The Buffalo Bills addressed a need in their secondary before the 2026 NFL trade deadline, acquiring safety Amani Hooker from the Tennessee Titans. But the move came after Buffalo pursued two more prominent defensive targets: All-Pro safety Jessie Bates and defensive tackle Jordan Davis.
Bills president of football operations Brandon Beane was active in the days leading up to the deadline, exploring opportunities to strengthen the defense. Buffalo’s interest in Bates and Davis reflected the team’s desire to add impact players, but the Jaguars ultimately made the winning offers for both.
## Jaguars landed Jordan Davis
Buffalo contacted the Philadelphia Eagles about Davis, a 6-foot-6 defensive tackle who signed a $78 million contract extension in March. At 26, he was a significant potential addition to the interior of the Bills’ defensive line.
Philadelphia general manager Howie Roseman had competing interest to consider, with both Buffalo and Jacksonville pursuing Davis. The Jaguars ultimately secured him by offering a 2027 first-round pick and a 2029 second-round pick.
That package gave Philadelphia a substantial return for a defender it had recently committed to with a long-term extension. It also demonstrated how strongly Jacksonville valued Davis, particularly as the Jaguars and Bills competed for players who could influence a potential postseason matchup.
## Jacksonville also won the bidding for Jessie Bates
The Bills’ pursuit of Bates ended similarly. Buffalo held trade discussions with the Atlanta Falcons, but Jacksonville prevailed with an offer that included a 2027 second-round pick and a 2028 fifth-round pick.
The deal brought Bates to the Jaguars for half a season. Although that is a relatively short period of control, Jacksonville was willing to surrender draft capital to add him for the remainder of the campaign.
Bates and Davis represented two major defensive acquisitions for a Jaguars team looking to strengthen its chances against top AFC opponents. Their potential value would be especially significant if Jacksonville faced Buffalo in a high-stakes game, including a possible AFC Championship matchup against the Bills’ offense.
The Jaguars may have paid a steep price for both players. The decision could still prove worthwhile if the additions help the team make a deep playoff run and reach the Super Bowl.
## Buffalo turned to Amani Hooker
After missing out on Davis and Bates, Beane returned to negotiations with Tennessee. The Bills and Titans completed a deal that sent Hooker and a 2027 fifth-round pick to Buffalo. Tennessee received a 2027 second-round selection.
Hooker offered Buffalo a different kind of value from a short-term rental. He is under contract through 2028, giving the Bills multiple seasons of club control rather than only the remainder of the current campaign.
His scheduled cap hits are $10.28 million and $13.5 million over the next two seasons, respectively. Those financial commitments give Buffalo a clearer picture of the cost of keeping him in the lineup beyond this season.
The trade therefore addressed the Bills’ need at safety while adding a player who can remain part of the roster for the next several years. Still, Hooker’s arrival does not erase the significance of Buffalo’s unsuccessful bids for Bates and Davis. The team pursued both players before settling on a deal with Tennessee, while Jacksonville was willing to offer the draft capital needed to bring them in.
For the Bills, the deadline ended with a useful addition in Hooker but not the two higher-profile defensive targets they had pursued. For the Jaguars, the deals represented a major investment in strengthening the defense for the season’s decisive stretch.
