The 2025 Current State of the Buffalo Bills is All on General Manager Brandon Beane

[Dan Darragh]

The big problem with this entire discussion is if you ding either of Beane and McDermott, their replacements will be hired by the people who brought you Rex Ryan and the Sabres front office / coaching staff.

[Mikie2times]

6 minutes ago, Dan Darragh said:

The big problem with this entire discussion is if you ding either of Beane and McDermott, their replacements will be hired by the people who brought you Rex Ryan and the Sabres front office / coaching staff.

Then we should just be like Beane and stay complacent 

[Gregg]

I wonder what the FO would look like if Kim had remained healthy. She was the one behind the purchase of the Bills more so than Terry. Remember the video when they ended the playoff drought. They showed the owner's box when the Bills were playing the Dolphins. Terry and Brandon were sitting there watching the game while Kim was in the background pacing back and forth nervously. She even admitted that she took the wins and losses more seriously than Terry. I would have to think she would not be happy the Bills haven't gotten to the Super Bowl with Allen as the QB all this time. She might have fired Beane and McDermott by now or at least put them on notice that their jobs are on the line if they continue to come up short in the playoffs.

[zow2]

When you see stuff like George Pickens in Dallas or DK in Pittsburgh,,, yeah Bean has let Allen down.  He's let all of us fans down. 

 

There's only so many years a GM can go on making a living off 1 out of this world draft pick.

[GunnerBill]

1 hour ago, Gregg said:

I wonder what the FO would look like if Kim had remained healthy. She was the one behind the purchase of the Bills more so than Terry. Remember the video when they ended the playoff drought. They showed the owner's box when the Bills were playing the Dolphins. Terry and Brandon were sitting there watching the game while Kim was in the background pacing back and forth nervously. She even admitted that she took the wins and losses more seriously than Terry. I would have to think she would not be happy the Bills haven't gotten to the Super Bowl with Allen as the QB all this time. She might have fired Beane and McDermott by now or at least put them on notice that their jobs are on the line if they continue to come up short in the playoffs.

 

She was also the one who invited the McDermotts onto the yacht. He was her appointment even more so than Terry's. Maybe she would have been more ruthless too, but she was all in on this coach. 

[Gregg]

Just now, GunnerBill said:

 

She was also the one who invited the McDermotts onto the yacht. He was her appointment even more so than Terry's. Maybe she would have been more ruthless too, but she was all in on this coach. 

 

After 9 years and 8 with Allen I do think she would have done something. Either fire them or put them on notice that their jobs on the line. With Terry it feels like they have 100% job security no matter how the season plays out.

[JP51]

On 10/14/2025 at 1:15 PM, PepeSilvia said:

I think the bigger issue is this can’t be fixed in one or two off seasons. Whiffing on top draft picks and paying complimentary B players like their A’s sets franchises back for years.

 

when you pay your qb 50+ million a year, you have to hit on your draft picks, because you can’t afford to go into free agency and overspend to make up for whiffing. 
 

this has been coming for years. You could see it in the playoffs the last few years. The bills have had the benefit of beating up on a terrible division. Any time they play a good to great qb and wr 1 they get exposed. Any time they play an elite rb they get exposed. This is nothing new.

I used the analogy on another thread... Beane plan is akin to using Fix A Flat 5 times on the same leaky tire... essentially at some point you need to replace the tire...  His overspending on C players in FA and paying them like B+ players has killed us cap wise... his horrific drafting and inability to find star players on defense as well as WR is not the chemical mix you want... it is toxic...  he needs to get rid of Babich at minimum, bring in a major defensive mind, as well as a draft guru to identify players as well as take a step back next year and clear cap space and reset this team... OR we need to get the next regime in here and that will become more painful... but your window with Allen is only so open... they need to do something quickly... if they continue on this path they will have wasted the entirety of a generational talent... and will not be remembered fondly...  

 

For the record, I do not see Pegula cleaning house with the Bills when he may have to do this with the Sabres...  I am also confident that Pegula does not see it this way, he is the path of least resistance, I don't like change.... and I stick with the people I trust despite their obvious results kinda guy... 

On 10/14/2025 at 7:22 PM, LABILLBACKER said:

Too bad there isn't a rating system on NFL scouting depts.  I'd bet the Bills are near the bottom.

McD was the one who encouraged Terry to hire Beane.  McD was also the one who hired Frazier, Smiley, Dorsey, Brady, Babich....maybe Sean needs to look in the mirror and do some reflection on his choices.  You're only as good as the assistants you surround yourself with. To say he (they) haven't had coaching issues outside of 13s is disingenuous. This is a failure of both coaching and player personnel. 

I am rapidly moving to the fire McD camp...  actually, I think I am there and just dont want to admit it... 

Edited 8 hours ago by JP51

[Dan Darragh]

2 hours ago, Mikie2times said:

Then we should just be like Beane and stay complacent 

No, just be careful what you wish for.  Getting rid of Beane doesn't guarantee you a better result, it guarantees you a Terry Pegula hire.  Remember Russ Brandon?

[Mikie2times]

6 minutes ago, Dan Darragh said:

No, just be careful what you wish for.  Getting rid of Beane doesn't guarantee you a better result, it guarantees you a Terry Pegula hire.  Remember Russ Brandon?

If I don’t think we can win a Super Bowl with Beane, I don’t see risk. I’m ok if it gets worse in the pursuit of more. I’m not ok living in a state of fear that we won’t make the playoffs. 

[Returntoglory]

Blah blah blah.

 

To not have a true WR1 to take advantage of Josh's ELITE ARM TALENT, alone, is worthy of dismissal!

 

Everyone eats?

 

Would you rather have a meal that " tides you over" OR a meal that fills you up and completely satisfies you?

 

Josh not having his own Chase & Higgins is unforgivable.

 

How about just one? PLEASE!

[BuffaloRebound]

33 minutes ago, JP51 said:

I used the analogy on another thread... Beane plan is akin to using Fix A Flat 5 times on the same leaky tire... essentially at some point you need to replace the tire...  His overspending on C players in FA and paying them like B+ players has killed us cap wise... his horrific drafting and inability to find star players on defense as well as WR is not the chemical mix you want... it is toxic...  he needs to get rid of Babich at minimum, bring in a major defensive mind, as well as a draft guru to identify players as well as take a step back next year and clear cap space and reset this team... OR we need to get the next regime in here and that will become more painful... but your window with Allen is only so open... they need to do something quickly... if they continue on this path they will have wasted the entirety of a generational talent... and will not be remembered fondly...  

 

For the record, I do not see Pegula cleaning house with the Bills when he may have to do this with the Sabres...  I am also confident that Pegula does not see it this way, he is the path of least resistance, I don't like change.... and I stick with the people I trust despite their obvious results kinda guy... 

I am rapidly moving to the fire McD camp...  actually, I think I am there and just dont want to admit it... 

 

I think Beane is better at his job than McDermott is at his.  

[Lieutenant Aldo Raine]

3 hours ago, FireChans said:

 

A cascading, compounding problem that was like watching a car crash in slow motion.

 

Why did we feel obligated to give Diggs whatever he wanted in 2022 and thus eat an entire contract in 2024 when the relationship became untenable?

 

Because we didn’t have enough of a talent pipeline at WR. 
 

There was no plan for Diggs’ eventual decline. There was no plan to replace Gabe Davis when he priced himself out of Buffalo. The plan to replace Cole Beasley was to promote JAG gadget guy Isaiah McKenzie who predictably was so bad that we had to call a retired Cole Beasley to come back. 
 

We relied on FA bandaids at a position that quickly became the second highest in the NFL. An unsound strategy when the delta between what a rookie deal WR and a FA WR makes has never been higher, and the stars at the position basically never hit FA.

 

It’s drought level QB mismanagement bad. And it’s even worse because we have the Super Bowl caliber QB, so the opportunity cost is ENORMOUS. It has cost us the chance to play in multiple Superbowls thus far imo and may cost us ever getting to the dance at all.

 

Does anyone think we are outscoring the Chiefs in January, even in Buffalo? Does Josh Allen think he can?

 

Spot on

[JP51]

1 minute ago, BuffaloRebound said:

 

I think Beane is better at his job than McDermott is at his.  

I honestly I am on the fence with this one... but lets put it this way, if Beane is bringing in great players (FA Draft)  and its McD not getting enough out of them then I wholeheartedly agree... I think there are a couple of examples (Poona Ford, Elam) that are doing fairly well with their teams... others just seem to twist out there... so, I am in chicken egg mode...  I just know both of those positions need to be upgraded either by the current occupants or others...  Maybe it is ok if Beane brings in a draft guru and McD brings in an elite defensive mind and a better OC...  maybe not... but we are certainly gonna see this play out in the pretty short term here...  

[ChronicAndKnuckles]

13 hours ago, KOKBILLS said:

Purely as a football player, I saw Pickens as a top half of the 1st Rd talent. You can go back and read what I had to say about him leading up to that Draft. He's the guy I wanted. They took Elam... In my defense I don't have access to all the off-the-field stuff the NFL teams have. 

