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I think the main thing missing from this conversation is a realistic understanding of how the draft actually works league wide. The way you are framing it makes it sound like because good players exist in rounds 2 and later, a GM should be able to consistently find them, as if landing strong mid round starters is some kind of yearly expectation. But the league wide numbers do not support that idea at all. The truth is that far more drafted players fail to become meaningful contributors than succeed, even in Round 2. That is not a Beane issue, that is the nature of the NFL draft itself. Treating every non hit as a GM failure ignores how volatile the draft is and how rare consistent mid round success really is. When you look at Beane in that context, his performance is objectively above average. His draft classes have produced an Approximate Value of about 428 compared to an expected value of roughly 362.5. That is around 118 percent of expected value, which means he is getting more real on field production out of his picks than the average NFL GM over the same span. It is also fair to say he has not hit a true home run since Josh Allen. That is a valid criticism and it is something fans understandably want more of. But franchise level players are extremely rare and almost always found in Round 1. Cook might end up being a home run from Round 2, but we still need more time to see how he develops. The larger point is that consistently landing good or solid starters at all is a genuine success. Acting like every GM should routinely find Kelce and Chris Jones level players in rounds 2 or 3 is just not grounded in how the draft actually works. Even great drafting teams miss constantly, including the Chiefs. On AJ Epenesa specifically, he is actually a good example of why expectations need to be realistic. A second round pick who has stayed in the league for five seasons, carved out a real rotational and part time starter role, and continues to contribute is already outperforming the league norm. The average NFL career is about 3.3 years, and many day two picks flame out after two or three seasons and never become starters at all. Epenesa lasting this long and playing real snaps makes him a plus outcome relative to what most teams get from that draft slot. The idea that Beane stands out as a GM who has not produced results also does not match reality. The Bills have won the division four straight years, made multiple deep playoff runs, and maintained one of the league’s most consistently competitive rosters, all while drafting above league expectation in cumulative value. So yes, Beane is not perfect, and he has not hit another Allen level home run. But his draft record is above average, his picks have exceeded league expectation, and expecting any GM to consistently uncover stars outside Round 1 is simply not realistic. Good and plus starters are wins, and Beane has produced those at a rate better than the league baseline. https://www.cover1.net/buffalo-bills-brandon-beane-nfl-draft-success-rate/ https://www.pro-football-reference.com/about/approximate_value.htm

Pretty much a must win if the goal remains to win the division.

Oh, we know. '

And take away your best offensive weapon in James Cook. Smart.

Kincaid + Keon = 35% of pass offense in street clothes. Should be interesting. At least Ray Davis 24 carries 44 yards is ready to pick up the slack. Cook, Davis & Ty combine for 260 rushing yards.

Wonderful.

Again, @leh-nerd skin-erd too busy focused on Hunter to comment on MAGA corruption. '

Adam Henry

Good morning TBD! Go Bills