Brandon Beane - failing Josh Allen

[UKBillFan]

For all the finger pointing at Beane, he doesn't draft in a silo. McDermott surely has a big say on who he wants too, particularly on defense and where he wants to focus picks when it comes to the roster? Plus wasn't Josh the one who asked for Coleman?

[Dr.Sack]

Beane 0 WRs rd 1. That is an epic failure. 

[Simon]

1 hour ago, mjt328 said:

 

So how do you judge a General Manager, if not for the success of the players he brings in and the construction of the roster?

 

How many failed players does Beane need to bring in (let's say at the WR position), before you start to question whether the guy actually has any clue what he's doing? 

• His draft selections at the position (in order) include Ray-Ray McCloud, Austin Proehl, Gabe Davis, Isaiah Hodgins, Marquez Stevenson, Khalil Shakir, Justin Shorter, Keon Coleman and Kaden Prather.  In other words, he hasn't picked a SINGLE STARTING CALIBER outside WR in his eight years of running the team.  I like Shakir, but he's a slot who doesn't seem to be good for more than catching screens and getting YAC.

• His first year with tons of cap space, Beane landed Cole Beasley (another good slot receiver) and John Brown (solid #2 and deep threat for 1 season before completely falling off).  Since that point, he's wasted money on names like Emmanuel Sanders, Jamison Crowder, Deonte Hardy, Trent Sherfield, Mack Hollins, Curtis Samuel and Josh Palmer.  Again, almost zero help on the outside.

• In trades, he watched Kelvin Benjamin up-close for years, and decided he was the trade target for his rookie QB.  That worked out great.  Beane's best decision ever at the WR position was then trading a 1st Round Pick for Stefon Diggs.  And even then, we got to watch the Vikings use that same pick on Justin Jefferson, and then have Diggs force his way off the team 4 years later.

 

So in 8 years, Beane's only success at finding an outside WR for his future Hall of Fame Quarterback was to trade a 1st Round Pick for a disgruntled veteran with a history of throwing teammates under the bus.  Which of course he eventually did here too.  He got one good season from Smoke Brown.  One solid season from Sanders.  Nobody else he's brought in is better than a #3-4 WR in the NFL.  

 

I can do this at almost any position on the roster.  How many infinite resources will it take to finally assemble a strong D-Line?  And how was Beane doing at building that O-Line before Aaron Kromer single-handedly fixed everything.  How has that secondary been since the players Beane inherited (Tre White, Jordan Poyer, Micah Hyde) aged out?  

 

 

My response was not to the OP, it was to a thread that has now been merged into this one.

1 hour ago, Pete said:

So is this a reactionary thread that we need WRs that can separate quickly?  I thought I have read 1, or 100s of Posts that Josh needs better WRs

 

That was response was to a different thread that has now been merged into this one.

[starrymessenger]

33 minutes ago, UKBillFan said:

For all the finger pointing at Beane, he doesn't draft in a silo. McDermott surely has a big say on who he wants too, particularly on defense and where he wants to focus picks when it comes to the roster? Plus wasn't Josh the one who asked for Coleman?

Not just that. McD doesn't just evaluate the prospects but I suspect he prioritizes the D over the O. In Josh he trusts. If it wasn't for Allen he'd be out of a job. 

[mjt328]

2 hours ago, fitzMASTERchief said:

Well if the metric is did BBB draft a hall of famer? That would be Josh.

 

Good picks were: James Cook, Taron Johnson, Wyatt Teller, Shakir, Edmunds, Benford, Oliver...Maybe Walker

 

Notice that most of the positions Beane actually hits on are "non-premium" positions.

 

It's a lot easier to draft a Running Back or Guard than a #1 Outside Receiver or Left Tackle. 

It's a lot easier to draft a Linebacker or Nickel Cornerback than an Edge Rusher or Shut-Down Outside Cornerback.

 

Beane was gifted a LT (Dawkins) and All-Pros on the back-end (Milano, White, Poyer, Hyde)... all by the previous GM.

He lucked into Allen with his #1 Pick, traded for Diggs... and pretty much hasn't done anything worthwhile since.

Benford and Bernard are proving to be one-year wonders.

 

Can't hit on Edge Rusher.  Can't hit on Outside WR.  Can't hit on CB.  

Now that his team is aging out, he can't hit on Safety or LB either.

