The Buffalo Bills continued their roster overhaul on Monday, trading linebacker Kelvin Sheppard to the Indianapolis Colts in exchange for linebacker Jerry Hughes.
Bills trade Kelvin Sheppard to Colts for Jerry Hughes
Buffalo and Indianapolis sent each other a young linebacker on Monday, hoping that they could develop into better players for their new team.
Mark Konezny-US PRESSWIRE
Sheppard, a two year inside linebacker out of LSU, started 15 games for the Bills in 2012, registering 53 tackles and two sacks. The team had hoped the third round pick would develop into a high quality player, but the new coaching staff under head coach Doug Marrone and defensive coordinator Mike Pettine apparently wanted to go in a different direction. Buffalo took Oregon linebacker Kiko Alonso in the second round of the 2013 NFL Draft, effectively making Sheppard expendable.
The Colts took Hughes with the 31st overall pick in the 2010 draft, but the pass-rushing linebacker out of TCU has been slow to develop. Hughes started six games for Indianapolis in 2012, and had 21 tackles and four sacks, a career high. This may be a situation where the teams think a change of scenery could benefit both players, as the Bills are changing to a more hybrid 3-4/4-3 defense, and the Colts could use another body at inside linebacker to challenge Kavell Connor and Jerrell Freeman.
More from SB Nation:
See More:
