The Bills swooped in at the last second to steal Cam Newton’s favorite target.
Buffalo, off to an unexpectedly hot start this season, acquired wide receiver Kelvin Benjamin from the Panthers reportedly just three minutes before the trade deadline at 4 p.m. ET Tuesday. The Bills in turn sent 2018 third- and seventh-round picks to Carolina.
In his fourth NFL season, Benjamin was leading the Panthers with 475 yards receiving on 32 catches, with two touchdowns in eight games.
Benjamin, the 28th-overall pick out of Florida State in 2014, should feel comfortable right away in his new locker room, reuniting with head coach Sean McDermott and general manager Brandon Beane. The two worked in the Panthers organization before joining the Bills and assuming the task of fixing a franchise that appeared to be in disarray.
The 26-year-old Benjamin joins a team few were expecting to succeed with a rookie head coach, unproven quarterback and star wideout Sammy Watkins dealt to the Rams. But Buffalo, at 5-2, sits right behind the first-place Patriots in the AFC East. Benjamin will have to quickly build chemistry with Tyrod Taylor before the Bills visit the Jets for a Thursday night game.
Newton, already suffering from inconsistent play this season, now will rely on third-year pro Devin Funchess and rookie Curtis Samuel to carry the receiving load as the Panthers chase the Saints in the NFC South. Carolina, at 5-3, is a surprising trade-deadline seller, and linebacker Thomas Davis didn’t seem thrilled.