Bills acquire CB Rasul Douglas in trade with Packers

The Green Bay Packers made a significant move just before the trade deadline, sending veteran cornerback Rasul Douglas to the Buffalo Bills. This transaction not only impacts both teams but also raises several questions about the Packers’ motivations and the potential impact on their struggling season.

In exchange for Douglas, the Bills gave up a 2024 third-round pick to the Packers, who also received a 2024 fifth-round pick in return. It’s clear that both franchises believe this trade will benefit them in the long term.

Douglas had been one of the most vocal Packers players, expressing his frustration over the team’s 2-5 start. After a recent loss to the Minnesota Vikings, he made his discontent known, saying, “We’re saying s— but until we actually do the s—, it don’t really matter. I’m thinking about it like, bro, I’ve never been a loser in my life. These last two years have been f—ing loser. That s— ain’t me. I don’t think that s—‘s us. We’ve got to do something, you know what I mean?”

The Packers acquired Douglas during the 2021 season from the Arizona Cardinals’ practice squad, and he quickly became a standout player for Green Bay. In just over half a season, he led the team with five interceptions. This performance led to a three-year, $21 million contract for Douglas during the offseason.

This season, Douglas has started every game for the Packers but has only recorded one interception. With Douglas no longer in the lineup, the Packers are likely to rely on rookie Carrington Valentine as the cornerback opposite Jaire Alexander. The absence of Eric Stokes, who is currently on injured reserve, further complicates the Packers’ defensive situation.

On the other hand, the Bills saw an opportunity to bolster their cornerback room after losing Tre’Davious White to a season-ending injury. White’s absence has been keenly felt, as the Bills have seen a significant decline in their defensive performance. Prior to White’s injury, the Bills had the best interception record in the league and allowed the fewest passing yards per game.

Rasul Douglas brings valuable experience and success in zone coverage to the Bills. Over the past three seasons, he has accumulated 10 interceptions and possesses a completion percentage of 59.8% as the nearest defender. The Bills hope that Douglas can fill the void left by White’s injury and help improve their defensive statistics.

As for the Bills’ current cornerback situation, injuries have forced them to experiment with multiple combinations. Christian Benford, a sixth-round pick from 2022, has been the team’s top healthy corner, but the results have been inconsistent. Dane Jackson, a veteran, has also had a mixed start to the season, allowing a completion percentage of 82.4% as the nearest defender.

Kaiir Elam, the Bills’ first-round pick in 2022, has been a healthy scratch for several games this season due to his lack of experience in the Bills’ defensive schemes. This indicates a decline in his standing within the team as he falls down the depth chart. The Bills’ decision to prioritize practice squad cornerback Josh Norman ahead of Elam in Week 8 further highlights this trend.

ESPN’s Alaina Getzenberg contributed to this report.