Beane's biggest blunder?

[Process]

Not gonna pick one specific move, but by far Beane's biggest weakness has been the d line. Pretty much hate everything he has done since he's been here. Way too many draft picks/money/resources spent on average/bad players, that could have been much better spent elsewhere. 

[Sammy Watkins' Rib]

2 hours ago, Gugny said:

Going into the 2018 season with Nate Peterman and rookie Josh Allen. 
 

That was pathetic. 

 

When Peterman essentially fooled Beane and McDermott twice into them thinking he was not only worthy of a roster spot but worthy of starting an NFL game, only to be benched by half time in each of those two starts, I seriously thought these two clowns have no idea how to evaluate a QB. It had me initially having very little hope for JA to start his rookie seasons. But he had fully won me over by the time we played that game down in Miami his rookie year. 

[Sammy Watkins' Rib]

1 hour ago, Bag of Milk said:

He was actually saved from making his biggest blunder when Antonio Brown made it clear that he wouldn't play for the Bills.

Brown would have had a huge contract and compensation would have been a first pick plus others.

I remember Beane saying they had checked out Brown thoroughly before making the trade and felt great about him adding to the process! Yikes!

 

That would have been a complete disaster. How legit were all the rumors though? 

[JakeFrommStateFarm]

That's easy.

 

Passing on Hopkins 

[Nihilarian]

2 hours ago, newcam2012 said:

I think you are undermining Polian's contribution in 1985. It's widely accepted that he gets credit for Kelly, Smith, and Reed additions. 

It's clearly not widely accepted!

 

Not attempting to be mean here. What you fail to comprehend is that Polian was the director of player personnel for the Chicago Blitz in 1985. So he couldn't possibly have been a part of drafting QB Jim Kelly who was drafted in the 1983 NFL draft. 

 

While an employee with the Buffalo Bills when Smith and Reed were drafted in 1985, he was new to the team and wasn't the Buffalo Bills General Manager as Terry Bledsoe was the GM.  

 

As I stated, I think Bill Polian was a great GM. Different times though as free agency was different and allowed teams to keep their best players. 

 

You are certainly entitled to your opinion, as am I. 

[Nester]

Gotta be Cody Ford

[Florida Bills Fanatic]

8 hours ago, Dr.Sack said:

Trading pick 27 (Justin Jefferson) in 2020 to the Vikings for Diggs. Not saying Diggs has been a bust, but clearly any rational person would take a guy about to turn 24, over a guy about to turn 30. 

How was Beane supposed to know that Jefferson would be this good and that he was even going to be available at pick 27?  All of this retrospection of past drafts is a bunch of crap.  It's easy to look back on every team's moves and throw rocks.  When I look at the roster and cap that Beane inherited and compare it to the roster  today, I have to say that he has done an excellent job.  Wins and losses tell the story, not results of any one individual draft pick or one free agent signing.  Every GM has some hits and misses with some good and bad breaks along the way.  We all tend to let players off the hook and blame coaches and GM's, when the reality is that some players choose not to put in the effort to be good at their job.

[BillsNutHawaii]

4 hours ago, newcam2012 said:

 

Polian was responsible for landing Jim Kelly a hall a fame QB. He drafted Bruce Smith and Andre Reed two hall of famers. Also, got Kent Hall from the USFL. Made a monster trade to get Cornelius Bennet. That's just a few examples...

 

His team's went to four straight super bowls.

 

You can't be serious...

No way!

DONT FORGET - Bill Polian put the “Shout” song in place too.

And probably saved the franchise from relocating. 

Edited May 27, 2023 by BillsNutHawaii
Added info

[LABILLBACKER]

This question is easy.  For the last 5+ years Brandon has had every opportunity to build a dominant OL around his superstar qb. But because his partner is a defensive HC, he's been influenced to lean toward somewhat failed defensive picks. And because Josh is so damn athletic and sometimes reckless,  he and McD simply embrace that style. 

