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

[Mike in Horseheads]

11 hours ago, Virgil said:

 

2 years, 6 mil.  I wouldn't consider that to be a big loss.  A back-up role where he can support multiple positions makes sense for him though.  

Backup on a bad OL that gets Burrow killed every year

[ChronicAndKnuckles]

20 hours ago, unbillievable said:

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

Usually a situation the Bills are on the other side of 

[Ethan in Cleveland]

Since the OP specifically said the McBeane era, then Stephon Gilmore is the player that did the most after leaving Buffalo.  It's not even close. SuperBowl win, Defensive MVP in 2019, two First team All-Pro selections in 2018 and 2019. Five time Pro Bowl selection.

 

[Pine Barrens Mafia]

Wyatt Teller 

On 8/6/2025 at 4:38 AM, BringMetheHeadofLeonLett said:

Is the argument that the players who leave the Bills generally suck?   Because I haven't seen a single one of our current players win a Super Bowl here.  

Brandon Beane has made precisely ONE outstanding pick in his tenure.

 

He just doesn't hit home runs. I'm sure this will offend many, but it's the truth. 

[Royale with Cheese]

4 hours ago, Pine Barrens Mafia said:

Wyatt Teller 

Brandon Beane has made precisely ONE outstanding pick in his tenure.

 

He just doesn't hit home runs. I'm sure this will offend many, but it's the truth. 

Wyatt Teller didn’t leave as a FA.

[SoTier]

 

On 8/6/2025 at 4:38 AM, BringMetheHeadofLeonLett said:

Is the argument that the players who leave the Bills generally suck?   Because I haven't seen a single one of our current players win a Super Bowl here.  

 

I'm not sure what the OP's argument is, but to my mind, the Bills don't let most of their best players walk out the door without compensation.  That's in marked contrast to the way the Bills operated before Beane was given full GM powers in 2018.  The firing of Russ Brandon in May,2018, who was the boss of both the Bills and the Sabres at the time, was the best thing that ever happened to the Bills in the 21st century because it changed the philosophy of the team from prioritizing profits over winning to making winning the team's #1 goal.   I have no doubt that if Brandon was still the head honcho, the Bills would be a team that struggles to make the playoffs because they wouldn't be committed to winning, much like the Bengals.

 

15 hours ago, NoName said:

What about MVS?  He did some good things after leaving us.

 

Marshawn Lynch did as well.

 

Zack Moss also did better after he left,

 

Marshawn was traded away in 2010, long before the McBeane era. 

 

8 hours ago, Ethan in Cleveland said:

Since the OP specifically said the McBeane era, then Stephon Gilmore is the player that did the most after leaving Buffalo.  It's not even close. SuperBowl win, Defensive MVP in 2019, two First team All-Pro selections in 2018 and 2019. Five time Pro Bowl selection.

 

 

Stephon Gilmore predates Beane being named GM.   Doug Whaley was still the Bills GM through the 2017 draft, although McDermott probably ran that draft.  Beane was hired as GM in the summer of 2017.  After the fiasco with Rex Ryan, Pegula returned control of the Bills to Russ Brandon (and gave him control of the Sabres as well), so Beane didn't have full control of the Bills until Brandon was fired.  Brandon wouldn't pay market value for homegrown talent, although he did occasionally splurge on a big name FA to put butts in the seats. 

 

Between 2006 and 2018, the Bills:

  signed FA Terrell Owens (2009);

  traded All Pro LT Jason Peters for a late first rounder (2009);

  traded Pro Bowl and future All Pro RB Marshawn Lynch for a 4th rounder (2010);

  signed FA Mario Williams (2012);

  allowed Pro Bowl and future All Pro CB Stephon Gilmore to walk in FA (2017).

 

 

[Pine Barrens Mafia]

43 minutes ago, Royale with Cheese said:

Wyatt Teller didn’t leave as a FA.

went to another team though, and did have success, he's the only answer remotely close to the question that applies

 

[Royale with Cheese]

12 minutes ago, Pine Barrens Mafia said:

went to another team though, and did have success, he's the only answer remotely close to the question that applies

 

 

The question specifically applies to a player left in Free Agency.

I mean it's in the title.

[BuffaloBillyG]

Kelvin Benjamin had a HUGE impact on the Chiefs and Giants buffet lines in the cafeteria. 

 

Oh wait. He was cut not a FA. Disregard.

[billsfan89]

5 hours ago, Pine Barrens Mafia said:

Wyatt Teller 

Brandon Beane has made precisely ONE outstanding pick in his tenure.

 

He just doesn't hit home runs. I'm sure this will offend many, but it's the truth. 

 

He drafted one of the best right tackles in the league in round 3 and he drafted one of the best corners in the league in round 6. I would say both of those picks were "homeruns" and I think we could be looking at several other picks like Shakir and Torrence in that same light soon...

