Buffalo Bills GM Brandon Beane Defends Team’s Draft Strategy Amid Criticism

Buffalo Bills GM Brandon Beane Defends Team’s Draft Strategy Amid Criticism

BUFFALO, N.Y. — In the world of sports, few things stir up as much debate as the NFL Draft. Every year, fans and analysts alike dissect each team’s picks, often with a critical eye. This year, the Buffalo Bills found themselves in the spotlight, and not necessarily for the reasons they might have hoped. The team’s general manager, Brandon Beane, recently made headlines with his candid response to criticism regarding the Bills’ approach to the wide receiver position.

During a Monday morning appearance on WGR550’s “The Jeremy and Joe Show,” Beane didn’t hold back. He kicked off the interview by addressing the ongoing discussion about the team’s draft strategy, particularly the perceived lack of investment in wide receivers. “Well, you guys were bitching in 2018 about Josh Allen, you guys wanted Josh Rosen, and now you guys are bitching that we don’t have a receiver,” Beane remarked.

Beane’s frustration was palpable as he pointed out the team’s offensive success. “We just scored 30 points in a row for eight straight games,” he noted. “A year ago, I get you guys asking why we didn’t have receivers, but I don’t understand it now. You just saw us lead the league in points, when you add all the postseason, no one scored more points than the Buffalo Bills, including the Super Bowl champions.”

Before Beane joined the show, the hosts had been discussing the Bills’ lack of movement to address the wide receiver position. One of the hosts, Jeremy White, commented that “relative to [the Bills’] peers, they do not invest in the [wide receiver] position.”

Beane, however, was quick to defend the team’s strategy. “Our job … it’s not fantasy football to trot out the best receivers,” he explained. “You got Josh Allen. First thing you gotta do is protect him. You can’t have everything. You can’t have Pro Bowl wide receivers and have a Pro Bowl offensive line and an All-Pro quarterback and three great running backs. You gotta pick.”

Indeed, the Bills’ offense has been a force to be reckoned with. Allen was named MVP for the 2024 season, and under the guidance of offensive coordinator Joe Brady, the team set franchise records for points (525) and touchdowns (65) in a single season.

Despite the criticism, the Bills did make some moves in the offseason. They added wide receiver Joshua Palmer in free agency, although Mack Hollins signed with the New England Patriots and midseason addition Amari Cooper remains unsigned. In the draft, the Bills selected wide receiver Kaden Prather from Maryland in the seventh round, while focusing their early picks on defense.

• The Bills addressed defense with their first five picks, targeting the defensive line and cornerback positions.
• In 2024, the team selected wide receiver Keon Coleman with pick No. 33 and traded up to pick tight end Dalton Kincaid in 2023.
• Both Coleman and Kincaid dealt with injuries in 2024.

Beane emphasized that the team stuck to its draft board, selecting the best players available. “Like I said, the other day, best player on the board was a receiver, I promise you, we would have taken him at the time,” Beane stated. “That is not how we valued it. And so that’s what we, that’s what we did. Right or wrong, that’s just how I feel like you build a team.”

As the dust settles on the draft, it’s clear that Beane and the Bills are confident in their approach. While some may question their decisions, the team’s recent success speaks for itself. With a potent offense and a bolstered defense, the Bills are poised to make another strong run in the upcoming season.