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This quote from Beane defines the entire draft strategy: He is giving it to us straight. The Bills are in a rebuild year. So he went for all team captains. Guys that interviewed well. Guys that he believes set a new foundation of leadership in the building. He hunted for short term needs that fit the singular character profile he and McDermott feel comfortable with, at the expense of talent at premium positions. And he is telling the fanbase to temper our expectations without coming right out and saying it. I'm not gonna grade a draft until we see how all the players turn out, but the overall philosophy shown this weekend is deflating and uninspiring.

Shakir, Samuel, and Coleman have guaranteed roster spots. So which strand(s) of spaghetti stick to wall (make the roster)? Will the Bills keep 2 or 3 of the strands? 1. Mack Hollins - 1 year $2,600,000 (cap hit 2.48 - Dead Cap -$1.1) 6'4" 221, age 30, 4th rd pikc (118th Philly) in 2017 out of UNC 40 - 4.53, 10 - 1.59 Career - 95 games, 27 starts, 222 Tgt, 131 Rec, 1691 yards, 12.9 yards/c, 59% reception % Best - 2022 - 17g, 16 starts 94 Tgt, 57 Rec, 690 yards, 12.1 yards/c, 60.6% reception % 2. Marquez Valdes-Scantling - 1 year $1,125,000 (cap hit 1.125 - Dead Cap -$TBD) 6'4" 206, age 29, 5th rd pick (174th) in 2018 out of S Florida. 40 - 4.37, 10 - 1.49 Career - 92 games, 60 starts, 370 Tgt, 186 Rec, 3155 yards, 17 yards/c, 50.3% reception % Best - 2020 - 16g, 12 starts 63 Tgt, 33 Rec, 690 yards, 20.9 yards/c, 52.4% reception % 3. Chase Claypool - 1 year $1,135,000 (cap hit 1.085 - Dead Cap -$25K) 6'4" 238, age 25, 2nd rd pick (49th, Pitt) in 2020 out of ND. 40 - 4.42, 10 - 1.52 Career - 58 games, 32 starts, 314 Tgt, 175 Rec, 2261 yards, 12.9 yards/c, 55.7% reception % Best - 2020 - 16g, 6 starts 109 Tgt, 62 Rec, 873 yards, 14.1 yards/c, 56.9% reception % 4. KJ Hamler - 1 year $1,055,000 (cap hit 1.055 - Dead Cap -0) 5'9" 178, age 24, 2nd rd pick (46th, Den) in 2020 out of Penn St. 40 - 4.36, Career - 23 games, 6 starts, 80 Tgt, 42 Rec, 620 yards, 14.8 yards/c, 52.5% reception % Best - 2020 - 13g, 4 starts 56 Tgt, 30 Rec, 381 yards, 12.7 yards/c, 53.6% reception % 5. Quintez Cephus - 1 year $1,055,000 (cap hit $1.055 - Dead Cap -8K) 6'1" 208, age 26, 5th rd pick (166th, Det) in 2020 out of Wisconsin. 40 - 4.73, 10 - 1.59 Career - 22 games, 6 starts, 60 Tgt, 37 Rec, 568 yards, 15.4 yards/c, 61.7% reception % Best - 2020 - 13g, 2 starts 35 Tgt, 20 Rec, 349 yards, 17.5 yards/c, 61.8% reception % 6. Andy Isabella - 1 year $1,133,000 (cap hit 993K - Dead Cap -8K) 5'9" 188, age 27, 2nd rd pick (62nd, AZ) in 2019 out of U Mass. 40 - 4.31, 10 - 1.45 Career - 43 games, 3 starts, 54 Tgt, 33 Rec, 447 yards, 13.5 yards/c, 61.1% reception % Best - 2020 - 13g, 2 starts 35 Tgt, 21 Rec, 224 yards, 10.7 yards/c, 60% reception % 7. Justin Shorter - 3 years $4,163,948 (cap hit $876K - Dead Cap - 243K) 6'4" 229, age 24, 5th rd pick (150 th, Buf) in 2023 out of Florida. 40 - 4.55, 10 - 1.59 8. Tyrell Shavers - 2 yr $1,764,000 (cap hit $799.5 - Dead Cap - 9K) 6'4" 211, age 24, UDFA (Buf) in 2023 out of San Diego St. 40 - 4.59, 10 - 1.63