[Royale with Cheese]

2 minutes ago, BuffaloBillyG said:

Kelvin Benjamin had a HUGE impact on the Chiefs and Giants buffet lines in the cafeteria. 

 

Oh wait. He was cut not a FA. Disregard.

 

You know how we have joked about putting a slow big WR at TE to see how they would do?  Well, the Giants actually did it with Benjamin because he was so fat.

[Pine Barrens Mafia]

3 minutes ago, billsfan89 said:

 

He drafted one of the best right tackles in the league in round 3 and he drafted one of the best corners in the league in round 6. I would say both of those picks were "homeruns" and I think we could be looking at several other picks like Shakir and Torrence in that same light soon...

 

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. 

 

Edited August 7 by Pine Barrens Mafia

[Royale with Cheese]

2 minutes 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.

 

https://billswire.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/bills/2025/05/26/espn-bills-christian-benford-the-most-underrated-cb-in-the-nfl/83840299007/
 

“In 2023, Benford ranked 18th in my coverage DVOA metric among qualified corners. Last season, he climbed up to fourth overall. He was targeted on 10.1% of passes when he was on the field, one of the lowest figures in the league, and he allowed just 6.1 yards per target.“

[billsfan89]

2 minutes 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 put the caveat that Shakir could take a step up and be one of the best slot WR's in the league which getting that in round 5 would be a home run. Benford grades out extremely well in all the advanced metrics, he's an elite top 5-10 corner which for a round 6 pick is a home run. 

[ChronicAndKnuckles]

On 8/6/2025 at 2:43 AM, Special K said:

You can throw in players that were cut as well....

 

The only player that comes to mind is Harrison Phillips with the Vikings.

 

The Bills really have done a great job of retaining the right players, and letting the right ones walk.

As much as people hate Tremaine Edmunds, he’s been productive & healthy in Chicago and has never recorded a season under 100 tackles since coming to the league. 

Edited August 7 by ChronicAndKnuckles

[billsfan89]

7 minutes ago, ChronicAndKnuckles said:

As much as people hate Tremaine Edmunds, he’s been productive & healthy in Chicago and has never recorded a season under 100 tackles since coming to the league. 

 

I don't think anyone is saying Edmunds isn't a starting caliber player. But last season he was the third highest paid LB the season before in terms of cash spent he was the highest. He's a solid player being paid like an elite one. In fact Edmunds will probably either be cut or have his contract massively restructured after this season given that his cap his for next season is 17.4 million (which would be a top 7ish LB salary) and the dead cap is only 2.4 million. 

[Royale with Cheese]

23 minutes ago, billsfan89 said:

 

I don't think anyone is saying Edmunds isn't a starting caliber player. But last season he was the third highest paid LB the season before in terms of cash spent he was the highest. He's a solid player being paid like an elite one. In fact Edmunds will probably either be cut or have his contract massively restructured after this season given that his cap his for next season is 17.4 million (which would be a top 7ish LB salary) and the dead cap is only 2.4 million. 

 

Edmunds is a singles hitter when he's paid to be a guy that drives the ball in the gaps or hitting it over the fence.

[RoscoeParrish]

1 hour 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 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.

[Ethan in Cleveland]

3 hours ago, SoTier said:

 

 

I'm not sure what the OP's argument is, but to my mind, the Bills don't let most of their best players walk out the door without compensation.  That's in marked contrast to the way the Bills operated before Beane was given full GM powers in 2018.  The firing of Russ Brandon in May,2018, who was the boss of both the Bills and the Sabres at the time, was the best thing that ever happened to the Bills in the 21st century because it changed the philosophy of the team from prioritizing profits over winning to making winning the team's #1 goal.   I have no doubt that if Brandon was still the head honcho, the Bills would be a team that struggles to make the playoffs because they wouldn't be committed to winning, much like the Bengals.

 

 

Marshawn was traded away in 2010, long before the McBeane era. 

 

 

Stephon Gilmore predates Beane being named GM.   Doug Whaley was still the Bills GM through the 2017 draft, although McDermott probably ran that draft.  Beane was hired as GM in the summer of 2017.  After the fiasco with Rex Ryan, Pegula returned control of the Bills to Russ Brandon (and gave him control of the Sabres as well), so Beane didn't have full control of the Bills until Brandon was fired.  Brandon wouldn't pay market value for homegrown talent, although he did occasionally splurge on a big name FA to put butts in the seats. 

 

Between 2006 and 2018, the Bills:

  signed FA Terrell Owens (2009);

  traded All Pro LT Jason Peters for a late first rounder (2009);

  traded Pro Bowl and future All Pro RB Marshawn Lynch for a 4th rounder (2010);

  signed FA Mario Williams (2012);

  allowed Pro Bowl and future All Pro CB Stephon Gilmore to walk in FA (2017).

 

 

The Mc in McBeane is McDermott thus it is his era. He was making the player decisions then and he signed off on letting Gilmore walk. 

[HappyDays]

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.

 

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.