The Buffalo Bills are once again setting their sights on a championship run in 2025, but their next major move might involve a departure rather than an addition.
The Bills are confirmed to deal veteran linebacker and team captain to their division rivals, the New York Jets.
It’s fair to wonder why the Jets would pursue a 30-year-old linebacker— a highly talented one—who’s been limited to just nine games over the past two seasons due to separate leg and bicep injuries.
The answer became clearer, when longtime Jets linebacker and five-time second-team All-Pro CJ Mosley officially announced his retirement from the NFL.
The question of whether the Jets even need a direct replacement for CJ Mosley is up for debate, considering the former Alabama standout saw limited action at inside linebacker in 2024 due to toe and neck injuries.
Although the Jets released the 33-year-old back in March, there remained a slim chance he might return to the team he had called home for six seasons. However, with his retirement now official, that possibility has essentially vanished—barring an unexpected twist.
With Mosley no longer in the picture, the Jets could look to reinforce a thin linebacker group behind starters Quincy Williams and Jamien Sherwood.
Bringing in a veteran like Matt Milano could provide valuable depth and serve as a stabilizing force in the locker room—something the Jets have sorely lacked amid years of organizational upheaval.
Why Would The Bills Be Willing To Part With Matt Milano?
From Buffalo’s perspective, Matt Milano’s injury history and advancing age could make him more of a trade candidate, especially for a franchise known for having one of the most stable and positive locker room environments in the NFL.
In Milano’s absence over the last couple of seasons, Dorian Williams and Terrel Bernard have stepped in as starters and performed well. With their continued development, the Bills may feel confident in moving forward without Milano.
While Milano likely wouldn’t command a major return, his current contract—one year at $6 million in 2025—makes him a reasonably priced option for the Jets, who enter the season with the fifth-most cap space in the league.
If Buffalo were to absorb a portion of his salary, his value to New York would rise. It wouldn’t push the deal into blockbuster territory, but it could warrant more than just a throwaway late-round pick.
Proposed trade:
Jets receive: Matt Milano and a 2026 sixth-round pick
Bills receive: 2026 fifth-round pick and a 2027 seventh-round pick