Beane is good at drafting after all -- A look at 2022

[boater]

The old dictum "you can't evaluate a draft for a couple years" rings true. The Buffalo News just did so. From the TBD front page, there is a link to a Buffalo News article about Beane's 2022 draft. Four of five picks were lauded because they became starters:

 

• The 2022 draft, though, could be the catalyst for the Bills completing their scale to the NFL apex – and they missed on their first-round pick, cornerback Kaiir Elam. They drafted Cook at No. 63, Bernard No. 89, Shakir No. 148 and Benford No. 185.

 

Elam was a bust, but otherwise 2022 was gold yielding four starters. Not a bad draft result for good old fella Beane. The News had comment regarding the importance of reaping draft picks who start and also those picks who make the team as backups:

 

• As the salaries of the Bills’ most important players rise via second and third contracts, so does the importance on finding cost-controlled, inexpensive labor. Players, who after a year of seasoning, can become starters. Players, who at the very least, can be valuable role options in case of injury. And players, ultimately, who can earn second contracts, removing the need to use a draft pick (or picks) to replace them.

 

Along the lines of draft picks who contribute, Beane has done well. He has had salary cap friendly draft picks make the team. I wish Beane's Pro Player personnel choices could achieve a similar level of success--that needs work, he has been disappointing in that department, IMO.

 

I look forward to judging the 2023 class next summer: Dalton Kincaid, O'Cyrus Torrence, Dorian Williams, Justin Shorter, Nick Broeker, and Alex Austin. Early assessment: the 2023 class has yielded three starters (the later three picks were cut). So 2023 is a mixed bag, his higher picks start and his washouts were disposable later round picks.

 

[GunnerBill]

3 minutes ago, boater said:

The old dictum "you can't evaluate a draft for a couple years" rings true. The Buffalo News just did so. From the TBD front page, there is a link to a Buffalo News article about Beane's 2022 draft. Four of five picks were lauded because they became starters:

 

• The 2022 draft, though, could be the catalyst for the Bills completing their scale to the NFL apex – and they missed on their first-round pick, cornerback Kaiir Elam. They drafted Cook at No. 63, Bernard No. 89, Shakir No. 148 and Benford No. 185.

 

Elam was a bust, but otherwise 2022 was gold yielding four starters. Not a bad draft result for good old fella Beane. The News had comment regarding the importance of reaping draft picks who start and also those picks who make the team as backups:

 

• As the salaries of the Bills’ most important players rise via second and third contracts, so does the importance on finding cost-controlled, inexpensive labor. Players, who after a year of seasoning, can become starters. Players, who at the very least, can be valuable role options in case of injury. And players, ultimately, who can earn second contracts, removing the need to use a draft pick (or picks) to replace them.

 

Along the lines of draft picks who contribute, Beane has done well. He has had salary cap friendly draft picks make the team. I wish Beane's Pro Player personnel choices could achieve a similar level of success--that needs work, he has been disappointing in that department, IMO.

 

I look forward to judging the 2023 class next summer: Dalton Kincaid, O'Cyrus Torrence, Dorian Williams, Justin Shorter, Nick Broeker, and Alex Austin. Early assessment: the 2023 class has yielded three starters (the later three picks were cut). So 2023 is a mixed bag, his higher picks start and his washouts were disposable later round picks.

 

 

The 2022 draft was, despite a huge whiff on Elam, Beane's best class since 2018. It was critical too. 2023 only has two starters at this point though. 

[TheWeatherMan]

20 minutes ago, boater said:

The old dictum "you can't evaluate a draft for a couple years" rings true. The Buffalo News just did so. From the TBD front page, there is a link to a Buffalo News article about Beane's 2022 draft. Four of five picks were lauded because they became starters:

 

• The 2022 draft, though, could be the catalyst for the Bills completing their scale to the NFL apex – and they missed on their first-round pick, cornerback Kaiir Elam. They drafted Cook at No. 63, Bernard No. 89, Shakir No. 148 and Benford No. 185.

 

Elam was a bust, but otherwise 2022 was gold yielding four starters. Not a bad draft result for good old fella Beane. The News had comment regarding the importance of reaping draft picks who start and also those picks who make the team as backups:

 

• As the salaries of the Bills’ most important players rise via second and third contracts, so does the importance on finding cost-controlled, inexpensive labor. Players, who after a year of seasoning, can become starters. Players, who at the very least, can be valuable role options in case of injury. And players, ultimately, who can earn second contracts, removing the need to use a draft pick (or picks) to replace them.

 

Along the lines of draft picks who contribute, Beane has done well. He has had salary cap friendly draft picks make the team. I wish Beane's Pro Player personnel choices could achieve a similar level of success--that needs work, he has been disappointing in that department, IMO.

 

I look forward to judging the 2023 class next summer: Dalton Kincaid, O'Cyrus Torrence, Dorian Williams, Justin Shorter, Nick Broeker, and Alex Austin. Early assessment: the 2023 class has yielded three starters (the later three picks were cut). So 2023 is a mixed bag, his higher picks start and his washouts were disposable later round picks.

 

Beane is good at drafting except in the 1st round.  His trade ups have been awful (sin Josh Allen) 

[Saint Doug]

2022 was a great draft, but do the 2019 and 2020 drafts now. I will say 2021 was a little bit better, but not earth shattering. Some good role players in some of these, but not game changers. 

[PonyBoy]

Off topic, but my job is a couple blocks from a railroad with multiple runs per day.

 

Everytime the train horn wails I think of the Bills defense on 3rd down.

 

Am I a weirdo or a crazy Bills fan? 🤔

 

P.S. Beane is doing fine, other than Elam. He's been picking 29-58-78 for how many years excluding trades..

 

AFC is stacked, hard to get out that gauntlet. 

[uticaclub]

1 hour ago, GunnerBill said:

 

The 2022 draft was, despite a huge whiff on Elam, Beane's best class since 2018. It was critical too. 2023 only has two starters at this point though. 

Let’s revisit Kincaids snap count after a few weeks and see if he is still considered a starter. 

[GunnerBill]

6 minutes ago, uticaclub said:

Let’s revisit Kincaids snap count after a few weeks and see if he is still considered a starter. 

 

I think he will be, but for sure a disappointing one. And while O'Cyrus is a starting calibre guard he was still the weakest guy on our line in 2024. I am not sure long term 2023 or 2024 are gonna hold up well as classes. Hence why that 2022 group was kinda critical.

[WeckMonster]

1st and 2nd round picks need to be year 1 starters or at least have high impact roles.

 

3rd round picks same by year 2.

 

Looking at 2024 we would’ve won a SB if that were the case. That WAS the case for the Eagles.

 

-Coleman, Bishop, Carter = zero impact in playoffs. total whiff.

 

-Kincaid, Torrence, Williams. Playoffs = 1 strong starter and 2 replacement level players in Kincaid and Williams.

 

-Elam, Cook, Bernard. 1 bust and two strong starters.

 

so 9 top picks in last 3 years yielded 3 starters, 2 replacement level players and 4 zero impact players in last years playoffs.

 

We’d have done better picking from Kiper’s best available list.

 

fingers crossed there are big turnarounds for Kincaid, Coleman, Bishop and Carter. Though the Bills seem to have signed/drafted over Carter already.

Edited July 20 by WeckMonster
Spelling

[SCBills]

If Beane could land an elite guy once in a while, he’d be on the same level as Veach and Roseman. 
 

Because we, year in, year out, lack that guy(s) outside JA, he’s a tier below and it’s been a big reason we haven’t made a Super Bowl. 
 

Bad injury luck being the other primary reason.  
 

This hyped Draft Class, which is warranted, is a microcosm of the team around Allen.  Whiffed on the elite traits guy, but nailed 4 starters who are all very good, but not game changers. 
 

Beane is one of the best GM’s in the game. Hes just gotta find that one or two guys… Kincaid, Coleman, Hairston, Sanders.. someone to develop into a dude when it matters. 

[DrDawkinstein]

Same thing we say every offseason about Beane's drafting - He's good at hitting singles and doubles, but hasnt hit many home runs. Really need a couple more home runs.

[BillsFanForever19]

10 hours ago, TheWeatherMan said:

Beane is good at drafting except in the 1st round.  His trade ups have been awful (sin Josh Allen) 

 

I think it's less about talent evaluation and more about talent development and how they transitioned at the next level. Kaiir Elam is the only selection that felt like it was a reach to me where we took him. Players like Tremaine Edmunds and Dalton Kincaid were considered downright steals where they were selected. Ed Oliver, although not a trade up, was another college blue chipper that was not expected to be on the board where we selected him.

