Buffalo Bills traded center Russell Bodine to New England for…
Buffalo Bills traded center Russell Bodine to New England for the 2020 sixth-round pick that became No. 207, Isaiah Hodgins. The Patriots released Bodine only days later and he never played a regular-season snap for them. Hodgins had a limited Buffalo role but still gave the Bills roster value from an asset they acquired for a player New England immediately discarded, earning Buffalo a B-.
Buffalo Bills Received
- pick 2020 6th round pick (207th overall, Isaiah Hodgins )
New England Patriots Received
- player Russell Bodine
Trade Analysis
The Exchange
Buffalo sent veteran center Russell Bodine to New England for a 2020 sixth-round draft choice. The pick became No. 207, Isaiah Hodgins. New England released Bodine only days after the trade, and he never appeared in a regular-season game for the Patriots. Hodgins had only a limited role in Buffalo, but the Bills still turned a movable veteran into a draft asset that produced some NFL roster value.
Buffalo Bills Return
The Bills' side is a good example of small but efficient asset management. Buffalo received a sixth-rounder for a player the Patriots did not keep, then used that selection on Hodgins. Hodgins was not a major Bills contributor and later found more success elsewhere, so the grade should remain measured. Even so, Buffalo secured a draft choice and direct roster value from a transaction that cost the other side more than it gained.
New England Patriots Return
New England's outcome is difficult to defend in hindsight because Bodine was released almost immediately. Teams routinely trade late picks for experienced line depth, and the acquisition made sense as insurance when it happened. The problem is the realized result: the Patriots surrendered a sixth-round choice and received no regular-season snaps from the player. That is a clear negative even though the original cost was modest.
Value in Hindsight
The comparison does not require Hodgins to have become a star in Buffalo. The relevant difference is that the Bills converted Bodine into an asset with some useful life, while New England's acquired player never reached the regular-season field for the club. A late-round pick has limited expected value, but receiving anything useful from it is still better than paying it for a player who is released days later.
Final Verdict
Buffalo Bills Win remains the correct verdict, with a wider grade gap. Buffalo earns a B- for turning Bodine into the No. 207 selection and obtaining some roster utility. New England receives a D because the Patriots paid the pick and got no regular-season contribution from Bodine. The stakes were low, but the efficiency clearly favored Buffalo.