If Bills trade Josh Allen, this would be the mind-blowing cost

Josh Allen isn't getting traded.

But the thought experiment of what it might cost to acquire the Buffalo Bills' QB in a trade is still a fascinating one.

That's what ESPN's Bill Barnwell tried to determine as part of a new article on Thursday. He tried to answer which player on each team is worth the most in a trade, and how much that player would cost.

He calls Allen the "most impossible valuation in the league," in large part because a player like Allen has never been and likely will never be traded.

MORE: Brandon Aiyuk's latest decision probably ended his NFL career

Then he arrives at a price: Barnwell writes that it would take seven first-round picks going to Buffalo for them to trade Allen elsewhere.

"Having just signed a new contract a year ago, Allen isn't going anywhere anytime soon," Barnwell writes. "If he did suddenly hit the trade market, though? Teams would be competing against each other to acquire enough first-round picks to satisfy Buffalo's demands for what would be a historic deal. Is the right number five? Six? Nine? 10? It's a lot, whatever it is, and nobody would cost more."

As Barnwell discusses there, his initial suggestion of seven first-rounders was just that, a suggestion.

MORE: Jahmyr Gibbs, Bijan Robinson playing a funny game of chicken

The team that could get its hands on the most picks would be the one that would then land Allen in a blockbuster, league-changing deal.

It's not fun for Bills fans to think about from the premise of losing Allen, but it does emphasize just how special and valuable he really is.

There's no player in football like Allen, and Buffalo is certainly happy to have him, and thrilled that he's happy in Western New York and isn't looking to start the ball rolling toward any kind of trade like this.

More NFL news:

• A.J. Brown and Stefon Diggs have a Patriots, Bills, Drake Maye, Josh Allen link
• Josh Allen called out by a coach with a major losing record
• Lamar Jackson has an obvious reason not to sign right now
• Commanders have plenty of reason not to want Brandon Aiyuk
• Will they still be called the Chicago Bears if they play in Indiana?