Buffalo acquired LeSean McCoy for Kiko Alonso and received…
Buffalo acquired LeSean McCoy for Kiko Alonso and received the best direct player in the exchange. McCoy spent four seasons with the Bills, topped 1,000 rushing yards twice and made multiple Pro Bowls. Philadelphia got one season from Alonso before packaging him with Byron Maxwell and a first-round pick to move from No. 13 to No. 8 in 2016. That later draft maneuver salvaged meaningful value, but Buffalo still won the original swap.
Buffalo Bills Received
- player LeSean McCoy
Philadelphia Eagles Received
- player Kiko Alonso
Trade Analysis
Buffalo's side became straightforward once LeSean McCoy actually took the field. The Bills traded a talented but injury-affected linebacker in Kiko Alonso for an established offensive centerpiece. McCoy played four seasons in Buffalo, rushed for more than 1,000 yards in both 2016 and 2017, remained a dangerous receiver, and earned multiple Pro Bowl selections. He gave the Bills a featured back through the club's return to the postseason in 2017 and supplied substantially more direct on-field production than Philadelphia received from Alonso.
The Eagles' return was not worthless. Alonso came back from the torn ACL that cost him the 2014 season and played one year in Philadelphia. He did not become the defensive centerpiece Chip Kelly envisioned, but the organization later used him as an asset rather than simply losing him. In March 2016, Philadelphia packaged Alonso and Byron Maxwell with the No. 13 pick in a deal with Miami that moved the Eagles up to No. 8. That slot was then included in the larger trade with Cleveland that moved Philadelphia to No. 2 for Carson Wentz.
The distinction matters: Alonso cannot be credited with the full Wentz outcome because multiple players and premium picks were involved in those later deals. Still, his presence helped Philadelphia climb five spots in the first round, so an F ignores real residual value.
Buffalo nevertheless won the original exchange. The Bills obtained a high-level running back who delivered several prime seasons and helped the team end its playoff drought. Philadelphia gets a C+ because Alonso contributed for a season and retained enough value to aid a major draft move. Buffalo earns an A for converting one linebacker into a multi-year offensive star without surrendering draft capital.