 

[Big Blitz]

 

Isaiah McKenzie (re-signed)
- Brandon Powell
- Lance Lenoir
- Jake Kumerow (re-signed)
- Jamison Crowder
- Deonte Harty
- Trent Sherfield
- Andy Isabella
- Tyrell Shavers
- Curtis Samuel
- Mack Hollins
- Quintez Cephus
- Chase Claypool
- Marquez Valdes-Scantling
- Deon Cain
- Damiere Byrd
- Jalen Virgil
- K.J. Hamler
- Laviska Shenault Jr.
- Elijah Moore

 

Drafted:
Day 1️⃣: 0
Day 2️⃣: 1
- Keon Coleman (R2)
Day 3️⃣: 6
- Gabe Davis (R4)
- Isaiah Hodgins (R6)
- Marquez Stevenson (R6)
- Khalil Shakir (R5)
- Justin Shorter (R5)
- Kaden Prather (R7)

 

Acquired:
- Amari Cooper (half-year rental)

 

 

Yikes.  

Edited yesterday at 04:01 AM by Big Blitz

[Mikie2times]

2 minutes ago, Big Blitz said:

 

Isaiah McKenzie (re-signed)
- Brandon Powell
- Lance Lenoir
- Jake Kumerow (re-signed)
- Jamison Crowder
- Deonte Harty
- Trent Sherfield
- Andy Isabella
- Tyrell Shavers
- Curtis Samuel
- Mack Hollins
- Quintez Cephus
- Chase Claypool
- Marquez Valdes-Scantling
- Deon Cain
- Damiere Byrd
- Jalen Virgil
- K.J. Hamler
- Laviska Shenault Jr.
- Elijah Moore

 

Drafted:
Day 1️⃣: 0
Day 2️⃣: 1
- Keon Coleman (R2)
Day 3️⃣: 6
- Gabe Davis (R4)
- Isaiah Hodgins (R6)
- Marquez Stevenson (R6)
- Khalil Shakir (R5)
- Justin Shorter (R5)
- Kaden Prather (R7)

 

Acquired:
- Amari Cooper (half-year rental)

 

 

Yikes.  

If you really want to jump off a bridge look at his history in Carolina. This is who he is. Diggs is the absolute crown jewel of his WR acquisitions over his entire career. 

[DJB]

 

[TheFunPolice]

On 10/14/2025 at 9:47 AM, UKBillFan said:

For all the finger pointing at Beane, he doesn't draft in a silo. McDermott surely has a big say on who he wants too, particularly on defense and where he wants to focus picks when it comes to the roster? Plus wasn't Josh the one who asked for Coleman?

 

I also thought this, but then it seems like McDermott often is reluctant to play the guys Beane drafts, especially early rounders. 

 

Later round guys seem to do much better, which is odd. It makes me wonder if someone is more involved early and less involved late or something. It defies logic. 

 

IMO McDermott is going to get Allen's entire career, so the best we can hope for is a GM who does a better job at building the roster and has a little bit of independence from McD. 

 

I have major issues with McDermott's defensive scheme, but no doubt it would look better if Beane's DL or S picks were better. 

Edited 10 hours ago by TheFunPolice

[Success]

He can atone for everything w/ a blockbuster trade this week.

 

[Big Blitz]

If you traded every one of those firsts we’d be better off.  Maybe one them goes for Maxx Crosby idk.  
 

 

 

The other problem is the second contracts to guys that aren’t all pros.  Just nice players. 
 

That’s fine, arguably.  But your drafts better produce more than what we’ve done.  
 

Example - maybe Shakir should have been expendable bc of the 2024 draft.  You take Ladd let Shakir go.  Money saved and position upgraded.  
 

Im not saying that was the move to make.  But that’s the kind of approach we didn’t take when it came to the second contracts and roster construction - only Benford and Cook are truly worth it.  

 

[Niagara Dude]

On 10/13/2025 at 10:33 PM, Big Blitz said:

First question.  

 

How much of this is Beane’s roster or McD?

 

 

They say it’s Beane.  That’s what I’m operating on.  Coaching is an issue for sure especially on defense.   
 

But this is 2025 it’s tough to build and maintain a great defense that lacks Hall of Fame D lineman.  
 

And he’s had 8 years to find that centerpiece.  
 

Fail.  
 

 

Weapons on offense.  He recognizes we needed Diggs.  Then felt Josh is so super human we’re going to go with guys at WR no one should ever fear.  
 

And that along with a bunch of other moves on defense is why this season is about to spiral out of control.  Rapp.  Bishop.  CB2 was going to be a rookie or Tre White. 
 

We banked on Mr. Glass Milano who’s already next to an injury prone Bernard.  
 

 

Mess.  A total mess of a roster.   
 

 

CREDIT - he got Oline right.  After 6 years of trying - realizing Quinton Spain was a bad idea.   
 

And James Cook has developed.  
 

This isn’t on coaching.  At least half the league has a better roster than us.  And some significantly so.  

End of the day he missed last season in getting a true #1 receiver,  traded Diggs and said give him and then used argument this season no help needed because we scored points last year