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In light of that development, A to Z Sports’ Adam Zientek proposed a blockbuster deal that would send wide receiver Keon Coleman and a 2026 first-round pick (No. 26 overall) to New York in exchange for Lawrence.
"Buffalo is in desperate need of a difference-maker on defense, specifically at the defensive tackle position, and Lawrence could come in and make an immediate impact. We’re just going to send over the first round pick from 2026, along with wide receiver Keon Coleman, because why not?" Zientek wrote.
Coleman, the 33rd overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, has yet to break out, totaling 960 receiving yards and eight touchdowns over his first two seasons. He fell out of favor at times last year and was even a healthy scratch on multiple occasions. Moving him in a deal for a proven defensive star makes sense for Buffalo, though there are financial hurdles to consider.
"Buffalo only has around $12 million in available cap space, so the team would need to do some magic to make the math work. Buffalo would need to create around $6 million in cap space to acquire Lawrence’s 2026 salary before restructuring. It’s not easy, but it’s doable. Specifically, Buffalo could restructure the contract of offensive lineman Dion Dawkins to make it work, freeing up around $11 million in cap space just with that move alone," Zientek added.
Lawrence recorded 31 tackles, eight quarterback hits, four passes defended, one interception, and 0.5 sacks last season, appearing in all 17 games for the first time since 2017. While his production dipped in 2025, he remains one of the league’s premier interior defenders and is just one season removed from posting nine sacks.
At 28 years old, Lawrence could provide exactly what Buffalo has been missing: a dominant presence in the middle capable of stopping the run and generating interior pressure. Paired with Greg Rousseau and Bradley Chubb, he could help elevate the defense immediately and potentially help push the Bills over the hump in the postseason.
The Giants, meanwhile, would ideally prefer to keep Lawrence given his impact. However, if they are unable to convince him to stay, acquiring a promising receiver who could develop behind a true WR1 in Garrett Wilson, along with a first-round pick, could at least be worth considering.