[billybrew1]

9 hours ago, Gene Frenkle said:

Cody Ford instead of AJ Brown or fan favorite at the time, DK Metcalf. I question whether we would have traded for Diggs if we had drafted one of the two, however. Maybe we'd have Metcalf and Justin Jefferson. Maybe we wouldn't have Allen. Who knows.

 

All I know for sure is the Cody Ford was not a good football player when he was here.

This is revisionist history. Everybody on this site loved the Ford pick at the time.

[Rebel101]

10 hours ago, Sammy Watkins' Rib said:

In your opinion, what is Beane's biggest blunder either draft, free agency or trade? Something that has prevented the Bills from winning it all or putting them in what looks like a downward trajectory in terms of post season finishes since the AFC Championship game appearance in 2020?

 

For me it is using three day two picks on RB over four consecutive drafts from 2019 to 2022. 

 

I think Singletary was a solid pick. Other than a case of the fumbles more than you would like he really produced AND he could do it all. A three down back. But using day two picks in 2020 and 2022 meant the Bills neglected the o-line. 

 

This past draft should have been the draft to use another day two pick on a RB, after Singletary's rookie contract expired. 

Wyatt Teller. Would have gave us another solid lineman who set a nasty mean standard for everyone else. 

[K-9]

9 hours ago, Dr.Sack said:

Trading pick 27 (Justin Jefferson) in 2020 to the Vikings for Diggs. Not saying Diggs has been a bust, but clearly any rational person would take a guy about to turn 24, over a guy about to turn 30. 

Any rational person would take a proven playmaker to help a young, promising QB get to the next level over the fifth WR selected in that draft. Your 20/20 hindsight is so keen, but you’d have more credibility if you can link us to all your posts pounding the table for Jefferson before that draft and criticizing the trade immediately afterward.

[Rebel101]

51 minutes ago, Nester said:

Gotta be Cody Ford

Wyatt Teller became the savage he was showing his potential as and we let him go become a pro bowler somewhere else. Oh and Isaiah Hodgins another competitor we knew was ready and let someone else take as well. Both would have solidified weaknesses on the Bills roster years ago and allowed for new pieces 

[billybrew1]

10 hours ago, Sammy Watkins' Rib said:

In your opinion, what is Beane's biggest blunder either draft, free agency or trade? Something that has prevented the Bills from winning it all or putting them in what looks like a downward trajectory in terms of post season finishes since the AFC Championship game appearance in 2020?

 

For me it is using three day two picks on RB over four consecutive drafts from 2019 to 2022. 

 

I think Singletary was a solid pick. Other than a case of the fumbles more than you would like he really produced AND he could do it all. A three down back. But using day two picks in 2020 and 2022 meant the Bills neglected the o-line. 

 

This past draft should have been the draft to use another day two pick on a RB, after Singletary's rookie contract expired. 

Beane’s weakest area has been the DL. He was right to invest in a strong DL but it didn’t work out at all….

[Rebel101]

Just now, K-9 said:

Any rational person would take a proven playmaker to help a young, promising QB get to the next level over the fifth WR selected in that draft. Your 20/20 hindsight is so keen, but you’d have more credibility if you can link us to all your posts pounding the table for Jefferson before that draft and criticizing the trade immediately afterward.

I agree the Diggs trade was a good acquisition. You don’t know what you get when you’re taking a new unproven player this is far from Beanes biggest faults

I thought we did this already though OP like 8 times at the end of the season. I figured we needed to move forward since he’s not going anywhere this year. We gotta focus on the good now we don’t have a choice 

[Bob Chandler's Hands]

His biggest blunder would probably be reading this thread. 

[GreggTX]

I have 2. He overpaid both Lotulelei and Conner McGovern. Neither of them are very good, but they got paid like they were.

[Nephilim17]

I don't think it's right to criticize specific player picks as every GM, even the best ones make mistakes. If you do that, you have to look strongly at the AJ and Boogie picks.

