Name a player that left the Bills as a FA in the McBeane era that made an impact on their next team

[Pine Barrens Mafia]

28 minutes ago, HappyDays said:

 

That just isn't true. A lot of analytics and film study guys say he is underrated. He just doesn't get a lot of national recognition for some reason. 

 

Could be scheme. 

2 hours ago, RoscoeParrish said:

I think when you look at draft capital used, you have to use a sliding scale. 
 

Benford is probably the best pick of Beane’s tenure. He’s a top 12ish outside CB. 
 

Now, to me, despite him not being a superstar, that’s a homerun pick in the 6th round. 
 

I guess the way I view it is that a pick can be a homerun AND not a superstar. And despite some relative homeruns, a team can still need to do better to find stars. 
 

The first and second round unfortunately is littered with picks that are certainly not homeruns and also not superstars.

 

I think my definition of "home run" is a guy who can singularly take control of a game.

 

And on this roster, the only person who fits that definition is Josh Allen.

 

None of their DL meet the definition, for example. None of the skill players, neither.

 

[Matt_In_NH]

3 hours ago, Pine Barrens Mafia said:

 

Benford's only one of the top CBs in the league in the minds of the Bills fan base. Not saying he's not good. He's good for what he does. But is he a top 5 guy? Absolutely not.

 

Edit: I also certainly would NOT say any WR drafted by this front office is a "home run." Shakir is, like Benford, only a top WR in the minds of Bills fans. 

 

I agree that Bills fans value him more than people outside Buffalo.  But Joe Marino (who looks at things subjectively) says consistently based on metrics that he is "every bit a top 5 CB" the last two years.

Edited August 7 by Matt_In_NH

[Pine Barrens Mafia]

Just now, Matt_In_NH said:

I agree that Bills fans value him more than people outside Buffalo.  But Joe Marino (who looks at things subjectively) says consistently based on metrics that he is "every bit a top 5 CB" the last two years.

 

Joe Marino, man, I'm listening to the guy right now, he's a cheerleader.

 

[Matt_In_NH]

1 minute ago, Pine Barrens Mafia said:

 

Joe Marino, man, I'm listening to the guy right now, he's a cheerleader.

 

agree to disagree.  He is positive on the Bills because they are a great team....and that is not him the Bills are favored in all 17 games this season at this point....most football experts think the Bills are a great team

[AlCowlingsTaxiService]

On 8/6/2025 at 5:56 AM, Thurman#1 said:

Jerry Hughes, I'd argue. They expected him to fall off a cliff. He didn't.

 

Tyrel Dodson, maybe. His first year away was really good.

 

Quinton Jefferson, probably.

 

Can't think of anyone else, or anyone who hasn't been mentioned.

Tim Settle had a nice season for the Texans I believe 

[blacklabel]

On 8/6/2025 at 6:11 AM, GunnerBill said:

 

They are all reasonable calls, though I still think the Bills got all three of those decisions right. 

 

Jerry did have a good first year in Houston, yep, the Bills were just ready to move on and given his age I don't blame them.

 

Worth remembering that Dodson did get benched and traded midway through the season by Seattle. I think a tad unfairly and he did rebound well in Miami but I think he basically played the same level as his final year in Buffalo. They knew what they had in Dodson he was just not a starter here but good enough to be one and about to be paid like one. 

 

Quinton Jefferson, yep. He had two years as a starter - one in Vegas and one for the Jets. Again, I think he was basically the same guy he was here but playing as a full time starter rather than a rotational depth guy. 

 

Quinton Jefferson lives rent free in my head for the hustle he showed on the Von fumble recovery against the Ravens in the divisional game. Big 71 truckin' down the field trying to get a block on Justice Hill, who is ridiculously fast. Good effort nonetheless!

Edited August 7 by blacklabel

[RoyBatty is alive]

On 8/6/2025 at 2:23 AM, unbillievable said:

Jordan Poyer got an unneccessary roughness penalty that gave Bass the opportunity to hit a 61yd field goal. Bills Win. 

Good call but that play I think did some serious damage to Coleman, he missed the next three games I would argue he wasnt the same when he came back.  This was an offseason I believe he desperately needed and should be vastly improved.

[AlCowlingsTaxiService]

On 8/6/2025 at 12:55 PM, Bob in STL said:

Since we are throwing out non McBeane era, let’s  not forget Daryl Lamonica.  

Wasn’t the WR Haven Moses on the Bills roster?  Seems to me he had a nice career with the Broncos 

[HappyDays]

15 minutes ago, Pine Barrens Mafia said:

Could be scheme. 

 

If you think McDermott is a terrible coach and that our pass rush sucks, you can't also believe that Benford's success is a result of scheme. His analytics are favorable because he is flat out a very good player. And no I don't think he's a top 3 CB but absolutely top 10. FWIW Aaron Schatz of DVOA fame had him 4th last year and PFF had him 5th. Not that I inherently trust either of those websites but that tells you it is not just "in the mind of Bills fans."

[Pine Barrens Mafia]

2 minutes ago, HappyDays said:

 

If you think McDermott is a terrible coach and that our pass rush sucks, you can't also believe that Benford's success is a result of scheme. His analytics are favorable because he is flat out a very good player. And no I don't think he's a top 3 CB but absolutely top 10. FWIW Aaron Schatz of DVOA fame had him 4th last year and PFF had him 5th. Not that I inherently trust either of those websites but that tells you it is not just "in the mind of Bills fans."

 

I meant, he's more a zone CB than a lockdown man-cover guy. I, too, have my doubts about the analytics guys. Lots of meaningless stats produced by them.

 

 

 

[Donuts and Doritos]

Didn't Stephon Gilmore leave at the beginning of Beane era? He did pretty well after he left.

[Ethan in Cleveland]

8 minutes ago, Donuts and Doritos said:

Didn't Stephon Gilmore leave at the beginning of Beane era? He did pretty well after he left.

McDermott was here with Whaley but Beane was not. 

[RoyBatty is alive]

28 minutes ago, AlCowlingsTaxiService said:

Wasn’t the WR Haven Moses on the Bills roster?  Seems to me he had a nice career with the Broncos 

Yes and Yes

 

Two theories on why Lamonica was traded away for next to nothing.

 

1) He was a good looking guy and was banging Kemp's or Ralphs wife, cant recall which.

 

2) The AFL was really struggling as were the Raiders franchise.  Although  hidden for decades, Ralph got a chunk of the raiders  ownership (against the rules)  by giving al davis $250,000 to keep the Raiders alive.  The Bills had two great QB and gave the Raiders Lamoinica to get some excitement for Oakland and the AFL.

Edited August 7 by RoyBatty is alive

[Royale with Cheese]

39 minutes ago, Pine Barrens Mafia said:

 

Joe Marino, man, I'm listening to the guy right now, he's a cheerleader.

 

What about the DVOA link that is NOT specifically to be a Cheerleader for the Bills?  The one I posted and you’re purposely not responding to.

[The Wiz]

21 hours ago, nuklz2594 said:

Elam...made a funny 

I mean, not for nothing, but I've never heard a peep about him during camp or while he was on the team and is apparently doing better in Dallas.

[HappyDays]

35 minutes ago, Pine Barrens Mafia said:

 

I meant, he's more a zone CB than a lockdown man-cover guy. I, too, have my doubts about the analytics guys. Lots of meaningless stats produced by them.

 

 

 

 

I watched him walk step for step with Hollywood Brown in the AFCCG and then break up an on target pass. I watched him do the same with DeAndre Hopkins in the regular season matchup. And again against Amon-Ra St. Brown, with coverage tight enough to force a fumble after the catch. I think the whole "zone only" narrative is completely overblown. He can cover and he's very physical. In a way I think that perceptions about our scheme actually makes people discount him, rather than the other way around.

[DCOrange]

"Impact" may be strong, but I would say Zay Jones has landed on his feet pretty well post-Bills. Certainly better than I expected him to be.

[Pine Barrens Mafia]

13 minutes ago, HappyDays said:

 

I watched him walk step for step with Hollywood Brown in the AFCCG and then break up an on target pass. I watched him do the same with DeAndre Hopkins in the regular season matchup. And again against Amon-Ra St. Brown, with coverage tight enough to force a fumble after the catch. I think the whole "zone only" narrative is completely overblown. He can cover and he's very physical. In a way I think that perceptions about our scheme actually makes people discount him, rather than the other way around.

makes sense.

 

[GunnerBill]

5 hours ago, Pine Barrens Mafia said:

 

Benford's only one of the top CBs in the league in the minds of the Bills fan base. Not saying he's not good. He's good for what he does. But is he a top 5 guy? Absolutely not.

 

Edit: I also certainly would NOT say any WR drafted by this front office is a "home run." Shakir is, like Benford, only a top WR in the minds of Bills fans. 

 

 

Benford isn't top 5. But he is like very darn close. He is the 6th or 7th best boundary corner in the NFL. 

1 hour ago, Pine Barrens Mafia said:

 

Joe Marino, man, I'm listening to the guy right now, he's a cheerleader.

 

 

He is. But he is right on Benford.

18 minutes ago, HappyDays said:

 

I watched him walk step for step with Hollywood Brown in the AFCCG and then break up an on target pass. I watched him do the same with DeAndre Hopkins in the regular season matchup. And again against Amon-Ra St. Brown, with coverage tight enough to force a fumble after the catch. I think the whole "zone only" narrative is completely overblown. He can cover and he's very physical. In a way I think that perceptions about our scheme actually makes people discount him, rather than the other way around.

 

And the fact he is a 6th round pick. From Vilanova.

Edited August 7 by GunnerBill

[Royale with Cheese]

18 minutes ago, GunnerBill said:

 

Benford isn't top 5. But he is like very darn close. He is the 6th or 7th best boundary corner in the NFL. 

 

He is. But he is right on Benford.

 

And the fact he is a 6th round pick. From Vilanova.

 

And he signed my son's jersey when we sent to him in the mail.

I forgot, you're from Britain....Royal Mail.