As I've tried to digest the hole left by Diggs' departure, I don't for a minute think that Beane is going to sit back and just do the best he can when his pick rolls around late in the first round. That just isn't his style. We've often seen Beane move around in the first round, and I think we will see it again. He's done little moves, of course, up a pick or two or three, but we've seen at least two big moves: Cordy Glenn and picks to move up to Cinci's pick (followed by the trade with Denver to go up and get Josh), and the Bills' first round pick to get Diggs. Two big draft-related moves to fill a hole. It caused me to wonder what kind of things Beane could be considering now. Others of you will have much better ideas than I, and I don't really know how to gauge value, cap, and all the other things that need to be considered, but two thoughts came to mind. Maybe the Vikings want to make a bold move to get up to the top of the draft. Maybe they have a vision for the future of a rebuilt roster. Maybe they don't want to write a big check for a receiver. Would they trade Justin Jefferson for the Bills' #1 and some other consideration? They did it with Diggs, why not again? Is Aiyuk still on his first contract? Who else has a proven receiver with a contract the Bills can afford for a year? Or, more along the Cordy Glenn line, who's the quality starter the Bills might package with their first round pick to move up to the top 10? Does Kromer like Van Demark so much that he'd be willing to part with Dion Dawkins. Dion and the Bills #1 for the Giants' #1? What other players are good enough to bring interest but not so good that they're untouchable? Whatever, we can be sure that Beane is doing some creative thinking.

Is any fanbase more in sync with their team? More emotionally wedded to their team? More anxious when the heart of the team maybe doesn't feel quite... in rhythm? This may be hyperbole, but I feel as if BB MD is using the body of Buffalo Bills Fandom as a gauge for the extent to which the heart of this team; players AND coaches, can be resuscitated. A lot of people here have said it, not just me... I've never been more anguished; and more in grief over this team, than I was in January. I had to completely unplug. I'm sure the team sees it on social media, call in shows, podcast streams, etc. For many, the extreme detachment this year was real. I get it... the salary cap is real; but Beane did not have to be so hardcore about it... Well, like I began to say; Beane got out the AED machine... Assuming the TV shows are right, the first shock is not the strongest. You want to make sure you don't over shock the system. But... you do come in strong... make the ticking time and effort worth a try. CLEAR!!!!! (Poyer, Morse, Hyde) thump... no reaction from the body. CLEAR!!!!! (Davis, Neal, Jackson, Matakevitch, Von Miller paycut) thump... no reaction CLEAR!! (Tre White) the body shifts a bit... still not enough. CLEAR!!! (Diggs trade!) And at last... the body of the Buffalo Bills Fanbase is convulsing on the table: spitting, trembling and groaning, but the pulse is back people! The will to fight together again... to live another day and struggle for survival and success. Put another way,... they've hooked me again, lol

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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

Beane has a real tendency for a certain type of player. Ray Davis is a Zack Moss clone Coleman isn't too far off from Kelvin Benjamin and Devin Funchess. None of those guys panned out. Seems Beane consistently under values speed in skill players. I was hoping we'd come out of this draft faster and more explosive on O, but instead it's more of the usual. Coleman would have been a decent replacement for Gabe. Similar skill set. Is Samuel supposed to be the Diggs replacement? Hard to see us being better on offense. Or defense for that matter. They don't seem to have a vision or plan for getting better than the Chiefs. Feels like a reset year.

Sal Capaccio reported Beane said "no one took their call" to trade up in the 2nd round for Bishop. Will Beane try to trade up in the 4th using 1 or more of our 5th round and later picks? If he tries, will he succeed? I'm not asking much, but Beane, could you please come out of the 5th round with a clone of Puca Nakua?

