Beane’s best draft selection helped to turn a once-dreadful Bills franchise completely around.
While it may take some time for a pick in the NFL Draft to be considered a “hit,” general manager Brandon Beane and the Buffalo Bills have an impressive hit list. Like everyone in his position, Beane has his fair share of misses, which were shared in these pages via last week’s column. Fortunately for Bills Mafia, there are plenty of picks in the Beane era that can be celebrated.
As I mentioned last week, a significant sample size is needed for someone to be considered a hit. O’Cyrus Torrence has been a very nice player for the Bills, but two seasons is not enough time to judge a player as a hit or a miss. Hopefully as he continues to develop, we could see Torrence on this list next year.
Josh Allen — 2018 NFL Draft, Round 1 (Pick 7)
In fairness to the magnitude of this selection, Josh Allen could get an article all to himself. Beane deserves credit for his confidence in selecting Allen — who was arguably the most polarizing prospect in the 2018 NFL Draft. I remember how fans, media members, and draft pundits spent countless hours evaluating the quarterback prospects, with Allen traditionally being thought of as a massive project.
Beane also deserves credit for making two trades to maneuver into the top ten. In a masterful move, Beane packaged Cordy Glenn and pick 21 in the first round, sending them to the Cincinnati Bengals for pick 12. It was a curious trade for the Bengals, as Glenn was coming off two injury-plagued seasons in 2016 and 2017. Beane had to make one more trade on draft night, packaging picks 12, 53, and 56 — sending them to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for pick seven. The rest is history, as Allen continues his stellar career with the Bills.
Taron Johnson — 2018 NFL Draft, Round 4 (Pick 121)
A mainstay in Buffalo’s secondary, Taron Johnson has been an integral piece of the team’s defense. It took a couple of seasons for Johnson to blossom into a star shortly after being benched in the 2020 season. Johnson was named second-team All-Pro in 2023, and continues to shine for the Bills as a former fourth-round pick
Spencer Brown — 2021 NFL Draft, Round 3 (Pick 93)
When the Bills selected Brown in the 2021 NFL Draft, many fans were blown away by his size (6’9”, 3ll pounds) and his athleticism (a perfect 10 RAS score). While seen by many as a project in the post-COVID era, Brown became a starter at right tackle following Cody Ford’s benching in 2021. Despite some early struggles, Brown has developed into one of the most dependable tackles in the NFL. Brown was awarded for his production with a four-year, $72 million contract extension prior to the 2024 season.
Christian Benford — 2022 NFL Draft, Round 6 (Pick 185)
While the 2022 NFL Draft produced one of Beane’s biggest draft misses in cornerback Kaiir Elam, it also featured one of his biggest hits in Christian Benford. The Villanova product was an afterthought by most, as a versatile defensive back who excelled at the 1-AA level. I, like many fans, were surprised when Benford was introduced as the starter in Week 1 — spending the early part of the season platooning with Elam. Benford has developed into one of the top cornerbacks in the league, and earned a four-year, $69 million contract extension this offseason.
Khalil Shakir – 2022 NFL Draft, Round 5 (Pick 148)
There has been plenty of conversation around the Bills wide receiving corps in recent weeks (years if I’m being honest). Through all of the draft picks, free agents, and trades, it’s Khalil Shakir who has developed into Buffalo’s most-consistent receiving threat. Shakir had 76 receptions for 821 yards and four touchdowns in 2024, appearing in just 15 games. While the statistical progression has been impressive over the last three seasons, Shakir’s rapport with Allen stands out on the field as QB17’s most trusted and dependable target. Shakir also earned a contract extension this year, signing a new four-year, $53 million deal.
Honorable Mention
James Cook (2022, Round 2), Terrel Bernard (2022, Round 3), Damar Hamlin (2021, Round 6), Gabe Davis (2020, Round 4), Dane Jackson (2020, Round 7)
What do you think, Rumblers? Let me know if there are any other draft hits I may have missed from Brandon Beane’s tenure to this point in time.