 

But if you wanna look at philosophical blunders, it's valuing running backs and other positions (save, maybe, from D-line; right thought, wrong picks) over O-line.

O-line picks should've happened at least once every year in the top 3 rounds since we got Josh, and more overall.

Edited May 27, 2023 by Nephilim17

[BillsSbSoon]

10 hours ago, Dr.Sack said:

Trading pick 27 (Justin Jefferson) in 2020 to the Vikings for Diggs. Not saying Diggs has been a bust, but clearly any rational person would take a guy about to turn 24, over a guy about to turn 30. 

Yeah obviously now we would but diggs was 26 when we traded for him. It ended up being one of the most even trades probably in the nfl history

[Chicken Boo]

I think Singletary was a panic pick.  I'm sure they had David Montgomery rated higher.  Just missed out on him.

[Captain Hindsight]

11 hours ago, Dr.Sack said:

Trading pick 27 (Justin Jefferson) in 2020 to the Vikings for Diggs. Not saying Diggs has been a bust, but clearly any rational person would take a guy about to turn 24, over a guy about to turn 30. 

What if they had ended up Jalen Raegor?

 

Believe me, I know hindsight, but that was the right call 

[ChronicAndKnuckles]

11 hours ago, Dr.Sack said:

Trading pick 27 (Justin Jefferson) in 2020 to the Vikings for Diggs. Not saying Diggs has been a bust, but clearly any rational person would take a guy about to turn 24, over a guy about to turn 30. 

I credit Diggs for the elevation of Allen into the elite category. I don’t think he would’ve hit the numbers he did without him. Idk why there is this subset of posters that constantly sleeps on Diggs who will eventually go down as the best/most productive WR in Bills history. And idk why this doesn’t get brought up more often, but the guy has missed a total of 1 game since coming to Buffalo. 

[Comebackkid]

wasted picks on O-line and d-line that have not lived up to draft position.  To much relying on talent from carolina.  throwing to much money/bigger contracts signing  washed up talent or talent that had a history of being poor.  not signing players that were fairly cheap and could have made a big difference.   ie melvin ingram

[Breakout Squad]

10 hours ago, Freddie's Dead said:

Wyatt Teller, and it ain't close for 2nd place.

Teller is an absolute liability in pass protection. He looked good when they ran 60% of the time with Chubb and Hunt. 

[Pine Barrens Mafia]

Oliver instead of Metcalf 

[BADOLBILZ]

9 hours ago, GunnerBill said:

 

Beane doesn't have the power to fire coaches. 

 

We already had Allen in 2019. Otherwise I make you correct. In terms of a single draft blunder Cody Ford over AJ Brown stands alone. 

 

Otherwise 2022 Free Agency is the second answer on my card. 

 

I'd say not being more aggressive about addressing WR in both the 2021 and 2022 offseasons is #1.     There was a point early in 2020 where they had a GREAT WR corps and the impact that had was immense.    That should have inspired them to never let that decline.   John Brown got hurt part way thru the season and they have never been close to that good again.

 

That lost dynamic killed them during the 2021 regular season and lead to them being on the road in KC when they were otherwise the best team in football..........and ultimately played a huge role in their struggles at the end of last season and the early exit from the playoffs.

 

Followed by Cody Ford..........as an individual draft pick that was the most damaging mistake.........and is also directly related to their still current WR problems.

 

Also the 2018 free agent class was absolutely ghastly for Beane.   He wasted upwards of $100M on utter garbage............those mistakes have impacted their cap flexibility ever since.

[Dr.Sack]

4 hours ago, Process said:

The Bils traded pick 27 for Diggs. A total steal. 

 

They did not trade Justin Jefferson for Diggs. 

 

Beane has had a lot of blunders, but this was definitely not one of them. Actually, it may have been his best move. 

