NFL GM Power Rankings (Brandon Beane/Sean McDermott ranked 1st)

[MJS]

NFL GM Power Rankings: Bills' Brandon Beane/Sean McDermott, Rams' Les Snead top the board

 

https://www.nfl.com/news/nfl-gm-power-rankings-bills-brandon-beane-sean-mcdermott-rams-les-snead-top-the-

 

High praise for Beane and McDermott from NFL.com in their NFL GM Power Rankings. Here are the top 5:

 

1) Brandon Beane/Sean McDermott, Buffalo Bills

 

"The Bills' transformation since McDermott's hire in January 2017 could be taught in a college-level course on how to rebuild a franchise. McDermott helped to hire Beane in May of that year, and they've hit every right note since: from big trades (Stefon Diggs, moving up for Josh Allen) and savvy draft picks (Tre'Davious White, Dion Dawkins, Matt Milano) to knowing which veterans to reward (Jordan Poyer, Micah Hyde) and when to move on (John Brown, LeSean McCoy). The Bills have a defensive coach, yet prioritized building an offensive roster around Allen. They always seem to find value in free agency (SEE: this year's pickups of Jamison Crowder, O.J. Howard, Rodger Saffold, DaQuan Jones and Duke Johnson). No team is doing it better, and these two -- along with Allen -- deserve credit for helping to get funding for a new Bills stadium."

 

2) Les Snead, Los Angeles Rams

 

3) Kevin Colbert, Pittsburgh Steelers

 

4) Brian Gutekunst, Green Bay Packers

 

5) Jason Licht, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

 

 

Interesting to have Beane / McDermott so high (I'm assuming they incldue McDermott since he predated Beane and had a significant hand in building the roster, especially key pieces like Tre White, Micah Hyde, and Jordan Poyer). I think there is no doubt that they have earned a ton of credit and respect around the league, and it is showing in rankings like this. I suppose I would say 1st is a little bit too high for them, but I can definitely get behind ranking them in the top 5. Go win a championship and earn that #1 spot!

[Warcodered]

Makes sense they've been consistently good for a little while now.

[LeGOATski]

I disagree that they've prioritized building an offensive roster. They did prioritize getting a franchise QB and have done enough on offense, but it seems most of their high draft picks and FA acquisitions have been on defense.

[Captain_Quint]

I think that by the time they are done here, they will have a long list of awards/accolades. 

 

Like the articles states, they have made alot of good moves and few mistakes. An almost 'textbook', methodical approach to rebuilding a team from the ground up. 

 

The Pegulas deserve some credit for the hires, but also for stepping back and letting these guys do their thing. 

[Inigo Montoya]

We have great owners who are willing to invest what is needed to field a winning team.  Beane is clearly a top three GM in the NFL and McDermott has put together a top notch coaching staff that is able to develop home grown talent and create a great locker room with a culture of winning.  Lastly, we have a truly elite, franchise QB who has not reached his ceiling and is legitimately in the debate to be the best player in the NFL.  I have never been as optimistic about this franchise as I am right now.  

[billybrew1]

2 hours ago, MJS said:

NFL GM Power Rankings: Bills' Brandon Beane/Sean McDermott, Rams' Les Snead top the board

 

https://www.nfl.com/news/nfl-gm-power-rankings-bills-brandon-beane-sean-mcdermott-rams-les-snead-top-the-

 

High praise for Beane and McDermott from NFL.com in their NFL GM Power Rankings. Here are the top 5:

 

1) Brandon Beane/Sean McDermott, Buffalo Bills

 

"The Bills' transformation since McDermott's hire in January 2017 could be taught in a college-level course on how to rebuild a franchise. McDermott helped to hire Beane in May of that year, and they've hit every right note since: from big trades (Stefon Diggs, moving up for Josh Allen) and savvy draft picks (Tre'Davious White, Dion Dawkins, Matt Milano) to knowing which veterans to reward (Jordan Poyer, Micah Hyde) and when to move on (John Brown, LeSean McCoy). The Bills have a defensive coach, yet prioritized building an offensive roster around Allen. They always seem to find value in free agency (SEE: this year's pickups of Jamison Crowder, O.J. Howard, Rodger Saffold, DaQuan Jones and Duke Johnson). No team is doing it better, and these two -- along with Allen -- deserve credit for helping to get funding for a new Bills stadium."

