Tuesday has seen an intra-AFC East trade take place between the Bills and Jets. Buffalo is acquiring cornerback Brandon Codrington from New York, NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reports. Day 3 picks will be swapped in 2026 as part of the agreement. 
Codrington established himself as a strong option in the return game during his college career. He spent four seasons and five years at North Carolina Central, sitting out the pandemic-affected 2020 campaign. The 5-9, 185-pounder served as a punt and kick returner during his time there, earning All-MEAC honors multiple times. In 2021, his success as a punt returner landed him a spot on the HBCU All-American team.
Codrington joined the Jets as an undrafted free agent this offseason. That move allowed him to showcase his third phase abilities at the NFL level, but the presence of Xavier Gipson hurt his chances of landing on New York’s 53-man roster. Instead of being waived, he will now head to Buffalo while the Jets receive draft compensation in return.
The Bills intended to use Nyheim Hines as their top returner last year, but a jet ski accident resulted in a torn ACL and sidelined him for the entire season. Ty Johnson led the team with eight kick returns in 2023, and he is still in the fold. Buffalo’s top punt returner (Deonte Harty) departed in free agency, however, so Codrington could aim to fill that vacancy with his new team while also providing depth in the secondary.
Codrington is owed a base salary of $795K in 2024, and the Bills comfortably have enough cap space to absorb that figure. No guarantees are present in the pact, meanwhile, so the Jets will not take on a dead money charge as a result of the trade.
Uhhh, we need bodies in the WR room.
Is there a returner who is also a WR?
The DB room is pretty solid.
Not sure I want a roster spot dedicated to this that isn’t a WR.
May well be a practice squad guy. A 2026 day three pick swap is the closest you can come to nothing at all.
You dont make a trade for a practice squad guy.
Again, it’s a day three pick swap in 2026. It might as well be a waiver claim.
Again, its not a waiver claim is it?
“You don’t make a trade for a practice squad guy.” We’ve seen teams spend a lot more draft capital to take guys who don’t make the opening roster. I wouldn’t be shocked if that happens here.
Right.
At this time of year teams are always giving up capital to get a guy who wont be on the 53. When you can easily sign someone.
Its happens all the time and is a smart and savvy move.
Says oof.
That move happens before training camp, early in the spring. Not cut down day.
OK. I don’t know how to explain to you that a day three pick swap two years from now is roughly as much draft capital as a handshake.
Dont worry about it.
I dont think you understand it yourself.
I think The Bills wanted Codrington and knew he was not going to clear waivers. Both teams probably made the arrangement to benefit the player and probably have an agreement in place to use the same trade if The Jets want a player the Bills will be releasing.
No he won’t run back a few TDs against us.
Douglas had to trade with Buffalo, he loves getting burned…