By CHUCK POLLOCK, Wellsville Sun Senior Sports Columnist
Opinions vary on Brandon Beane’s success as Bills general manager.
There’s no question his first draftee as GM, in 2018’s first round, was an incredible success … he traded up in the first to claim Wyoming quarterback Josh Allen, this season’s MVP and undeniably a member of the NFL’s elite at his position.
But Beane, admittedly, hasn’t maintained that success.
The mantra for league GMs is that the expectation is to select a quality starter in the first three rounds.
After Allen, Beane has selected 20 players in those rounds and seven are gone.
In case you’ve forgotten, that list includes linebacker Tremaine Edmunds (2018, 1st round), defensive tackle Harrison Phillips (2018, 3rd), offensive lineman Cody Ford (2019, 2nd), running back Devin Singletary (2019, 3rd), defensive end Boogie Basham (2021, 2nd), running Zack Moss (2020, 3rd) and cornerback Kaiir Elam (2022, 1st).
Edmunds (Bears), Phillips (Vikings), Singletary (Giants) and Moss (Colts) were traded out of Buffalo while Basham (Panthers), Ford (Cardinals, Bengals) and Elam (Cowboys) were effectively deemed busts by the Bills who traded Elam to the Cowboys, Ford to the Cardinals and Basham to the Giants.
OF THE other 13 players Beane took in the first three rounds, aside from Allen, defensive tackle Ed Oliver, tight end Dawson Knox, edge rushers A.J. Epenesa and Greg Rousseau, tackle Spencer Brown, linebacker Terrell Bernard, running back James Cook, tight end Dalton Kincaid and guard O’Cyrus Torrence are starters.
Last year’s top pick, wide receiver Keon Coleman, taken with the opening selection of the second round, was a nominal starter but his 2-yard separation per pass route was the worst in the league so his viability is still in question. Clearly, in the Bills’ view, Elam, Ford and Basham were viewed as busts and were permitted to leave as free agents.
THE BILLS will have to answer their needs — cornerback, the only position with an opening via the exit of Rasul Douglas, defensive line, as two signees, edge rusher Michael Hoecht and tackle Larry Ogunjobi, are each facing six-game substance-use suspensions, safety and wide receiver — must be filled the draft.
Besides, Hoecht and Ogunjobi, Beane signed nine other free agents, the most promising of which is edge rusher Joey Bosa, whose impressive productivity with the Chargers was tempered by injury.
Beane also signed wide receivers Joshua Palmer (Chargers) and Laviska Shenault (49ers), center Kendrick Green (Texans), tight end Armani Rogers (49ers), running back Darrynton Evans (Bears), safety Darrick Forrest (Commanders), cornerback Dane Jackson (Panthers, former Bill) and punter Jake Camarda (49ers).
Interestingly, seven players who were Bills last season are still on the free agent market: defensive tackles Austin Johnson, Quinton Jefferson and Jordan Phillips, edge rushers Dawuane Van Smoot and Von Miller, tight end Quintin Morris, wide receiver Amari Cooper and Douglas.
The fact they’re still out there tells you Buffalo has little or no interest and the focus is now on the opening round of the draft, come Thursday, in Green Bay and which we’ll view beginning early next week.
(Chuck Pollock, a Wellsville Sun and Olean Star senior sports columnist, can be reached at cpollock@wnynet.net.)
Read more from Chuck:
• Catching up with Hornell’s Gene Mastin and the years before three-straight state football titles
• Mark Schmidt and St. Bonaventure Bonnies men’s basketball team looking at a rebuild
• Good news, bad news on high school hoops; thoughts on George Foreman
• Why the Bona NIT loss took place
• An embarrassing week for Beane who was perfect in free agency
• An interesting look at St. Bonaventure’s A-10 matchups
• St. Bonaventure joins $2.8 million settlement to get past and current student-athletes paid
• St. Joe’s is looming as a big test for the Bonnies
• A critical stretch for St. Bonaventure basketball
• Part II: McDermott is building a team to win the Super Bowl, not beat the Chiefs
• It was a different McDermott this season
• A look back at the ‘Super’ Bowl
• Pollock prediction on the Super Bowl and his annual quiz
• Part 2: What does Brandon Beane have to do to make the Buffalo Bills better?
• Part 1: Buffalo Bills’ GM Brandon Beane discusses 2024 season
Don Scholla, the passing of an Icon
• A huge win over Dayton for the Bonnies
• The Chiefs still have the Bills’ number
• Pollock Prediction: Chiefs 28, Bills 25 (actual score 32-29)
• Allen and the Bills heading to the AFC Championship game
• Josh Allen wants to hear Mr. Brightside against the Ravens
• Win over Richmond gets St. Bonaventure Bonnies ready for A-10 matchup with Duquesne
• Offensive line of the Buffalo Bills knocked out the Broncos
• Pollock Prediction: Broncos loom as a threat but the Bills will win
• McDermott knew the Bills would host the Broncos
• The Bills are waiting to see who they play
• Where the St. Bonaventure victory over VCU ranks in program history
• Josh Allen showed why he should be the NFL MVP
• Pollock Prediction: Bills will beat Jets in a must-win game for playoff seeding
• What happened during those six lost days
• Bills didn’t play with a sense of urgency against the Patriots
• Bills passed a big test against the Lions
• The media missed the point with questions of McDermott
• We did not expect the Rams-Bills results as Josh Allen sets major records
• Will the Bills be motivated against the Rams?
• Schmidt doesn’t want the Bonnies to get caught up in 12-1 talk
• A look at the rise under Sean McDermott
• The snow and the Buffalo Bills were too much for the 49ers
• St. Bonaventure Bonnies put unbeaten hoops record on the line in ESPN Tournament
• Pollock Prediction on San Fran at Buffalo Sunday night game
• A look at Terry Pegula’s beginnings in Olean and his competitive drive to win
• A look at McDermott’s smart play-calling and why aren’t we talking more about James Cook?
• Can the Bills do this to the Chiefs in the playoffs? Josh Allen touchdown run seals victory
• Pollock predicts a one-point Kansas City victory
• What happened to this being a rebuilding season for the Buffalo Bills?
• A dominating performance by the Bills
• Pollock predicts a Bills victory over the Colts on the road
• Thoughts on the 61-yard Bass field goal and where the Bills sit
• Solid win to open the season for the Bonnies
• Bass vindicated by 61-yard field goal to beat the Dolphins
• Bills don’t own the Dolphins but have an option to buy; prediction 27-20 (final was 30-27)
• The season is here for St. Bonaventure basketball
• St. Bonaventure speaks out, “We got Woj”
• Mark Schmidt on the NIL deals and the Bona NIT mess
• Pollock on the passing of St. Bonaventure legend Paul Hoffman
• Pollock on listening to the radio and the days of Willie Mays
• Houghton’s Phil Stockin gets Cazzie Russell to the Castle in Olean and then a title for the Knicks?
• The right hire for St. Bonaventure to lead the athletic department
• The inside story on why WPIG left the Bonnies after 74 years and a Gary Nease update
• Bill Walton was must-see basketball when he played in Buffalo for the Braves