 

2) Les Snead, Los Angeles Rams

 

3) Kevin Colbert, Pittsburgh Steelers

 

4) Brian Gutekunst, Green Bay Packers

 

5) Jason Licht, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

 

 

Interesting to have Beane / McDermott so high (I'm assuming they incldue McDermott since he predated Beane and had a significant hand in building the roster, especially key pieces like Tre White, Micah Hyde, and Jordan Poyer). I think there is no doubt that they have earned a ton of credit and respect around the league, and it is showing in rankings like this. I suppose I would say 1st is a little bit too high for them, but I can definitely get behind ranking them in the top 5. Go win a championship and earn that #1 spot!

Aside from drafting Josh Allen, 2017 is by far the Bills best year of McBeane… I say McBeane because I feel certain Beane was ghost writing most of the moves. It was the two of them, talking, figuring things out.

Strangely, since 2017 they haven’t really done that well…. Maybe this year’s FAs and draft picks will be a comeback year for McBeane. They certainly changed the roster enough to have a huge impact. It will will be interesting to judge all five years after the completion of this season. Even though the last two drafts (21 & 22) will be very difficult to judge still. Free agency won’t though… This year it really is all about the rebuilt defensive line. How well will our DL play this year? That could be the answer to question who will win the Super Bowl? The Bills will need a lot from Von, Jones, Settle, Groot, Basham and AJ…. And of course Ed. I think perhaps Shaq and Jordan are here to win a Super Bowl as well. If they put their energy into training, their two pretty decent players…

[DJB]

Remember when we were consistently at the bottom of these lists?!?!?

 

It feels good now Bills mafia. Feels good. 

[billybrew1]

I’d put the packers #1 except for one very important thing; they stink in the playoffs. The whole gosh darn rotten team.

Rogers included.

 

It is impressive how they build their team and win in the regular season though… Even though their division stinks. They still win some pretty big matchups during the regular season (only to look like crap in the playoffs though)

[Miyagi-Do Karate]

I love how les Snead is on there. If bojo doesn’t botch a punt in a blizzard, Green Bay is probably playing for a SB and Les is out of a job for mortgaging the future of that franchise. 
 

 

[MJS]

2 hours ago, LeGOATski said:

I disagree that they've prioritized building an offensive roster. They did prioritize getting a franchise QB and have done enough on offense, but it seems most of their high draft picks and FA acquisitions have been on defense.

You can say that, but they have completely turned over the roster on offense and upgraded at virtually every position. We also have two elite superstars on offense with Allen and Diggs, plus budding stars in Davis and Knox.

[LeGOATski]

2 hours ago, MJS said:

You can say that, but they have completely turned over the roster on offense and upgraded at virtually every position. We also have two elite superstars on offense with Allen and Diggs, plus budding stars in Davis and Knox.

I agree, I think it's just a mischaracterization of their approach.

[MJS]

3 hours ago, Miyagi-Do Karate said:

I love how les Snead is on there. If bojo doesn’t botch a punt in a blizzard, Green Bay is probably playing for a SB and Les is out of a job for mortgaging the future of that franchise. 

But Green Bay always chokes in the playoffs, so it was meant to be anyway.

[Buffalo Junction]

16 minutes ago, MJS said:

But Green Bay always chokes in the playoffs, so it was meant to be anyway.

It’s historically been special teams for them as well, especially since Rodgers has been there. Just goes to show that teams matter when it comes to roster construction. 

[Momma Pecoraro]

Ranking mooted by lack of rings.

[John from Riverside]

Nonsense I have heard right here about all of the mistakes they have made

[MJS]

1 hour ago, Buffalo Junction said:

It’s historically been special teams for them as well, especially since Rodgers has been there. Just goes to show that teams matter when it comes to roster construction. 

