Buffalo traded Cordy Glenn, pick No. 21 and a fifth-rounder…
Buffalo traded Cordy Glenn, pick No. 21 and a fifth-rounder to Cincinnati for No. 12 and a sixth-round pick. The move cleared Glenn’s contract and, more importantly, moved the Bills into position to make their later jump to No. 7 for Josh Allen. Cincinnati gained a starting left tackle and selected Billy Price at No. 21, but neither became a long-term foundation piece. Buffalo’s draft-board leverage proved far more valuable in hindsight.
Buffalo Bills Received
- pick 2018 1st round pick (12th overall subsequently traded, Vita Vea )
- pick 2018 6th round pick (187th overall, Ray-Ray McCloud)
Cincinnati Bengals Received
- pick Cordy Glenn, 2018 1st round pick (21st overall, Billy Price ) and 2018 5th round pick (158th overall, Andrew Brown)
Trade Analysis
The Cordy Glenn trade cannot be evaluated only by comparing Glenn with the players selected at Nos. 12 and 21. Buffalo’s larger objective was to climb the 2018 draft board, and this deal was the first major step. The Bills sent Glenn, No. 21 and No. 158 to Cincinnati for No. 12 and No. 187. That nine-slot jump dramatically improved their ability to pursue a quarterback.
Buffalo later packaged No. 12 with two second-round selections to move to No. 7 and draft Josh Allen. The Bengals trade therefore did not directly acquire Allen, but it created the draft position that made the second move far more achievable. That downstream effect is enormous. Buffalo also cleared a sizable veteran contract after Dion Dawkins had emerged at left tackle, reducing the practical cost of moving Glenn. The sixth-rounder, Ray-Ray McCloud, provided only modest value for Buffalo, but the first-round positioning is what defines the result.
Cincinnati’s reasoning was sensible. The offensive line badly needed help, and Glenn was an established left tackle when healthy. The Bengals also remained in the first round and selected Billy Price at No. 21. Glenn started 18 games over two seasons but missed time with injuries and was released in 2020. Price struggled to secure a permanent starting role and was eventually traded. Fifth-rounder Andrew Brown became a rotational defensive lineman but did not materially change the return.
This is a case where strategic draft positioning became much more valuable than the veteran player Cincinnati acquired. Buffalo transformed an expendable, expensive tackle into the platform for landing the quarterback who changed the franchise. Cincinnati filled a need temporarily but did not receive a lasting cornerstone.
Buffalo rises to A+ because of the direct connection between moving to No. 12 and the eventual Allen trade-up. Cincinnati falls to C because the short-term benefits were real but limited. The Bills remain the clear winner.