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Diggs, Edmunds & White none of them a current Bill and most of us are glad!!

Are we very good? And did Beane really do much? Who are the biggest contributors at the biggest position over the last 5 years? And how many of them were Pre-Beane? Pre-Beane: Tre Dawkins Milano Hyde Poyer Post-Beane: Allen Edmunds Taron Johnson Diggs Oliver Davis Rousseau ? Cook? Bernard? Kincaid? Torrence? That list is kind of sobering. The Beane "stars" from 2018 to current day ain't really stars, outside of Allen and Diggs, maybe Oliver. We feel exactly how we are supposed to about our team. We are a team whose best players were all acquired 4-7 years ago, and most of their careers have either faded or ended. 4 years ago, we had 3 All-Pro/ProBowlers in the secondary, and Taron Johnson was probably our 4th best DB. Today, he's our second best DB, narrowly beating out a 6th round pick out of Villanova. 4 years ago, Gabe Davis was our fourth best WR. Last year, he was our second best. And today, Shakir is our best WR by default. 3 years ago, our best EDGE player was probably Rousseau. Today, it's still Rousseau, by default. Now a lot of our best players got old. That's not Beane's fault. But he is tasked with maintaining a talent pipeline to offset those losses. And he has failed, imo.

Perhaps getting those guys to take pay cuts was a credit to Beane's talent and not luck. He rewarded and took care of those guys when the arrow was pointing up for them and they returned the favor by taking one for Beane and the team when the arrow wasn't. In doing so, both guys showed that they were team-first guys and that's the kind of guy Beane wants on the roster. Perhaps Diggs was no longer a team-first guy and now he's no longer on the roster. It's widely known that most employees will take less money if they are treated well and like the culture where they work. Beane (along with McDermott and the rest of the Bills staff) have worked hard to create just such a culture. That's likely why guys are willing to take pay cuts to stick around, or, in some cases, sign for the Bills for less than they can get elsewhere. In some cases, the money gap is just too large and guys move on. Beane is often very open to letting guys test the market to see what they're worth before pressuring them to re-sign with the Bills. In the cases of Edmunds and Davis, the money was too good elsewhere and they parted ways with the Bills on good terms. For Epenesa and guys like Milano a couple of years ago, they tested the market and liked what was available in Buffalo, and they stayed. I suspect that both could have made more money elsewhere. Beane is not perfect and has taken appropriate criticism (see Basham, Boogie and Ford, Cody), but overall, he's done an excellent job building and maintaining a winning team, among the best in the NFL, in a market that isn't considered the most attractive one to live in/play in.

Von miller contract - Most were on board at the time, and he was living up to it until he got hurt. No issues for me, just bad luck Dawson Knox contract - I agree this was a bit high and a future contract. No one knew Kincaid would be coming. Knox restructured and gave money back. No issues Stephen diggs contract - No one had an issue at the time. He fell off a cliff earlier than expected and no one thought he was going to push his way out. Defense line draft picks that never pan out - AJ just re-signed, Oliver got an extension. Groot is getting picked up. Are you just referring to Boogie? Defense tackle signings that are not good enough - Um, Jones? No reliable pass rusher - Until injuries, we had one of the best past rush in the league last year. As people got healthy, the pass rush came back Wyatt Teller give away - Seriously? This has been addressed multiple times. Edmunds - Did you want to pay him that much money as the Bears did? If anything, Beane got a full 5 years out of him, a comp pick, and quietly upgraded with a replacement draft pick. That's the life of the NFL sometimes

Von Miller: if you don't understand why he did it. There's no help for you Dawson Knox. Yes, bad contract. Stefan Diggs: Again, if you don't see why he did it at the time, there's no help for you You are correct. The Dline picks have been pretty disappointing. No reliable pass rusher. Pretty much the same as the dline argument. DT signings: Ed Oliver, Daquon Jones. Those are just fine. Wyatt Teller: to his defense wasn't THAT great when he was with us but yes, Beane probably gave up too early. Edmunds was highly regarded out of college. Can't really fault him for that pick. He was a major need at the time All in all. Chill the f out