Rodgers wasn't doing his team any favors either. He certainly didn't look like the MVP in that game to me.

[Thurman#1]

13 hours ago, MJS said:

Interesting to have Beane / McDermott so high (I'm assuming they incldue McDermott since he predated Beane and had a significant hand in building the roster, especially key pieces like Tre White, Micah Hyde, and Jordan Poyer). I think there is no doubt that they have earned a ton of credit and respect around the league, and it is showing in rankings like this. I suppose I would say 1st is a little bit too high for them, but I can definitely get behind ranking them in the top 5. Go win a championship and earn that #1 spot!

 

 

 

Hard to argue. They've been brilliant. Anyone putting them outside the top three or so is kidding himself.

 

They've been consistently smart. Consistently using best practices. We're incredibly lucky to have them.

[Thurman#1]

11 hours ago, billybrew1 said:

Aside from drafting Josh Allen, 2017 is by far the Bills best year of McBeane… I say McBeane because I feel certain Beane was ghost writing most of the moves. It was the two of them, talking, figuring things out.

Strangely, since 2017 they haven’t really done that well…. Maybe this year’s FAs and draft picks will be a comeback year for McBeane. They certainly changed the roster enough to have a huge impact. It will will be interesting to judge all five years after the completion of this season. Even though the last two drafts (21 & 22) will be very difficult to judge still. Free agency won’t though… This year it really is all about the rebuilt defensive line. How well will our DL play this year? That could be the answer to question who will win the Super Bowl? The Bills will need a lot from Von, Jones, Settle, Groot, Basham and AJ…. And of course Ed. I think perhaps Shaq and Jordan are here to win a Super Bowl as well. If they put their energy into training, their two pretty decent players…

 

 

That being sure Beane was working with McDermott while he was actually still in Carolina with no way to know McDermott might be able to bring him in, and knowing that he'd be committing a jailable offense by sharing his corporation's own information thing? Don't worry about it. Lots of otherwise intelligent people are convinced of nutty things. It's part of being human.

 

But they actually have done quite well since 2018, quite well. Not incredibly, but consistently solid with few outright mistakes and a lot of useful guys picked right into the later rounds. Too early to judge a lot of it yet, but an awful lot of starters on one of the league's best teams have been acquired in those drafts.

[Scott7975]

So Belichick should be a lock for executive of the year again and get 3 comp picks right?

[Doc Brown]

Colbert shouldn't be top five.  Belichick shouldn't be in the top 10.  It's not a lifetime achievement award.  I'd go McDermott, Veach, Licht, Snead, and Tobin in that order.

[Don Otreply]

9 hours ago, ScottLaw said:

Think it’s premature to call David a “budding star”. 

Only by a little bit, GD has been pretty darn effective, especially in bigger moments, one can confidently say he has capitalized on his opportunities when they have presented themselves, and isn’t that exactly what one wants from a first and second year player who has had limited targets as a number 3/4 wideout? That and being a 4th round pick, he’s done very well imo.

[HOUSE]

I would have drafted DK Metcalf OVER Cody Ford,

[JerseyBills]

Yea man it's been a master class by McBeane in building a franchise that was in the gutter to a perennial powerhouse. 

 

Only players on the roster when they got here are Reid Ferguson and Shaq Lawson again. 

 

What an amazing turnaround 

[Don Otreply]

48 minutes ago, ScottLaw said:

Too inconsistent to say he’s a “budding star”…. His worst games as a pro was just a couple weeks prior to the Chiefs game(home NYJ)…. He was really bad, dropping several passes in the game, couldn’t keep his feet in bounds on several occasions. 

One game shouldn’t be the total measure of a 2nd year 4th rounder, who was not seeing the field a lot this past season, especially when the majority of his targets have been productive over the past two seasons, does GD need to get better? He sure does,  but isn’t that what budding means, not in full bloom yet…, 

maybe he will become a very good #2, or remain the perfect #3, this season will tell the tale,

Edited April 16, 2022 by Don Otreply

[Fleezoid]

How is Jerry Jones 16? Should be at least somewhere in the 20s. 