https://www.buffalobills.com/video/your-team-has-to-evolve-bills-general-manager-brandon-beane-speaks-ahead-of-the-2024-nfl-draft-buffalo-bills Take aways: I do not think Beane is even thinking about moving into the top 10 to get one of the big 3 WR. He said he would take any call, but he also said teams in the top 10 don't generally call teams down at 28. When asked about him calling them, he mocked them even wanting to take his call and made it clear he hasn't called them. Worth noting as well, Bills have no reported visits or meetings with MHJ, Nabers, or Odunze. We did reportedly meet once with Thomas. He is not a fan at all of moving a future first, which I will cover in comments below. I think he made it pretty clear as well that we are not going to be trading for a proven guy such as Aiyuk or Higgins as many have been wanting. Specifically said when we traded for Stef, Allen was an ascending player and the offense needed a guy like that. But that now with Allen ascended to the player he is, that is not a requirement and not necessary. He made it clear he is very comfortable making a small trade up to make sure he can get the guy he covets. So if there is one he wants where a small move up to go get him is on the table, I think he will pull that trigger. He also made it very clear he really does NOT want to move next years 1st, but did admit he would if the deal made sense to do it. Referenced regretting those kind of moves in the next draft when they did them in Carolina when the next draft came and the guy they gave up that first didn't really get them over the top. He also doesn't plan to move the 2nd we got for Diggs, but wouldn't rule it out if they felt the right deal was there. Between Josh, McD and Beane interviews, I think it was pretty clear they have a lot of confidence in the core of Samuel, Shakir, Kincaid, Knox, and Cook. It is clear we are going after a WR in first 2 rounds, but I would not expect us to go back to back WR or take 2 early as some around here have suggested. If we take a 2nd one, I would expect it later like rounds 4 and on. Beane made it clear that trading back is very much in play at 28 and pointed out if they couldn't get Kincaid they had a real good trade back worked out he really liked. Also added he would love to add someone on the DL that can contribute this season. While he said it could be in the first, would have to see what is there at 28 in general, but went on to say he sees guys outside the first in this draft that can come in and contribute this year. So what I came away with is that I think there is very little chance we are making a move to get MHJ, Nabers, or Odunze. It was also clear it was just as unlikely we are going after someone like Aiyuk, Higgins, etc either. And that has been my belief all along as well. While I wouldn't say that anything he said rules out moving up into the teens to get Thomas (like say Jags at 17), I think it's a low possibility he goes up outside the 20's. The thing that most often stuck out was the reluctance on using high future picks to move up. I think Beane really likes the idea of having a first and two 2nd's next year and really prefers not trading them. And I do think that trading back is a very strong possibility for us to try and get a 3rd this year or maybe even a third 2nd for next year. All in all this was a good listen...and Beane has a track record for being pretty straight forward and candid on these things, so I think he is shooting pretty straight with his comments like he always has.

There are lots of complaints about Beane on this and other Bills forums. It is easy to point at a player drafted like Bookie Basham as evidence a GM is a poor evaluator. However, I can easily do this with any GM so you cannot cherry pick, you have to have some comprehensive grading system to compare GM's and truly evaluate Brandon Bane. When I did a google search what I found were opinions mostly called GM power rankings, Brandon Beane show up top 5 routinely in those. Below are links to a few. What are the metrics one should use to evaluate a GM? The point of this thread is to discuss how a GM should be evaluated and does anyone have a source of an objective comprehensive way to do this? This is a list off the top of my head that might be helpful 1. Team success? How many playoff games played/won, championships, etc. 2. Draft evaluations. For this you don't want to use draft grades from the time of the draft, rather how the players actually performed n the NFL. 2a: How many player starts per draft pick 2b: How many Pro Bowls/AllPro per draft pick 2c: How many years are picks retained 2d: Other contributors in other ways such as special teams, etc. 3. Dead cap per year. Dead cap is bad 4. FA evaluations - similar to draft picks maybe but somehow evaluate the dollars spent vs production gained. 4a: How many FA's dont see the end of their contract 5. Coach evaluations https://www.nfl.com/news/nfl-gm-power-rankings-eagles-howie-roseman-reigns-while-brad-holmes-makes-his-ma https://www.pff.com/news/nfl-general-manager-rankings-2023-eagles-howie-roseman-chiefs-brett-veach https://www.nbcsports.com/fantasy/football/news/article-goal-line-stand-nfls-best-gms-2022 If anyone has an account for AAF, this looks interesting https://www.allaccessfootball.com/p/draftmetrics-grading-the-general

Have any lived up to expectations? We hit on some late rounders but it seems to a disappointing part of our draft. Hard to buy into any hype at this point. Hard to get excited about these picks. The last guy day 1-2 pick that was everything we wanted out of him was Tre. Seems so long ago and that was Whaleys scouting staff

Beane at Alabama Pro Day

Think there is anything to talk about? Josh at 1230

The purpose of this poll is to get an idea of how the TBD community feels about Beane’s strategy on night one before the rest of the draft plays out. There is no “wait and see” option for a reason. I personally like what Beane did and I’m interested to see how others feel.

