Bills' GM Brandon Beane needs to nail the 2025 NFL Draft in the worst way after the AFC Championship game highlighted his misses
It's time that we have a talk about Brandon Beane. For as much good as he has done for the Buffalo Bills, his last four first round draft picks have not been game-changing picks like you would hope they would be. Or you'd hope at least one would be. But to go four straight seasons without […]
It's time that we have a talk about Brandon Beane.
For as much good as he has done for the Buffalo Bills, his last four first round draft picks have not been game-changing picks like you would hope they would be. Or you'd hope at least one would be. But to go four straight seasons without anyone kicking the door down is not an inspiring way to build a roster.
The AFC Championship Game put it on full display. Edge rusher Greg Rousseau, cornerback Kaiir Elam, tight end Dalton Kincaid, and wide receiver Keon Coleman failed to make any sort of impact on the game, with Elam being relegated to a backup role by former-sixth round pick Christian Benford. When Elam was thrown into action after Benford's injury, he immediate got picked on by Patrick Mahomes, surrendering multiple receptions and getting called for a facemask.
To be fair, Kincaid and Coleman have shown some flashes and progress and development does happen. I'm not ruling out the potential for the two of them to emerge into considerable assets to the Bills roster, but they aren't top-flight options.
Not only did Beane trade with Kansas City to allow them to select Patrick Mahomes in the 2017 draft, the Bills got leap-frogged by Kansas City in 2022 to select cornerback Trent McDuffie. Two picks later, the Bills traded up to take Elam, who has been a massive bust.
McDuffie has two All-Pros and is regarded as one of the best corners in the league. Elam is almost assuredly not going to be on the roster after 2025. His cap hit is the same as his dead cap hit, so if the Bills decide to let him loose this offseason after that faceplant in the biggest game of his career, they would be deciding to pay him the same amount of money to not play for them.
Then there was the 2024 NFL Draft. Beane traded with Kansas City's GM Brett Veach yet again, allowing them to select Xavier Worthy. Buffalo ended up taking Coleman after trading back a couple picks again. Worthy torched the Bills in the AFC Championship Game for 101 total yards and a touchdown. He was the leading receiver for either team in the game.
Every GM is going to have their misses, but Beane has missed a lot on the high-value picks over the last four years. He does a great job finding the depth guys that turn into serviceable role players, and sometimes more, but he has failed to find a difference maker with his first round picks in the last four cycles.
This is a huge year for Beane. The Bills were clearly devoid of studs in their matchup with the Chiefs, outside of the offensive line, Josh Allen, James Cook, and a couple veterans on defense. Beane really need to hit this offseason hard, and they can't afford to miss.
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