 

Probably been posted before. It's a few weeks old, but...

 

https://www.star-telegram.com/sports/spt-columns-blogs/mac-engel/article259720770.html

 

It does make me a little giddy reading it. 

[Motor26]

5 hours ago, JerseyBills said:

Yea man it's been a master class by McBeane in building a franchise that was in the gutter to a perennial powerhouse. 

 

Only players on the roster when they got here are Reid Ferguson and Shaq Lawson again. 

 

What an amazing turnaround 

Win one for Reid! He had to deal with the garbage that was the Bills prior to McBeane.

[BADOLBILZ]

22 hours ago, Miyagi-Do Karate said:

I love how les Snead is on there. If bojo doesn’t botch a punt in a blizzard, Green Bay is probably playing for a SB and Les is out of a job for mortgaging the future of that franchise. 
 

 

 

You do realize Snead has gotten the Rams to 2 Super Bowls with 2 different QB's in the period of time that McBeane have reached none?

 

Credit is most certainly due.

 

The original roster Sean McDermott inherited in January of 2017 was better than the one McVay did..........the 2016 Bills at Rams game was a physical mismatch and the Rams were a laughingstock at that point while the Bills were just an underachieving team with 10-12 win talent.

 

The Rams just went for SB contention right out of the gate in 2017 and McVay really coached up a middling young QB..........while the Bills opted to get rid of all of their prime age core players and slow play their way into a title contender.........which took until 2020.   

 

People don't give Snead enough credit for realizing that he was bad at making first round picks...........he wasn't getting anywhere by exercising his first round picks..........it's easy to forget that the Rams were perennial top 10 drafters spinning their wheels prior to Snead hiring McVay.    

 

They could have clung to picks and easily still be like the Jaguars.......who have drafted in the top ten of round 1 in 14 of the last 15 years! 

 

Snead's strength has been day 2 and day 3 drafting..........it's remarkable the turnover they have been able to withstand in great part because of their excellent drafting.

 

So the mortgaging the future stuff is nonsense.  

 

Edited April 16, 2022 by BADOLBILZ

[BADOLBILZ]

 

The strength of Beane isn't personnel work.........he's done well in his few trades..........but he's been pretty lousy at free agency and his drafts haven't yielded nearly enough difference makers.

 

I don't think he belongs near the top at all for the scope of his personnel work...........but his work stewarding the franchise in other areas has been superb.

 

The two ENORMOUS......FRANCHISE ALTERING........ things Beane has done are:

 

1A) Draft Josh Allen.......first time the Bills franchise had drafted a QB with their first 1st round pick since 1960 and it's panned out wonderfully.

 

1B) Get the Pegula's to agree to turn over full control to he and McDermott ......first time in franchise history a meddling owner isn't undermining the team.

 

As Belichick once said.........you gotta' be making bad decisions all the time to stay bad in the NFL.

 

And prior to McBeane's arrival that's ultimately what was happening.

 

So while Beane has done some really stupid things.......like giving a guy like Star Lotulelei a 5 year $50M deal when his market was like 1 year $4M............it hasn't blown up on them because he and McDermott have been in sync.    There is no push and pull between them and they run the whole show.  

 

That might not seem like much but when you have a franchise QB there is A LOT of room for error............you really just have to not f*ck it up to be a contender...........and that has proven harder than it sounds in many places. 

 

If Beane actually starts getting better at drafting and evaluating free agents and handling the cap.........which is certainly possible with experience.........they could become a special franchise. 

[T master]

The man has set the bar very high & by example shown other how to go about building a team . There had to be some luck involved along the line i think or is Beane really that good ?

 

I know as we all do for years every QB that came here some of which had a good arm & different skills similar to Josh but went to the way side for what ever reason i think a lot can be attributed to every one at the top working together with the same mind set from the Pegs on down .

 

Ralph got it right a couple of times but then there were those times he had to get in the middle of things like when Wade was the coach some owners are just that way & if the Pegs were that way we may still be in a funk but thank god they are not .