Von miller contract - You can't anticipate an ACL Tear. Before the injury, you saw why he deserved that contract. Dawson Knox contract - Bad move, no way around that. Stefon diggs contract - It ended up being a bad move. But at the time, like Miller, he deserved the contract he got. It was before things really went south and he probably felt that in paying him, he'd stay happy. Defense line draft picks that never pan out - First off, Ed Oliver did pan out. Greg Rousseau, a starter since he was Drafted, as the 30th pick in the Draft is not a bust. You act as if a player isn't a Pro Bowler it was a waste of a pick. You don't usually Draft All Pro's at 30. AJ Epenesa was a late bloomer, but has come on as a decent player who's now on his 2nd contract. Much like Rousseau, for being selected at Pick 54, he's at least gotten fair value for where he was picked. Especially now. Basham was a bust - but every GM in the league has picks that don't pan out. Because he felt he needed an absolute stud, he signed Miller. Defense tackle signings that are not good enough - Daquan Jones is solid and that's why he's been brought back on a second contract. Would you rather he spent big money on a big time DT like we did with Miller? Especially at rotational since Oliver and Jones are the starters? No reliable pass rusher - This is a repeat complaint, where the explanation falls under your Miller and DL Picks posts. Wyatt Teller give away - This was a mistake and he'd be the first to admit it. Nine times out of 10, if you trade a 5th Round developmental pick that looked average in a handful of games starting - they aren't going to become a Pro Bowl player. I don't remember anyone freaking out when the trade happened. Like a number of these decisions, hindsight is 20/20. Edmunds - What about him? He took a Linebacker mid Round 1 who started for 5 straight years for us, went to multiple Pro Bowls, and then signed the biggest MLB contract in history elsewhere. I know he was a whipping boy around here, but his contract speaks to how he was viewed around the league. I don't think there was a GM around the league who considered him a bust at Pick 16. All in all have all of his moves been perfect? No. But any GM in the league who's made the amount of picks and moves that he's made over an 8 year span is going to have some moves they'd like to take back and some picks that don't pan out. But he's manuevered every cap scenario we've had and has fielded a continual Playoff team and Divisional Champion. For every pick that didn't pan out, he's found guys who have - and often late in the Draft as Diamonds in the Rough. Think back to the teams we fielded before he got here. Some of the decisions that were made. Before he came here, we couldn't even get mid level FA's to agree to come here. Brandon Beane hasn't been perfect. But he's still the best GM we've had in a long, LONG time and is amongst the most respected people at his position in the league.

Shakir, Kincaid, Knox, Cook, Allen, DIggs, Edmunds, Poyer, Tre White, Hyde, ... Thats why

Von miller contract Dawson Knox contract Stephen diggs contract Defense line draft picks that never pan out Defense tackle signings that are not good enough No reliable pass rusher Wyatt Teller give away Edmunds Star contract Just curious why he is so highly regarded when these issues have come to roost fully

I think the guy you're referring to is Joe Marino, the host of Locked On Bills. He's normally great, but was extremely dismissive of the idea that Diggs might get traded and went as far as to say if anyone suggests it, you're "only showing that you're not an informed fan." Now that it has happened ... crickets. I hope he addresses this at some point, because he had a very similar take on Tremaine Edmunds and finally admitted that he was very wrong after several weeks of not addressing Bernard's outperformance last season. I listen to the guy every day and love his podcasts, but he seems to not be willing to take the L when it matters.

First of all, no one is calling Houston "crap". Everyone here recognizes they've got an excellent-looking young QB and are a team on the rise. They could be the 2020 Bills. Second, "every time a guy leaves"? Nonsense. We wished Jerry Hughes and Singletary well, going to the Texans. Wished Moss well with the Colts. McKenzie got dunked on, but then he got dunked on while he was here, no one dunked on the Colts. Edmunds - mixed reactions mostly "not worth that contract" followed by "but who we got at MLB?" Hodgins - rampant and disproportionate nostalgia. Beasley - gratitude for what he'd done for the team and Josh, mixed reactions between people who thought he'd been "done wrong" for his personal views and people who thought he was "done" and it was time. Tre' White - tears. Gabe Davis and Mitch Morse - total respect. And don't get me started on Wyatt Teller. You're either not being truthful to us, or not truthful to yourself.