All that being said the Bills as they are run now will never consider Pickens IMHO... George is...well...a little nuts... Now... He has teammates, both in Pittsburgh and now in Dallas that love the guy. They really do... He's also super unpredictable, super immature if things are going bad and he's not getting the ball, late to meetings, late to a game once... But then in interviews teammates have said he's not a bad guy as far as general attitude... Some say he's misunderstood, generally a happy guy... Then some Steelers players came out anonymously after the trade and said some pretty negative things about him in general... So far in Dallas, outside of the unsportsmanlike penalties early, it seems to be OK... 

But again... No way McBeane touch Pickens... Not a chance... 

Stefon Diggs had these same concerns coming out of Minnesota and that didn’t stop the Bills. They still got a solid 4 years production.
 

I feel like Beane thinks he’s gamed the WR system or something because of Josh’s past couple seasons. Sooner or later you need to replenish the talent pool and he’s failed to do that. Even letting critical role players like Hollins slip away to the best division rival.
 

Usually I am all about letting the football guys make the big decisions, but we are seeing even the most obvious things completely unaddressed. Keon Coleman ? Josh Palmer ? These are the boundary receivers you give your MVP QB?

 

At this point, I’d rather put every single dollar into the offensive side of the ball and just try to blow teams out of the water every single week. Hope I can find a few diamonds in the rough on draft day on defense to keep opponents honest. Our late round defenders have been better than our day 1 picks. 

 

Sinking all of the money/resources into a defense that’s going to stink regardless and hoping Allen/Cook/Kincaid can carry an entire team is a ticking time bomb. Better to lure top WR talent here w/ money and a top QB.
 

Imagine having Pickens, Davante Adam’s, and/or Cooper Kupp. All WRs who changes one or more teams over the past 2 years that could’ve been had. And all of these teams have a winning record. 

Edited 7 hours ago by ChronicAndKnuckles

[KOKBILLS]

3 minutes ago, ChronicAndKnuckles said:

Stefon Diggs had these same concerns coming out of Minnesota and that didn’t stop the Bills. They still got a solid 4 years production.
 

I feel like Beane thinks he’s gamed the WR system or something because of Josh’s past couple seasons. Sooner or later you need to replenish the talent pool and he’s failed to do that. Even letting critical role players like Hollins slip away to the best division rival.
 

Usually I am all about letting the football guys make the big decisions, but we are seeing even the most obvious things completely unaddressed. Keon Coleman ? Josh Palmer ? These are the boundary receivers you give your MVP QB?

 

At this point, I’d rather put every single dollar into the offensive side of the ball and just try to blow teams out of the water every single week. Hope I can find a few diamonds in the rough on draft day on defense to keep opponents honest. Our late round defenders have been better than our day 1 picks. 

 

Sinking all of the money/resources into a defense that’s going to stink regardless and hoping Josh Allen/Cook/Kincaid can carry an entire team is a ticking time bomb. Better to lure top WR talent here w/ money and a top QB.
 

Imagine having Pickens, Davante Adam’s, and/or Cooper Kupp. All WRs who changes one or more teams over the past 2 years that could’ve been had. And all of these teams have a winning record. 

I love Pickens as a player... You don't have to sell me on the idea...

I'm just telling you... As far as Beane and McD will see it, Diggs is Mother Teresa compared to Pickens... 

[All_Pro_Bills]

14 minutes ago, BuffaloRebound said:

 

I think Beane is better at his job than McDermott is at his.  

Its an interesting choice one or the other. I think Beane is the bigger problem. I think he sees himself as a contrarian that has the ability to identify traits and qualities in players that other teams are missing. He trades up for players that he values more than the consensus. Like moving up to take Sanders this year surrendering two later 2nd rounders. A player that might have been there if he stayed put. Or an equivalent player available with the same value. He did hit on Walker taking a risk. But all they've gotten from the 2025 draft is a good DT and a blocking TE that has a couple notable catches. The rest of the draft isn't contributing anything. The pipeline isn't being replenished. Talent-wise I think this roster peaked out at 13 seconds and has slowly regressed each season since. That to me is the biggest issue with the Bills. 

 

The problem is most times the contrarian is wrong and the consensus is right. And while the Bills have spent 1/2 of Allen's career on roster moves that have moved them no closer to the Super Bowl other teams, like the Patriots, have methodically restocked their teams and look like serious challengers going forward.