 

Them having faith and allowing those that they hired to do their job & recognizing prior to Beanes hire those that couldn't is great for the Bills & their future .

[wppete]

Every decision they make should be with Josh Allen in mind. Give him whatever he wants, keep him happy and load him up with weapons. 

[Mr. WEO]

Snead has to be number 1.  Nobody is doing like he is and it resulted in a ring. 

 

Colbert at 3 really makes no sense--what year is this?  Plus, their despite his long slow road to retirement, their post Big Ben plan is.......Mitch Trubisky!

[Chicken Boo]

So let's see, McBeane is seen as the powerhouse GM/HC combo, Josh is being mentioned as the best player in the league and the Bills are favored to win the Super Bowl.

 

So that means no more threads complaining about the media overlooking/disrespecting the Bills, right?

[wppete]

9 hours ago, HOUSE said:

I would have drafted DK Metcalf OVER Cody Ford,

[Alphadawg7]

On 4/15/2022 at 9:41 AM, MJS said:

NFL GM Power Rankings: Bills' Brandon Beane/Sean McDermott, Rams' Les Snead top the board

 

https://www.nfl.com/news/nfl-gm-power-rankings-bills-brandon-beane-sean-mcdermott-rams-les-snead-top-the-

 

High praise for Beane and McDermott from NFL.com in their NFL GM Power Rankings. Here are the top 5:

 

1) Brandon Beane/Sean McDermott, Buffalo Bills

 

"The Bills' transformation since McDermott's hire in January 2017 could be taught in a college-level course on how to rebuild a franchise. McDermott helped to hire Beane in May of that year, and they've hit every right note since: from big trades (Stefon Diggs, moving up for Josh Allen) and savvy draft picks (Tre'Davious White, Dion Dawkins, Matt Milano) to knowing which veterans to reward (Jordan Poyer, Micah Hyde) and when to move on (John Brown, LeSean McCoy). The Bills have a defensive coach, yet prioritized building an offensive roster around Allen. They always seem to find value in free agency (SEE: this year's pickups of Jamison Crowder, O.J. Howard, Rodger Saffold, DaQuan Jones and Duke Johnson). No team is doing it better, and these two -- along with Allen -- deserve credit for helping to get funding for a new Bills stadium."

 

2) Les Snead, Los Angeles Rams

 

3) Kevin Colbert, Pittsburgh Steelers

 

4) Brian Gutekunst, Green Bay Packers

 

5) Jason Licht, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

 

 

Interesting to have Beane / McDermott so high (I'm assuming they incldue McDermott since he predated Beane and had a significant hand in building the roster, especially key pieces like Tre White, Micah Hyde, and Jordan Poyer). I think there is no doubt that they have earned a ton of credit and respect around the league, and it is showing in rankings like this. I suppose I would say 1st is a little bit too high for them, but I can definitely get behind ranking them in the top 5. Go win a championship and earn that #1 spot!

 

I respectfully disagree, I think first is exactly where they belong and where I have felt for a couple seasons now.  

 

19 hours ago, ScottLaw said:

Think it’s premature to call David a “budding star”. 

 

Tell that to Emmanuel Sanders who gushes over Davis saying hes different and is going to be a Pro Bowler.  So yeah, Sanders disagrees with you, but then again, not surprising you disagree with something positive about the Bills.  

Edited April 16, 2022 by Alphadawg7

[John from Riverside]

20 hours ago, ScottLaw said:

Think it’s premature to call David a “budding star”. 

I agree with this.   We have seen bits and pieces but not completely put together.  To be fair he has had targets having priority over him so he has not yet to really have the chance to prove it.  This year he is going to get his chance.

Edited April 16, 2022 by John from Riverside

[Miyagi-Do Karate]

5 hours ago, BADOLBILZ said:

 

You do realize Snead has gotten the Rams to 2 Super Bowls with 2 different QB's in the period of time that McBeane have reached none?

 

Credit is most certainly due.

