The Buffalo Bills have granted wide receiver Cole Beasley permission to seek a trade, NFL Network reported Friday.
General manager Brandon Beane told the network that Beasley requested permission, but that “no door has been closed” to a potential return to Buffalo in 2022.
Beasley had a tough year in 2021, both on the field and off. His staunch stand against the COVID-19 vaccine brought criticism, and his production declined.
The 32-year-old caught 82 passes in each of the past two seasons, but with different results. In 15 games in 2020, he had 967 receiving yards, good for 11.8 yards per catch, with four touchdowns. In 16 games in 2021, those numbers fell to 693 yards, 8.5 yards per catch and one touchdown.
Stefon Diggs is established as the #1 receiver in Buffalo and had 103 receptions for 1,225 yards with 10 touchdowns last season. But quarterback Josh Allen has a variety of weapons, including tight end Dawson Knox and receiver Gabriel Davis, who combined for more than 1,100 yards in receptions and 15 touchdowns.
Beasley is entering the final season of a four-year, $29 million deal he signed in 2019.