Buffalo should explore trade for Ocho Cinco
The assumption among people who root for and follow the Buffalo Bills regularly is that the team will use its first-round pick in April's NFL draft on a wide receiver. Buffalo's offense ranked 30th out of 32 teams last season in total yardage, and it struggled mightily to find the end zone. Those factors were thanks largely to the Bills' utter lack of aerial weapons.
With free agency's peak points of action having passed, the Bills still find themselves quite shorthanded in that regard. Aside from undisputed No. 1 receiver Lee Evans -- who led the team with a mere 55 catches, 849 yards and five touchdowns last season -- the Bills don't have anyone who can be counted on in their passing attack, whether it be a starting wideout to put opposite Evans or a field-stretching tight end.
For that reason, the belief is that Buffalo's 11th overall selection will be utilized on a receiver. Some have suggested Limas Sweed of Texas, while others have put their eggs in the baskets of Michigan State's Devin Thomas, Indiana's James Hardy or Oklahoma State's Malcolm Kelly.
The question is: Why devote a high first-round choice to an unproven rookie when it could potentially net an outstanding, Hall of Fame-caliber veteran? Of course, the latter is referring to unhappy Cincinnati Bengals wideout Chad Johnson.
Ocho Cinco, as he's come to be known, has been among the league's most prolific pass catchers during his seven-year career, and he desperately wants out of Cincinnati. Although Johnson is already 30 years old, he's shown no signs of slowing down. Last year, in fact, the 6-foot-1, 192-pounder hauled in 93 catches for 1,440 yards and eight touchdowns. The 2001 second-round pick from Oregon State has put up five consecutive seasons of at least 87 receptions, five straight 1,200-yard campaigns, and hasn't finished with fewer than seven scoring grabs since 2002, when he racked up five.
Attitude problems aside, Johnson is a fantastic player who would immediately give the Bills one of the AFC's best on-paper attacks. With highly promising pro sophomores Trent Edwards (quarterback) and Marshawn Lynch (running back) lining up behind a good group of blockers, and with Evans and Johnson split out wide, the Bills would seemingly be incredibly difficult to stop.
Whether Johnson will ultimately be moved remains up in the air. Bengals coach Marvin Lewis, whose relationship with his five-time Pro Bowl receiver has been rocky, said Monday that Johnson isn't going anywhere.
"If he wants the chance to play professional football, he's got to do it right here in Cincinnati," Lewis said.
Meanwhile, to show his displeasure, Johnson uncharacteristically skipped Day 1 of the organization's voluntary workouts.
Johnson has four years remaining on a contract that could ultimately pay him up to $18.5 million.
Once again, the question for the Bills is this: Why use a first-rounder and pay guaranteed money to a totally unproven rookie when you can ship off the 11th pick -- or maybe even a second-round choice -- to Cincinnati for a franchise-altering receiver?
If you want to compete in a division that includes defending AFC champion and three-time Super Bowl winner New England, risks are sometimes necessary.
Ask the Patriots how Randy Moss worked out in Year 1.
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