 

The original roster Sean McDermott inherited in January of 2017 was better than the one McVay did..........the 2016 Bills at Rams game was a physical mismatch and the Rams were a laughingstock at that point while the Bills were just an underachieving team with 10-12 win talent.

 

The Rams just went for SB contention right out of the gate in 2017 and McVay really coached up a middling young QB..........while the Bills opted to get rid of all of their prime age core players and slow play their way into a title contender.........which took until 2020.   

 

People don't give Snead enough credit for realizing that he was bad at making first round picks...........he wasn't getting anywhere by exercising his first round picks..........it's easy to forget that the Rams were perennial top 10 drafters spinning their wheels prior to Snead hiring McVay.    

 

They could have clung to picks and easily still be like the Jaguars.......who have drafted in the top ten of round 1 in 14 of the last 15 years! 

 

Snead's strength has been day 2 and day 3 drafting..........it's remarkable the turnover they have been able to withstand in great part because of their excellent drafting.

 

So the mortgaging the future stuff is nonsense.  

 

i think that is a fair take. 
 

My view of Sneed though is he has been  average as a drafter. Outside of the 2017 draft, he has had way more misses than hits, especially with top 10 picks. I also don’t see his mid or late-round picks to be above league average.
 

I also think he overpays like crazy on these trades. Jalen Ramsey for two 1st round picks and a 4th. And Stafford for two 1st round picks and a third. That is seriously a joke in terms of what they gave up for those two guys. 

 

He can point to his SB win as proof that it works, but you got to admit the Rams Got just about every lucky break in the playoffs in terms of their matchups. It is such a high risk strategy, and I don’t think it is a fair take for some to argue that an “all in” strategy is the right one. 
 

Snead and McVay will probably retire at the first sign of cratering, and that Rams team won’t be good for like 10 years. 

[BADOLBILZ]

3 hours ago, Miyagi-Do Karate said:

i think that is a fair take. 
 

My view of Sneed though is he has been  average as a drafter. Outside of the 2017 draft, he has had way more misses than hits, especially with top 10 picks. I also don’t see his mid or late-round picks to be above league average.
 

I also think he overpays like crazy on these trades. Jalen Ramsey for two 1st round picks and a 4th. And Stafford for two 1st round picks and a third. That is seriously a joke in terms of what they gave up for those two guys. 

 

He can point to his SB win as proof that it works, but you got to admit the Rams Got just about every lucky break in the playoffs in terms of their matchups. It is such a high risk strategy, and I don’t think it is a fair take for some to argue that an “all in” strategy is the right one. 
 

Snead and McVay will probably retire at the first sign of cratering, and that Rams team won’t be good for like 10 years. 

 

 

I don't know how you compute that Stafford and Ramsey weren't each worth 2 first round picks and a day 3 pick?

 

Only about 50% of 1st round picks get their options picked up.........which is the minimum indication that the players weren't failed picks.

 

Then there is the level of 1st rounders like Tremaine Edmunds who didn't earn the option being picked up but because the decision had to be made after year 3 the team takes a chance and is stuck hoping for them to raise their play to be worth it.    The Broncos are paying Bradley Chubb his guaranteed 5th year option coming off a 0 sack 2021 season.

 

So, basically,  first rounders actually playing like first rounders is a less than a 50/50 proposition.

 

So knowing this.........what are the odds of getting a stud QB like Stafford and an elite CB like Ramsey with that haul of 4 #1 picks and a couple day 3's?

 

Yeah.......HIGHLY unlikely.  

 

He increased his chances of success with those picks tremendously.

[JerseyBills]

On 4/16/2022 at 10:45 AM, ScottLaw said:

Agree, one game isn’t a measure…. However, to say he’s a star in the making is premature given his inconsistent play to this point in his career…. Davis shouldn’t deter the team from taking a WR in the first round. 

 

Inconsistent? 

Lack of playing time maybe but I wouldn't call him inconsistent.  He would routinely make contested catches, sideline catches aka toe drag swag and a beast in the red zone. He was just behind 3 really good vets. If he gets starter time this year he's going to be a problem