And my hunch is we want Franklin. Anyway: On the class….. The best? Almost certainly not. ESPN’s Matt Miller speculated we could see eight WRs drafted in Round 1. But I’d give only three WRs from this class a Round 1 grade. Granted, those three WRs are freaking awesome — I have this year’s WR3 ranked above any WR from the last two Draft classes. But after the Big-3, I’m not seeing any WRs with real WR1-upside. I’m just seeing a whole lot of landing spot-dependent WR2s and WR3s. The most overrated? Possibly. This is not a great draft class based on the analytics. At the very least, it doesn’t look anywhere near as strong or as deep as 2021. Genuinely, I don’t ever remember a WR class where the film and analytics were so misaligned. And it almost felt as though the less I liked a player’s analytics, the more highly regarded they were by the Mock Draft Industrial Complex. (The inverse of this was true as well.) What metrics are actually predictive at the WR position? Basically, all of the stats I’m using in this article. Generally, the more often a stat is referenced (such as career YPRR), the more predictive it is. Worthy: Without getting too deep into the weeds here (we’ll save that for the footnotes), I’ll just say that… Worthy’s 22.8 BMI ranks the 10th-lowest of any WR since at least 2000. Among the 45 lightest WRs, DeVonta Smith (24.1)[16] is the only one to post a 1,000-yard season in the NFL. So, even if the NFL appears to care less about low-weight / thin-frame WRs in recent years[17], the overall track record is pretty abhorrent. It’s much easier to argue that Franklin has no worse than the fourth-best production profile in this class than to argue that he’s the WR9 https://www.fantasypoints.com/nfl/articles/2024/pre-nfl-draft-rookie-wr-dynasty-rankings

Vote for your prediction and explain why...let's see how many of us get it right.

I was just thinking about how Beane wouldn't have traded Diggs without a plan in place. I started thinking that would be very difficult because it's hard to know who will be available even if we traded up to pick 9 with the Bears. No guarantee that the top 3 WRs would even be still on the board. But.....what if Beane and Schoen already have a deal for the 6 pick? If you think about it, Schoen was here when we traded the 10th pick (Mahomes sigh) for the 27th pick and a first the next year. And we used that to get Josh. Schoen knows he needs a QB but doesn't really have the chance to get one of the top 4 this year without mortgaging the future. So what if Schoen is looking to acquire extra ammo for 2025 draft so they can move up next year for their "Josh Allen". We could package something like this year's first, fourth and fifth, plus our first and Minnesota's second next year. That would be pretty close in value on the Rich Hill chart. It would still allow NYG to grab a top WR at 28, pick up some extra picks this year, but then have two 1s and a very high 2 next year to get their QB. Am I crazy for thinking that they may have already discussed/agreed on something like this? It would basically ensure we get one of Nabors/MHJ/Odunze.

Bean smashed it, this one will go down as one of the Bills all time draft classes.

Brandon Beane is always worth a listen because he is a straight shooter and sometimes probably tells you more than he should. Having listened to his presser and his huddle with the Buffalo media here are my takeaways: 1. They are going to add a receiver early but it doesn't have to be a specific type and he doesn't have to have a specific skillset. They are going to evaluate all these guys in the round and the one they take will be because they think he is the best available at their spot and the value matches the round; 2. Von Miller is on the team in 2024. I know we all suspected that anyway, some of us hoped it wasn't necessarily the case but the Bills are doubling down; 3. Rasul Douglas is not the absolute lock to be back I think most of us assumed. He twice went immediately to past tense when talking about him "I liked what he brought to our defense" and "it was a pleasure getting to know him." Now neither of those definitely mean he is gone, but there are ways of making those same points without phrasing in the past tense and as I said at the start sometimes Beane tells you more than he means to. It definitely made my ears prick up. He is almost $10m of pure savings with zero dead cap if they cut him. I'm not saying I expect them to but I thought the tense he used was interesting. 4. They are not going to use their 1st round pick on a safety. Beane was pretty clear that at that spot he thinks about smarts and study habits and not 40 times and athletic profiles. I think that screamed to be they are going to take a guy who is good on tape not good in shorts. 5. Don't expect them to draft OL early and do expect them to extend Dion. I also would not be at all surprised if they extend Spencer Brown before the season. He seemed very happy with the situation up front.

New poll to see how opinions have changed after day two. Now that the Bills have made their rounds 1-3 picks, I’m interested to see how people feel about the trade down strategy on day one. “I need to wait three years to see how it plays out” is not an option for a reason. I still think Beane done good. Results from initial poll: