{"id":689999,"date":"2026-01-20T01:01:18","date_gmt":"2026-01-20T01:01:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/689999\/"},"modified":"2026-01-20T01:01:18","modified_gmt":"2026-01-20T01:01:18","slug":"hard-to-believe-bills-fact-proves-brandon-beanes-draft-record-worse-than-it-seems","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/689999\/","title":{"rendered":"Hard-to-believe Bills’ fact proves Brandon Beane’s draft record worse than it seems"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Buffalo Bills<\/a> selected quarterback Josh Allen during general manager Brandon Beane’s first draft at the helm. <\/p>\n

It’s perfectly rational to claim that Beane’s first pick is the lone reason why he remains in his position to this day. <\/p>\n

For since that 2018 draft haul, which also included linebacker Tremaine Edmunds and nickel cornerback Taron Johnson, Beane’s springtime success has been average at best. Quite frankly, some of his subsequent early-round gaffes are arguably grounds for dismissal. <\/p>\n

RELATED: Bills suffer another playoff exit due to same Sean McDermott-rooted shortcomings<\/a><\/p>\n

The Beane backers will point to the late-round gems like the aforementioned Johnson or sixth-rounder Christian Benford in 2022. Wide receiver Khalil Shakir was selected one round prior to Benford that same spring. Unfortunately, for every uncovered Day 3 gem, there’s been an early-round blunder under Beane’s watch. <\/p>\n

Unquestionably, the most impactful miss has been 2022 first-round cornerback Kaiir Elam, who was mind-numbingly underwhelming throughout his three seasons with the Bills. <\/p>\n

MORE: Brandon Beane unfairly survives Bills’ purge despite multiple on-the-job failures<\/a><\/p>\n

Then, in 2024, Beane traded out of Round 1 and proceeded to select wide receiver Keon Coleman at No. 33 overall. Over the past two seasons, the Bills found it necessary to discipline Coleman on three separate occasions due to lack of punctuality and professionalism<\/a>. <\/p>\n

\"Keon<\/p>\n

Buffalo Bills wide receiver Keon Coleman fumbles the ball while being pursued by New England Patriots linebacker Robert Spillane during first half action at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park on Oct. 5, 2025. The Patriots recovered the fumble. | Tina MacIntyre-Yee\/Democrat and Chronicle \/ USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images<\/p>\n

Staggering fact uncovered<\/p>\n

The Bills have drafted 56 players from 2019 through 2025, and only two of them \u2014 tight end Dawson Knox (2019) and running back James Cook (2022) \u2014 ever earned a Pro Bowl selection with the franchise (offensive guard Wyatt Teller has earned three Pro Bowl nods since being traded to the Cleveland Browns).<\/p>\n

MORE: Brandon Beane’s 5 biggest draft busts of last 6 years<\/a><\/p>\n

While he’s done well in the late rounds as a whole, it’s worth noting that he wasted fifth-round picks on linebacker Vosean Joseph and quarterback Jake Fromm. Beane has also shown a tendency to spend draft capital to trade up the board, doing so for Elam in 2022 and tight end Dalton Kincaid in 2023.<\/p>\n

Since drafting Josh Allen in 2018, the Bills have drafted 56 players.<\/p>\n

2 of them (James Cook and Dawson Knox) have made Pro Bowls.<\/p>\n

\u2014 Benjamin Solak (@BenjaminSolak) January 19, 2026<\/a>Ignoring WR<\/p>\n

Other than trading a 2020 first-rounder for Stefon Diggs, Beane never dedicated a Round 1 selection to the wide receiver position. The Bills have drafted only one non-Day 3 wide receiver \u2014 the aforementioned Coleman <\/a>\u2014 during Beane’s reign. <\/p>\n

In 2019, the Bills moved up in Round 2 to draft offensive lineman Cody Ford. Wide receivers AJ Brown and DK Metcalf were both selected later that round. <\/p>\n

MORE: NFL execs share thoughts on Brandon Beane’s response to WR-related draft criticism<\/a><\/p>\n

Although every team passed on wide receiver Puka Nacua on multiple turns through the 2023 draft order, it’s worth noting that the Bills used a fifth-round pick on wide receiver Justin Shorter 27 selections prior to Nacua going to the Los Angeles Rams. Current Green Bay Packers’ wide receiver Dontayvion Wicks was also available to the Bills when they chose Shorter, who wound up never playing a game for Buffalo.<\/p>\n

This past spring, Beane waited until Pick No. 240<\/a> to add a wide receiver, essentially using a throwaway selection on Kaden Prather<\/a>, who wasn’t even good enough to earn a practice squad spot. <\/p>\n

\"Cody<\/p>\n

Jan 4, 2020; Houston, Texas, USA; Houston Texans defensive end J.J. Watt (99) rushes the passer during the first quarter against Buffalo Bills offensive tackle Cody Ford (70) in the AFC Wild Card NFL Playoff game at NRG Stadium. | Troy Taormina-Imagn Images<\/p>\n

Beane’s notable draft duds <\/p>\n

2024 \u2014 WR Keon Coleman (Round 2)<\/p>\n

2022 \u2014 CB Kaiir Elam (Round 1) <\/p>\n

2021 \u2014 DE Boogie Basham (Round 2) <\/p>\n

2020 \u2014 RB Zack Moss (Round 3) <\/p>\n

2019 \u2014 OL Cody Ford (Round 2)<\/p>\n

MORE: Bills’ weak All-Pro representation raises question on Brandon Beane’s job performance<\/a><\/p>\n

\"Boogie<\/p>\n

Bengals quarterback rolls to his left to escape pressure from Bills Boogie Basham. | JAMIE GERMANO \/ USA TODAY NETWORK<\/p>\n

\u2014\u00a0Sign up for OnSI\u2019s Free Buffalo Bills Newsletter<\/a>\u00a0\u2014<\/p>\n

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