Jefferson is better than Diggs, younger and would have cost much less allowing us to retain more talent. 

[Nihilarian]

3 hours ago, BillsNutHawaii said:

DONT FORGET - Bill Polian put the “Shout” song in place too.

And probably saved the franchise from relocating. 

Granted Bill Polian did a lot of great things as he help open the owner's wallet to big screens, a new sound system, better turf, and playing players.

 

The guy who really saved the Buffalo Bills was Chuck Knox! In the late 70s, the love canal, the air in Buffalo was yellow and smelled bad because of the steel mills.  TV personalities making fun of the city because of the snowstorms. 

 

Does anyone else remember "Talking Proud"?

 

The 1976 Bills went from 2-12, under Saban, and Ringo to 3-11 under Ringo in 1977. Chuck Knox was hired and that team was a complete mess. Stew Barber as GM in 1979. Do you guys remember him as he asked Buffalo's first-round pick Tom Cousineau to dinner and never showed up?

 

Most here are too young to recall, but the Buffalo Bills didn't win a single game against the Miami Dolphins for the entire decade of the 1970s!  Ten years man, ten years!

 

That all changed in the 1980 season opener against Miami as Buffalo won 17-7 ANNND the goalposts came down that day! 

 

The goalposts came down a few times under Bill Polian too. The difference was that Chuck Knox was the real GM at the time who hand-picked the players the team drafted or brought in as free agents. Bringing in some of his old Rams players to teach the younger Bills players. That 1980 team went 11-5, in playoffs. 

 

All GMs have hits and misses. When you have a team as successful as the Buffalo Bills have been the last few seasons with arguably the very best QB in the NFL that this GM drafted... it's difficult for me to find fault. 

 

Anyway, I think the best is yet to come under Brandon Beane.

 

[Freddie's Dead]

2 hours ago, Breakout Squad said:

Teller is an absolute liability in pass protection. He looked good when they ran 60% of the time with Chubb and Hunt. 

 

Second team All-Pro in 2020 and 2021, Pro Bowl 2021 and 2022.  He'd be better than any OG we've had since he left, by a freakin' lot.

[Solomon Grundy]

13 hours ago, Freddie's Dead said:

Wyatt Teller, and it ain't close for 2nd place.

I'm gonna say Epenesa and Basham. I still think they should've moved up and selected JT28 instead of waiting on Epenesa. Basham NEVER really impressed me in college

[Bill from NYC]

3 hours ago, BADOLBILZ said:

 

I'd say not being more aggressive about addressing WR in both the 2021 and 2022 offseasons is #1.     There was a point early in 2020 where they had a GREAT WR corps and the impact that had was immense.    That should have inspired them to never let that decline.   John Brown got hurt part way thru the season and they have never been close to that good again.

 

That lost dynamic killed them during the 2021 regular season and lead to them being on the road in KC when they were otherwise the best team in football..........and ultimately played a huge role in their struggles at the end of last season and the early exit from the playoffs.

 

Followed by Cody Ford..........as an individual draft pick that was the most damaging mistake.........and is also directly related to their still current WR problems.

 

Also the 2018 free agent class was absolutely ghastly for Beane.   He wasted upwards of $100M on utter garbage............those mistakes have impacted their cap flexibility ever since.

How much blame for these bad decisions should we place upon the shoulders of Mr. Process?

[Freddie's Dead]

22 minutes ago, Solomon Grundy said:

I'm gonna say Epenesa and Basham. I still think they should've moved up and selected JT28 instead of waiting on Epenesa. Basham NEVER really impressed me in college

 

Butbutbut....Boogie.....

[Process]

3 hours ago, Dr.Sack said:

Jefferson is better than Diggs, younger and would have cost much less allowing us to retain more talent. 

