NFL trades: Bills add WR Kelvin Benjamin, Eagles grab RB Jay Ajayi

The Buffalo Bills have upgraded their patchwork group of receivers by agreeing to acquire Kelvin Benjamin in a trade with the Carolina Panthers.

Carolina acquired Buffalo's third- and seventh-round picks in next year's draft in making the deal reached just before the NFL trade deadline on Tuesday.

• 49ers acquire QB Jimmy Garoppolo from Patriots

Benjamin has had spotty production over two-plus seasons. He was selected by the Panthers in the first round of the 2014 draft, but missing the entire 2015 season with a knee injury.

Panthers general manager Marty Hurney said the trade came together just before the deadline.

"Buffalo had expressed interest and we wanted to put more of a mix of skill sets on the field and add some speed," Hurney said. "We decided it was the right move."

The Bills are very familiar with Benjamin under new coach Sean McDermott and general manager Brandon Beane. Both previously worked for the Panthers before being hired by Buffalo this past year.

Buffalo is 5-2 and preparing to play at the New York Jets on Thursday night.

It's the latest significant trade by Buffalo since August, when the Bills dealt starting receiver Sammy Watkins to the Los Angeles Rams and starting cornerback Ronald Darby to Philadelphia. On Friday, Buffalo traded its highest paid player, defensive tackle Marcell Dareus, to Jacksonville.

The trade comes at a time when Buffalo has raised expectations by matching its best start since opening the 1993 season at 7-1.

Though Benjamin is not expected to play against the Jets, he immediately becomes the Bills leading receiver with 32 catches for 475 yards and two touchdowns this season. Overall, he's scored 18 touchdowns in 40 games, and the 6-foot-5, 245-pound Benjamin provides quarterback Tyrod Taylor a big target, particularly in the red zone.

He has one season left on his contract beyond this season after the Panthers picked up the fifth-year option on his rookie deal.

On the flip side, Benjamin's loss leaves a huge void in the Panthers passing game, which has not been the team's strong suit anyway. Last week the Panthers claimed wide receiver Kaelin Clay off waivers from Buffalo. He had been with the Panthers in the pre-season.

The third-round pick acquired by Carolina was the one Buffalo added along with receiver Jordan Matthews in a trade with Philadelphia. The seventh-round pick sent to Carolina was acquired by Buffalo in a trade that sent backup quarterback Cardale Jones to the Los Angeles Chargers in July.

Eagles acquire Ajayi

The NFL-leading Philadelphia Eagles bolstered their running attack Tuesday, acquiring Jay Ajayi from the Miami Dolphins for a 2018 fourth-round draft pick hours before the trade deadline.

Ajayi has 465 yards rushing and is averaging 3.4 yards per carry with no touchdowns. He went to the Pro Bowl last season after running for 1,272 yards, including three 200-yard games.

• 49ers acquire QB Jimmy Garoppolo from Patriots

Dolphins coach Adam Gase signalled his displeasure with Ajayi last week after Miami was routed 40-0 at Baltimore, noting missed blocking assignments in pass protection .

"The running back, we never blocked the right guy," Gase said. "I don't even know if we know who we've got. We've got to get that fixed."

LeGarrette Blount leads Philadelphia with 467 yards rushing and is averaging 4.7 yards a carry with two touchdowns.

The Eagles (7-1) have the fifth-ranked run offence and have won six straight games. Coach Doug Pederson wasn't sure the team needed any help.

"It has to be the right fit," Pederson said Monday. "It can't just be anybody. From my standpoint, you don't want to disrupt the chemistry that is going on in the dressing room right now. Those guys are playing with a lot of confidence and they're rallying around each other so it would have to be a pretty special fit to make it work."

Ajayi fits the "special" category despite his inconsistent season. He had 122 yards rushing in Week 2 and 130 in Week 6.

Last year, Ajayi was lauded for his durability and ability to break tackles. He helped the Dolphins reach the playoffs for the first time since 2008, and joined O.J. Simpson, Earl Campbell and Tiki Barber as the only players to rush for 200 yards three times in a season.

Jets beef up secondary

The New York Jets have acquired cornerback Rashard Robinson from the San Francisco 49ers for a pick in next year's draft.

A person with direct knowledge of the deal tells The Associated Press that New York traded a fifth-rounder to San Francisco on Tuesday.

The person spoke on condition of anonymity because neither team announced specifics of the pick involved in the trade.

Robinson was a fourth-round draft pick last year out of LSU. He had 61 tackles, two interceptions, 15 passes defenced, a forced fumble and one fumble recovery in 22 games with the 49ers.

It was unclear if Robinson would be available for the Jets' game Thursday night against Buffalo. He provides depth — and a potential starter — for New York.

Morris Claiborne is dealing with a sore foot and Buster Skrine is in the league's concussion protocol.