The Buffalo Bills made a move for Tennessee Titans safety Amani Hooker, but they wanted a more-decorated NFL star before that.
The 7-1 Buffalo Bills had clearly identified the need for a safety at the NFL trade deadline, based on reports and how things turned out. The answer for them ended up being Amani Hooker from the Tennessee Titans, who they traded a second-round pick for.
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Hooker is a versatile, ball-hawking safety who is excellent at coverage while also being able to make big plays near the line of scrimmage. He has recorded 52 tackles, six pass breakups, and five interceptions in seven games this season. The last is tied for best in the NFL. And while he seems an excellent addition, the Bills reportedly wanted someone else first.
Buffalo Bills tried to get Budda Baker from Arizona Cardinals before landing Amani Hooker
Hooker is having a great season and he is a solid safety. However, he has never been the best in the league at his position. The Titans man hasn’t earned any Pro Bowl honours, nor has he been named to any All-Pro Teams. If reports are to be believed, the man Buffalo originally wanted has all those things.
Ever since he was selected in the second round of the 2017 NFL Draft by the Arizona Cardinals, Budda Baker has been one of the best safeties in the league. And NFL insider Jordan Schultz reported that the Bills tried to get him but Arizona rebuffed their advances.
“Prior to trading for Amani Hooker, the Bills made a very strong push for Cardinals 8x Pro Bowl S Budda Baker,” Schultz reported on X. “Arizona gave off the impression they don’t want to trade a franchise icon, despite a lost season, and Buffalo eventually got a deal done in Tennessee.”
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Baker continues to be one of the league’s most prolific tacklers in the secondary, but that is the only stat in which he is leading Hooker this season. While he certainly has the edge in terms of achievements and accolades so far, Amani might end up being the right pickup for Buffalo in the end.
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