Ok you clearly don't get it lol

[Saint Doug]

I’m not going to play the “he should’ve drafted xxxx instead of yyyy”. Those are all hindsight’s 20/20 arguments and can be applied to any other GM, including the one who could’ve picked the guy a round earlier. Pivoting away from this “argument”, I would say him trading Wyatt Teller. We sure could’ve used him last year. 

[PrimeTime101]

17 hours ago, Dr.Sack said:

Trading pick 27 (Justin Jefferson) in 2020 to the Vikings for Diggs. Not saying Diggs has been a bust, but clearly any rational person would take a guy about to turn 24, over a guy about to turn 30. 

turn off your crystal ball and you will think about this differently. 

[JohnNord]

18 hours ago, Sammy Watkins' Rib said:

In your opinion, what is Beane's biggest blunder either draft, free agency or trade? Something that has prevented the Bills from winning it all or putting them in what looks like a downward trajectory in terms of post season finishes since the AFC Championship game appearance in 2020?

 

For me it is using three day two picks on RB over four consecutive drafts from 2019 to 2022. 

 

I think Singletary was a solid pick. Other than a case of the fumbles more than you would like he really produced AND he could do it all. A three down back. But using day two picks in 2020 and 2022 meant the Bills neglected the o-line. 

 

This past draft should have been the draft to use another day two pick on a RB, after Singletary's rookie contract expired. 

No on here is talking about free agencyxm, where Beane has made a few BIG blunders.

 

His biggest miss was signing Star Lotuleli.  Beane’s scouted and drafted Star in Carolina where he flashed but never lived up to his potential.  He decided to overpay for Star BIGLY and the return was 1 average season and 3 other years of below average play.  The Bills couldn’t get out of his contract which was a big opportunity cost. 
 

Of course, whenever I make this point there are people in here that try to pretend Star was better than he was.  But he wasn’t.  He was a massive, expensive, underwhelming BUST 

2 hours ago, Solomon Grundy said:

I'm gonna say Epenesa and Basham. I still think they should've moved up and selected JT28 instead of waiting on Epenesa. Basham NEVER really impressed me in college

There’s something that has to be said about the picks at DE.  Epinesa sucked as a rookie, so they drafted Rosseau and Basham who also sucked.  So they had to overpay for a veteran Von Miller.  Von wasn’t a bad signing but had 1 of those 3 picks hit, they wouldn’t need to sign him

[Goin Breakdown]

Can we stop with the Diggs for Jefferson trade. Buffalo traded 27 for Diggs. Period. Did anyone know who would be drafted there?  Did we know that Buffalo would have grabbed Jefferson? No one did.

[Since1981]

5 hours ago, Dr.Sack said:

Jefferson is better than Diggs, younger and would have cost much less allowing us to retain more talent. 

Diggs was a sure thing. Jeff was not. 
“I’ll give you $100 for sure, or bet it now and either get $20 or $120?”

[Aimee75]

I want to start off by saying, I love Brandon Beane. I never thought we would have another guy by the likes of Polian again in this organization, and he is so damn funny and charismatic, and for the most part has made some epic moves.

 

However, in the Josh Allen era, I am not totally convinced he has done enough to put the team over the edge. I cannot stomach watching other AFC teams with better offensive lines and weapons and watching Josh try to do it all himself. Diggs is great, but we know he is always going to be double teamed, and we really don't have someone of his caliber to take the heat off him. It's not just The Chiefs and Bengals we gotta worry about, but a number of AFC teams are starting to rise. The Ravens still exist, The Chargers, our own division, The Jaguars. I feel like all those teams are more stacked on offense, but we have the QB.

 

I think signing DHop would be huge!! It would make our offense impossble to stop. I want Beane to do all he can do while we have Josh to help get this team past the teams that keep ending our run.

Edited May 28, 2023 by Aimee75

[78thealltimegreat]

Realizing you have one of the special players in football as your QB and literally until this off season throwing spare parts and duct tape at the oline while you load up on marginal front 7 players on defense. 

Edited May 28, 2023 by 78thealltimegreat