Buffalo Bills: All signs point towards LeSean McCoy’s exit

No one will come out and admit it, but it sure seems like LeSean McCoy’s time with the Buffalo Bills is set to end between now and the NFL trade deadline.

This year’s NFL trade deadline is 4:00 pm ET, on Oct. 30. The question is, will LeSean McCoy still be a member of the Buffalo Bills when that date arrives?

Ever since Jay Ajayi suffered a season-ending ACL tear, the Philadelphia Eagles have been looking for help at the running back position. According to Josh Reed of WIVB, this reportedly includes contacting the Bills to inquire about McCoy.

If true, you can understand why the Eagles would consider the two-time First-team All-Pro. Apart from the fact he is still a top running back, he spent the first six years of his NFL career in Philadelphia.

Unsurprisingly, McCoy was asked about the speculation on Wednesday by the media. As reported by Mike Rodak of ESPN, he said:

"“I heard about (the trade rumors). I kind of just stay focused on the job, the task at hand. I’ll let that stuff work itself out. We’ll see what happens.”"

If McCoy had stopped talking about the matter there, no one would have thought to much about it. However, he then expanded with some more comments, again reported by Rodak:

"“I should have never gotten traded (from Philadelphia) anyway. I was killing stuff, you know?”More from Buffalo BillsBuffalo Bills: Von Miller drawing inspiration from Bruce SmithBuffalo Bills: Von Miller the ideal addition both on and off the fieldBuffalo Bills: Majority of new stadium funding will come from publicBuffalo Bills vs. Patriots: Odds, Spread, Over/Under & Betting PickBuffalo Bills run game providing much-needed boost to offense"

McCoy quickly added he doesn’t pay too much to speculation the Eagles’ interest. However, he said just enough to make you wonder if he would like a return to Philadelphia?

After all, we’re talking about a championship caliber team coming off its first Super Bowl win. With the 30-year-old closer to the end than the start of his NFL career, surely he would consider a move to a franchise which could give him a better shot at ultimate glory before he retires?

In addition, don’t forget the source of McCoy’s ire about his trade to Buffalo is no longer with the Eagles. Chip Kelly was fired as head coach prior to the final game of the 2015 regular season.

From the Bills’ perspective, you might wonder why they would consider trading their number one offensive weapon, at least at this stage? Quarterback Josh Allen has shown glimpses of his promise but needs all the help he can get, especially playing behind an offensive line which is a shadow of its former self.

However, it is common knowledge head coach Sean McDermott and the front office are still in the process of rebuilding the franchise. When adding McCoy’s age into the mix, they may well be thinking of getting as much as they can for the player, with an eye on the future.

Not that you would ever get McDermott to admit this publicly. As reported by Sean Wagner-McGough of CBS Sports, he said:

"“We get calls all the time. Incoming calls happen all the time. (General manager) Brandon (Beane) and I talk a lot. I won’t go into any more detail than that.”"

In fairness, at least McDermott did’t outright deny the speculation regarding McCoy. Whether this means an actual is in the works though, is open to debate.

One final factor to consider, is the recent off-field incident involving McCoy’s ex girlfriend. Without getting into any details about what happened, it’s entirely possible the Buffalo Bills don’t want the ongoing issue looming them, which is where trading the six-time Pro-Bowler becomes a feasible option.

Overall, there is no way of knowing for sure if McCoy’s tenure in Western New York is coming to an end. However, in this writer’s opinion, all signs point towards him being traded between now and Oct. 30.

Do you believe the Buffalo Bills will trade McCoy to the Eagles (or elsewhere), between now and Oct. 30? More, do you think it is a good idea or not, and why? Share your thoughts in the comments section below.