Buffalo Bills brass reportedly made a “very strong push” for Pro Bowl safety Budda Baker before they ended up trading for Amani Hooker. Yeah, *that* Budda Baker, the one our Seahawks just put the clamps on in Glendale, beating his Cardinals 17-3 back on September 20. Talk about a statement game from the Emerald City boys, and maybe a little foreshadowing for Buffalo’s front office trying to upgrade their secondary.
The Bills’ Secondary Hunt: Pushing Hard for Baker
After releasing safety C.J. Gardner Johnson, the Bills were clearly on the prowl, “scanning the safety pool” for a big upgrade. It’s no secret Baker’s talent is absolutely undeniable. According to a report from Jordan Schultz, Buffalo’s push for Baker was “very strong.” But Arizona, despite what Schultz called a “lost season” for them, apparently gave the impression they just weren’t ready to deal a “franchise icon” like Baker. That didn’t stop Buffalo’s president of football operations/general manager Brandon Beane from making a serious play, though. Johnny Venerable claimed Beane and the Bills offered “a quality Day 2 pick” for Baker. That’s a significant offer, showing how badly they wanted to beef up their backfield.
Why Hooker Got the Nod Over Baker
Even with Baker’s raw talent, there was a wrinkle. Sal Capaccio reported that Baker would have been “a little more redundant in how (Bills) want to use Cole Bishop.” Think about it: you want your players to complement each other, not step on each toes. With Amani Hooker, Capaccio pointed out that Buffalo added a player who should allow “Bishop to still play closer to the line of scrimmage knowing there is coverage over the top.” Plus, Hooker brings that extra versatility, able to slide into nickel cornerback when needed. So, while Baker’s skills are through the roof, Hooker seems to be the better schematic fit for what Buffalo was trying to accomplish. In the end, Beane and the front office took that “quality Day 2 pick” and shipped it to the Tennessee Titans for Hooker.
It’s wild how these things play out. The Bills clearly had a plan and went for their guy. For us? We just saw our Hawks handle business against Baker and the Cards, a 17-3 smackdown at State Farm Stadium. You know the 12s were loud that day, even across state lines! Let’s keep that momentum rolling, Seattle!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Buffalo Rumblings.
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