Poyer - 99% of us LOVE Gabe - Fans will give him a standing ovation next time we see him Morse - (See above for Gabe) Tre - People in the stands will probably cry next time they see him in person if the team recognizes him, which they will Singletary - Fans were all rooting for this year Edmunds and Diggs are the two that we’ve dumped on.. One because he just wasn’t worth his contract projection, but no real ill will from fans. The fan reaction to Diggs is different for a reason .. and plenty are still wishing him well. And yea.. we all hope Houston somehow becomes a train wreck, why on earth would we not?

I don't like going into the draft with the mandate that we MUST come out with wide receiving firepower. Edmunds who? It's true that I thought the Bills D would not be as good because I, unlike Beane and McDermott, did not perceive that a 3rd round draft pick who played 111 defensive snaps in his rookie season, who looked rather "lost in space" in his only start, and who kind of looks like a twig (relatively speaking), would turn out to be a high-level defensive diagnostician and a hit-stick monster when tackling. It's also true that Shakir really came on last season and looks fully ready to embrace a larger role, as was also true of Kincaid. I suppose the difference is that I believe Beane and McDermott generally know what they're doing when it comes to evaluating and developing defensive talent and using what they have. I lack the same faith in their assessment and development of offensive talent. They had to spend 2 3rd round and a 2nd round pick at RB before getting one who looks pretty good. Shakir in the the 5th round looks good, but he's not Puka Nacua. I think they may need to take several shots in a couple drafts to replace Diggs. At least, that's my concern.

Like Whaley went after Sammy Watkins? Two first rounders and fourth to move up four spots to get a player he had conviction on, as you put it, while passing on Mike Evans and Odell Beckham, who were both available in their original spot and ended up having far better careers. Not saying you never trade up. It's sometimes the right move, especially for a quarterback. Beane has moved up four times, for Allen, Edmunds, Elam and Kincaid. Given what he gave up, that's not a very good record. Allen was a slam dunk of course, and Kincaid looks great (although La Porta was available in their original slot). But Edmunds was no more than above average, and Elam, well...

The unknown is scary, I get that. But its not like Diggs last half of the year was impressive even with all the targets he was thrown. Let's wait for the draft and see what happens. I am personally excited to see how all this plays out. Last year we didn't resign Edmunds, people worried about starting MLB and talked about how the team did nothing, yet Barnard and Milano were our best unit before injuries took place. I defer to Beane to make a decision that is best for the team and we will have a #1 WR by the start of training camp. (Note: Even if the new WR1 and Allen aren't on the same page really, it will be better than Diggs and Allen not on the same page because Allen and the new WR1 will actually work on it)

Shaw is on to something simply for this reason: Beane has shown a tendency to aggressively improve draft position in the early rounds: 2018: Josh Allen and Tremaine Edmunds 2019: Cody Ford 2022: Kaiir Elam 2023: Dalton Kincaid That's 5 players in 6 years that he's moved up for in the early rounds.

