The Buffalo Bills strengthened their secondary at the NFL trade deadline, but new reporting sheds light on the discussions that preceded their acquisition of Amani Hooker.
Buffalo completed its deal with the Tennessee Titans on Tuesday, adding an experienced safety to a roster that entered deadline week at 7-1. The move gave general manager Brandon Beane another defensive piece for the remainder of the season and beyond.
The deadline passed at 4 p.m. ET/1 p.m. PT, ending teams’ opportunities to complete trades during the season.
Longtime NFL insider Jordan Schultz shared a clip Wednesday on X, formerly Twitter, from “Chris Simms Unbuttoned,” detailing Buffalo’s pursuit of another safety before completing the Hooker deal.
“And Buffalo was dying to get Buddha Baker, and they pivoted and got a really good player in Amani Hooker. And I know they're happy about that. But Buddha Baker to the Bills was the one move that I thought really could have happened, probably should have, and simply did not come together.”
The #Cardinals decided not to trade Budda Baker to the #Bills, and I struggle to understand why not.
Great chopping it up with my guy @CSimmsQB today. https://t.co/2nOnucQvVS pic.twitter.com/nLf6SWOlon
— Jordan Schultz (@Schultz_Report) November 11, 2026
The Bills sent the Titans a 2027 second-round pick for Hooker and a 2027 fifth-round selection. The 28-year-old arrived tied for the NFL lead with five interceptions and remains under contract through 2028.
Baker, an eight-time Pro Bowl selection, stayed with the Arizona Cardinals, who drafted him in 2017. Schultz reported that Arizona decided against trading him, leaving Buffalo to complete its alternative deal.
The exact proposed compensation for Baker remains unconfirmed. Schultz’s belief that the move should have happened reflects his assessment, rather than evidence that the teams had reached an agreement.
Baker remains with the Cardinals, while Hooker joins Buffalo as its completed deadline addition at safety this regular season.