Edited 7 hours ago by All_Pro_Bills

[BuffaloRebound]

3 minutes ago, All_Pro_Bills said:

Its an interesting choice one or the other. I think Beane is the bigger problem. I think he sees himself as a contrarian that has the ability to identify traits and qualities in players that other teams are missing. He trades up for players that he values more than the consensus. Like moving up to take Sanders this year surrendering two later 2nd rounders. A player that might have been there if he stayed put. Or an equivalent player available with the same value. He did hit on Walker taking a risk. But all they've gotten from the 2025 draft is a good DT and a blocking TE that has a couple notable catches. The rest of the draft isn't contributing anything. The pipeline isn't being replenished. Talent-wise I think this roster peaked out at 13 seconds and has slowly regressed each season since. That to me is the biggest issue with the Bills. 

 

The problem is most times the contrarian is wrong and the consensus is right.

Every GM has whiffs.  Bosa was one of best pickups across the League this year.  Walker in the 4th round.  Benford in the 6th.  Spencer Brown in the 3rd round.  The interior of our O Line was all brought in the last couple of years.  

Even when we supposedly had good defenses, they completely folded every year in the playoffs.  Not to mention McDermott is a net negative at the end of close games.  

I’d rank Beane as top 8 GM.  I’d put McDermott as a top 12-15 coach.  If I’m Pegula, I’m keeping 1 of them unless I can get a McVey and I’d lean Beane because I believe you’re never getting to a Suoer Bowl with McDermott.  

[Pete]

On 10/14/2025 at 11:22 AM, ngbills said:

Other than Allen there is nothing Beane has done that any GM could do. Even just throwing darts or picking names from a hat for drafts and free agency would yield at least similar results. Especially since the focus seems to be on swing for singles and rarely taking chances. The Von Miller signing is really the only high risk move they’ve made and that did not work out.

I always liked Beane, but him screwing over Josh, and him not knowing ***** about WR(Kelvin Benjamin, Keon, Crazy Antonio Brown, etc) make me dislike him.  
 

When I get time, I’m going to do a deep dive the WR opportunity costs when we draft tomato cans such as Dwane and Landon.  We continually whiff on defense, and continually waste draft picks trying to get it right.  But Beane does not do ***** to help out Josh.

 

Lack of separation is getting Josh pummeled.  For that - FU Beane and Brady!

[KOKBILLS]

55 minutes ago, Pete said:

I always liked Beane, but him screwing over Josh, and him not knowing ***** about WR(Kelvin Benjamin, Keon, Crazy Antonio Brown, etc) make me dislike him.  
 

When I get time, I’m going to do a deep dive the WR opportunity costs when we draft tomato cans such as Dwane and Landon.  We continually whiff on defense, and continually waste draft picks trying to get it right.  But Beane does not do ***** to help out Josh.

 

Lack of separation is getting Josh pummeled.  For that - FU Beane and Brady!

You and I agree on this point for sure...

But honestly I think it's worse... Watch that Boutte TD in the NE/Tenn game yesterday... That's a 4.50 WR blowing by 2 DB's because NE dares to run him deep basically... It's not even play action. Just a straight shotgun snap. And both DB's are so ridiculously slow to react Boutte runs by them like he's Xavier Worthy... Keep in mind he runs right by the CB and a S... I don't think the Bills even have that in their playbook anymore... Go back to the Dabol days and we did it all the time. When Brown and then Sanders were here we mostly did it with Gabe Davis... We don't attack anymore... We don't have the mindset... And that has really taken it's toll. 

[FireChans]

4 hours ago, Dan Darragh said:

The big problem with this entire discussion is if you ding either of Beane and McDermott, their replacements will be hired by the people who brought you Rex Ryan and the Sabres front office / coaching staff.

Nothing ventured, nothing gained.

 

Maybe the next coach rattles off 4 straight Superbowls and becomes the greatest coach in history.

 

i don’t think there’s a coach alive who could only manage 4 wins with Josh at QB. I really don’t. 
 

So when we are talking downside, I see it more as if we hire a demonstrably worse HC/GM than our current ones, we will likely be similar to the Bengals the last two years. A .500 ish team that is in the hunt all years and is still exciting. Is that much different than an 11 win team that we all know is dead in the water when the Chiefs come to town?

 

to me, it’s not. 
 

I am basically okay with the small potential risk of barely making the playoffs as a WC or just missing in pursuit of the large potential upside of finally being able to beat KC and get to the big game. Some folks may not be. But I’m there and I’ve been there.