Does any class stand a chance of unseating the one that brought Josh Allen to One Bills Drive?
General manager Brandon Beane is heading into his eighth draft with the Buffalo Bills. In his tenure with the team, Beane has helped bring the Bills back to prominence and given the franchise a playoff-worthy roster in six of his seven years.
Beane will always be known as the guy who drafted the NFL MVP to play quarterback for the Buffalo Bills. That’s about as big of a home run as anyone could hit. However, Beane has made 54 other draft picks, and they weren’t all Josh Allen-worthy.
Reviewing each of Beane’s draft classes gives us a chance to reflect on how one of the best rosters in football has been shaped over the past seven years. Let’s get into the rankings:
7th place: 2019
Round 1
- Ed Oliver, DT (7)
Round 2
- Cody Ford, OT (38)
Round 3
- Devin Singletary, RB (74)
- Dawson Knox, TE (96)
Round 5
- Vosean Joseph, LB (147)
Round 6
- Jaquan Johnson, S (181)
Round 7
- Darryl Johnson, DE (225)
- Tommy Sweeney, TE (228)
Ranking analysis:
Ed Oliver has been a solid pick for the Bills. He’s a consistent contributor and has been a long-term starter, but he hasn’t quite lived up to being a top-10 pick. The Bills had a big whiff with Ford in Round 2 but found some value in Round 3 with two decent role players. Overall, a pretty underwhelming draft.
6th place: 2020
Round 2
- A.J. Epenesa, DE (54)
Round 3
- Zack Moss, RB (86)
Round 4
- Gabe Davis, WR (128)
Round 5
- Jake Fromm, QB (167)
Round 6
- Tyler Bass, K (188)
- Isaiah Hodgins, WR (207)
Round 7
- Dane Jackson, CB (239)
Ranking analysis:
The Bills didn’t have any “busts” in the 2020 draft, but they didn’t find any “booms” either. They found great value in Gabe Davis and Dane Jackson, both found their way to starting roles after having an uphill battle to make the roster. They just re-signed Jackson, which now makes three players still currently on their roster from this draft.
5th place: 2024
Round 2
- Keon Coleman, WR (33)
- Cole Bishop, S (60)
Round 3
- DeWayne Carter, DT (95)
Round 4
- Ray Davis, RB (128)
Round 5
- Sedrick Van Pran-Granger, OL (141)
- Edefuan Ulofoshio, LB (160)
- Javon Solomon, DE (168)
Round 6
- Tylan Grable, OT (204)
- Daequan Hardy, CB (219)
Round 7
- Travis Clayton, OT (221)
Ranking analysis:
It is hard to analyze a draft one year later, and the 2024 draft class certainly could move its way up this ranking list if the first three picks develop. Coleman, Bishop, and Carter all have starting potential, and their sophomore seasons will prove to be a pivotal moment in their NFL career arc. I love the value the Bills found on Day 3 of this draft, finding quality backups and role players to develop throughout.
4th place: 2023
Round 1
- Dalton Kincaid, TE (25)
Round 2
- O’Cyrus Torrence, OL (59)
Round 3
- Dorian Williams, LB (91)
Round 5
- Justin Shorter, WR (150)
Round 7
- Nick Broeker, OL (230)
- Alex Austin, CB (252)
Ranking analysis:
O’Cyrus Torrence was the best pick of the 2023 draft. He was someone Bills fans were talking about selecting with the team’s first-round pick, and Beane got him in Round 2. Torrence has been a starter since day one and has been a brick wall blocking for Josh Allen.
I loved the Kincaid pick, and I still believe he can be a go-to target for Allen. This year will be a big one for Kincaid. Dorian Williams played phenomenal football in Matt Milano’s absence, and I believe the Bills should try to keep him around for another contract.
3rd place: 2021
Round 1
- Greg Rousseau, DE (30)
Round 2
- Boogie Basham, DE (61)
Round 3
- Spencer Brown, OT (93)
Round 5
- Tommy Doyle, OT (161)
Round 6
- Marquez Stevenson, WR (203)
- Damar Hamlin, S (212)
- Rachad Wildgoose, CB (213)
Round 7
- Jack Anderson, OL (236)
Ranking analysis:
The Bills hit two home runs in this draft with Rousseau and Brown. Both had a development phase, but they came through to be top-end starters for Buffalo. The Basham pick was a head scratcher, and he turned out to be a disappointment as one of Beane’s bigger whiffs.
Finding Hamlin in the sixth round and having him be a plus backup and serviceable starter was fantastic for the Bills.
2nd place: 2022
Round 1
- Kaiir Elam, CB (23)
Round 2
- James Cook, RB (63)
Round 3
- Terrel Bernard, LB (89)
Round 5
- Khalil Shakir, WR (148)
Round 6
- Matt Araiza, P (180)
- Christian Benford, CB (185)
- Luke Tenuta, OL (209)
Round 7
- