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) priced themselves out of Buffalo as free agents 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.)