Here's an updated list after yesterday's trade of our Current Draft Capital in 2024 and our Projected Capital in 2025 - including Modern Trade Chart (more accurate than the outdated Jimmy Johnson model) Point Values for this season (https://www.drafttek.com/NFL-Trade-Value-Chart-Rich-Hill.asp), as well as Projected Comp Picks in 2025: 2024: Round 1 - 28 (209) Round 2 - 60 (88) Round 4 - 128 (18) Round 4 (Comp for Tremaine Edmunds) - 133 (17) Round 5 (from Chicago for Ryan Bates) - 144 (13) Round 5 (from Green Bay for 2023 Pick) - 160 (10) Round 5 - 163 (10) Round 6 - 200 (5) Round 6 (from Dallas for 2023 Pick) - 204 (4) Round 7 - 248 (1) 2025: Round 1 Round 2 (from Houston via Minnesota for Diggs) Round 2 Round 3 Round 4 Round 4 (Projected Comp for Gabe Davis) Round 5 (Projected Comp for Leonard Floyd) Round 6 Round 6 (from NYG for Boogie Basham) We had an extra 6th this year and another 5th next year that was used in the Diggs trade. We were projected to get a 6th Round comp pick for Dane Jackson that was cancelled out by the Curtis Samuel signing. We were also projected to get a 7th Round Comp Pick for Tyrel Dodson that more than likely was cancelled by the Austin Johnson signing. We also moved our 7th next year for a 6th in the same Draft from the Giants for Boogie Basham (thanks to @gonzo1105 for the correction). The lack of a 3rd Rounder this year hurts. But looking over the next two years, we have a lot of extra capital that can be used in Trades, not only for this season, but next season as well. An extra 4th, two extra 5th's, and an extra 6th this year. An extra 2nd, 4th, and 6th next season.

He gave up a second round pick. And he could have just stayed where he was and taken Fred Warner or Shaquille Leonard without giving up any picks. Vander Esch was gone at 19 but may have been there ar 21 if Dallas took Edmunds.

Crazy to think about now in today’s day and age: Allen Pick: sent #12, and two 2nds, for pick #7 Edmunds: sent #22 an early 3rd and 6th, for #16

Was it? Crap, my brain is broke. I thought we traded back into the 1st for Edmunds

They only moved from 22 to 16 to get up for Edmunds. It wasn’t all that much of an investment but I do agree with your sentiment.

The deal that sticks out to me the most was for Edmunds. That one was way out of left field, but it shows Beane will do whatever it takes to get his person.

Shakir is coming into his third season in 2024, and usually that's when WRs who aren't top prospects from the best programs develop into good NFL wideouts if they have the talent. I don't think that Beane would have made the trade if the Bills coaching staff wasn't confident that Shakir can take up some of the production loss from not having Diggs. Beane doesn't strike me as a knee-jerk or fly-by-the-seat-of-his-pants type guy. He's a forward thinker and a planner, so his focus is long-term ... which is really what a team should want with a GM. Leave the short-term focus to the HC. Look at last season when the consensus among fans was that the Bills were going into the season without a real replacement for Tremaine Edmunds because the new starter in his spot was some second-year kid named Terrel Bernard who wasn't a first round pick and had only played in a couple of games. Surprise, surprise. Beane realized that fairly early on that Edmunds wasn't what they wanted/needed in a MLB, so he drafted a replacement really before the fans were even thinking about the "problem". I think Bernard made more plays in his first game than Edmunds made during the entire 2022 season, and all the angst over the Bills supposed hole at LB faded away. The Bills offense will look different than in past years without Diggs, but that doesn't mean that it won't be as productive. Allen needs receiving options, and he'll have them by September, although not necessarily a WR1 as good as Diggs in his prime. It's also possible that "the hole at WR" goes the way of the "hole at LB".

They may not be better, but they may not be worse. I think Curtis Samuel is actually an upgrade over Davis, who disappeared during long stretches of the season. Not to mention shakir actually outplayed Diggs the last 10 games of the season. Is it that far fetched that a rookie can’t come in and play very well? Also let’s not forget that Samuel and said rookie will add speed to the outside which we have been severely lacking. This will help Kincaid, shakir, and cook be more effective underneath. Some people on here lost their minds when Edmunds was not resigned. I knew then that he could be replaced. (Bernard was better) People need to stop being married to the “name” of a player and look at the production. Fact Bills were 6-1 without Diggs being the main focal point. This was absolutely the right call. As a matter of fact I am saying that the bills offense will be every bit as good if not better this season.

no that would have been Edmunds or Poyer in the past. McD currently Josh is appropriate for all adulation...

I also am really not going into the WHO is WR for the next 6 months. like occurred with MLB. For all we know Justin Shorter development is what also allowed Beane to say OK. Very similar to Bernard and Edmunds. I also think Shorter development plays a part and the sheer number of WRs in this years draft. This would be the year, reset the cap all in one year and keep moving.