 

But back to the OP, the 2022 Draft was a home run, regardless of the Elam whiff and the Araiza fiasco. Getting Christian Benford, James Cook, Khalil Shakir, and Terrel Bernard and them turning into what they turned into was massive. 

Edited July 21 by BillsFanForever19

[GunnerBill]

1 hour ago, BillsFanForever19 said:

 

I think it's less about talent evaluation and more about talent development and how they transitioned at the next level. Kaiir Elam is the only selection that felt like it was a reach to me where we took him. Players like Tremaine Edmunds and Dalton Kincaid were considered downright steals where they were selected. Ed Oliver, although not a trade up, was another college blue chipper that was not expected to be on the board where we selected him.

 

But back to the OP, the 2022 Draft was a home run, regardless of the Elam whiff and the Araiza fiasco. Getting Christian Benford, James Cook, Khalil Shakir, and Terrel Bernard and them turning into what they turned into was massive. 

 

Not sure Kincaid was a steal, but he certainly wasn't a reach either in that class. He went right in his window which kind of opened with the Chargers at #21. 

 

Edmunds and Oliver were both available at least 3 or 4 spots later than anyone expected. 

 

I know not technically a first rounder but I still think Keon Coleman was a bit of a reach at #33. Maybe the Pats would have taken him instead of Polk at #37 if we hadn't... but I think for skillset and talent he was picked at least half a round too early. 

[DJB]

12 hours ago, TheWeatherMan said:

Beane is good at drafting except in the 1st round.  His trade ups have been awful (sin Josh Allen) 

Round 2 hasn’t really been good either 

[sherpa]

12 hours ago, PonyBoy said:

Off topic, but my job is a couple blocks from a railroad with multiple runs per day.

 

Everytime the train horn wails I think of the Bills defense on 3rd down.

 

 

Given our defensive third down "successes," it might be wise to permanently disengage from that obnoxious noise.

[Buffalo Boy]

How many drafts has he had?

How many perennial pro bowlers has he drafted?

How many HOFers, either sure fire or possibles, has he drafted?

 

Polian was the man!

Yes, I understand the “ drought” sucked and the drafting was bad to abysmal at points. But, Beane has turned into a legitimate GM who can do the job but never really wows you in a positive way. 
 

[BuffaloBillyG]

I think he's found some good players. He's had some whiffs too. 

 

I believe a lot of it falls on his drafting style. Seems he would rather find a few of what he calls "Steady Eddie's" each draft and play it safe over taking a big chance on elite talent with some character/injury flags. And drafting as late as we traditionally have under him, that's the type of player with elite potential he's going to see in the late 20s. 

 

He's more of a higher floor/lower ceiling type drafter. And that was the way to be the first few years while building culture and turning the team from drought era to perennial playoff team. 

 

I think he needs to take a few more risks. 

[RoscoeParrish]

3 hours ago, GunnerBill said:

 

Not sure Kincaid was a steal, but he certainly wasn't a reach either in that class. He went right in his window which kind of opened with the Chargers at #21. 

 

Edmunds and Oliver were both available at least 3 or 4 spots later than anyone expected. 

 

I know not technically a first rounder but I still think Keon Coleman was a bit of a reach at #33. Maybe the Pats would have taken him instead of Polk at #37 if we hadn't... but I think for skillset and talent he was picked at least half a round too early. 

The supposed story was the pats were in on Coleman at 34 and traded back after we took him

[GunnerBill]

11 minutes ago, RoscoeParrish said:

The supposed story was the pats were in on Coleman at 34 and traded back after we took him

 

Yea it tracks. I mean they took Polk a full round ahead of where his talent shoud have had him because they wanted a "bigger body." 

[Royale with Cheese]

13 hours ago, GunnerBill said:

 

I think he will be, but for sure a disappointing one. And while O'Cyrus is a starting calibre guard he was still the weakest guy on our line in 2024. I am not sure long term 2023 or 2024 are gonna hold up well as classes. Hence why that 2022 group was kinda critical.

 

Is O'Cyrus a starter in pen or pencil right now?

[JerseyBills]

This roster is loaded , especially with depth , training camp should be intense and we get the hard knocks which is fun