updated 4:28 p.m. ET April 20, 2005

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. - Tom Donahoe’s top priority is making a trade to improve the Buffalo Bills’ position in the NFL draft this weekend.

If a move doesn’t materialize, particularly one involving disgruntled running back Travis Henry, the Bills president is prepared to settle on a different kind of deal — the kind in which he acquires patience.

That’s because it could be a long wait for Donahoe to make Buffalo’s first selection in the second around, 55th overall.

“It’s obviously a little different from the sense you don’t have a first-round pick,” Donahoe said. “Now, if the situation presents itself and it’s the right player and we can make the move to get back in there, that would be great. But if it doesn’t, we’ll all develop a little patience.”

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Patience has previously been a four-letter word for Donahoe, who has been among the more active draft weekend wheeler-dealers. In overseeing four drafts since taking over in Buffalo, Donahoe has made four trades involving the team’s first-round pick.

That includes 2004, when the Bills dealt this year’s first-rounder to Dallas for the right to choose quarterback J.P. Losman. Selected 22nd overall out of Tulane, Losman was promoted to Buffalo’s starter in February, a move that led to the team releasing veteran Drew Bledsoe.

In retrospect, Donahoe considers the trade a bargain, noting the lack of quarterback prospects this year; four QBs were taken in the first round last April.

But that doesn’t mean Donahoe is content to twiddle his thumbs while the hours pass.

“We’ll explore everything,” Donahoe said, adding he’s had offers from teams looking to get out of the first round.

Henry might be the key in any deal, the four-year veteran having demanded a trade, unhappy after losing his starting job to Willis McGahee last season.

Arizona has offered to send left tackle L.J. Shelton to Buffalo in a player-for-player deal. But that’s not enough for Donahoe, who would reconsider if the Cardinals threw in a swap of second-round picks, allowing the Bills to move up to 44th overall.

Two other teams, Tampa Bay and Philadelphia, have since reportedly approached the Bills regarding a trade for Henry.

Discounting Henry’s threats, Donahoe maintained he’s not prepared to give away a player who has a year left on his contract.

“We just feel that if we’re going to make a trade, we want something we think is equal value,” Donahoe said. “We will decide, the Buffalo Bills will decide, what’s a fair offer, not Travis and not Travis’ agent.”

A Henry trade, and what the Bills get in return, will affect the team’s approach in the draft.

Buffalo’s most immediate needs are on the offensive and defensive lines after losing left tackle Jonas Jennings and nose tackle Pat Williams to free agency last month.

The Bills have already bolstered their offensive line by adding two free agents, including Bennie Anderson, who will likely start at left guard. The team could address its hole at left tackle by shifting center Trey Teague, who played that position in Denver.

The team is also experimenting with converting tight end Jason Peters and defensive tackle Justin Bannan into offensive linemen.

Another draft option would be adding a cornerback for depth purposes in the event the Bills lose starter Nate Clements, who is entering the final year of his contract.

The Bills are coming off a 9-7 finish in which they missed a shot of making the playoffs with a season-ending loss to Pittsburgh. It still marked Buffalo’s first winning season since 1999. And the team showed resilience under rookie coach Mike Mularkey by rallying from an 0-4 start.

The Bills’ strength remains their defense, which led the league with 39 takeaways and finished second in fewest yards allowed.

On offense, Mularkey is stressing a run-first attack that got its spark when McGahee took over in October. The Bills went 9-2 in games McGahee started and were 7-0 when he had 100 yards rushing.

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