Just one night after their first preseason game, the Buffalo Bills have two stunning trades, trading WR Sammy Watkins to the Los Angeles Rams for CB E.J. Gaines. 2018 Draft picks were also swapped between the two teams.
We've acquired CB E.J. Gaines and a 2018 2nd round pick from the Rams for WR Sammy Watkins and a 2018 6th round pick. pic.twitter.com/jssDP1sVBw
— Buffalo Bills (@buffalobills) August 11, 2017
In a separate trade, the Bills traded CB Ronald Darby to the Eagles for WR Jordan Matthews.
We've acquired WR Jordan Matthews and a 2018 3rd round pick from the Eagles for CB Ronald Darby. pic.twitter.com/OQA1PfRET0
— Buffalo Bills (@buffalobills) August 11, 2017
Watkins led the Bills in receptions in the team's first preseason game. Watkins is coming off a pair of foot surgeries to repair a Jones fracture.
The 25-year-old Gaines has had injury concerns of his own -- he missed the entire 2015 season due to injury, but made 10 starts last season. When healthy, Gaines has been a starter in the Rams defense.
Matthews, a second-round pick of the Eagles in 2014, has more than 2,700 yards and 19 touchdowns in three seasons in Philadelphia.
According to WKBW Sports Director Joe Buscaglia, both Matthews and Gains have cap hits under $2 million, and both their contracts expire after this year.
Bills head coach Sean McDermott is expected to hold a press conference on the trades today at 4 p.m. We'll stream that press conference online at wkbw.com and on the WKBW Facebook page.
This is a breaking news story. We'll update this with more information as it becomes available.
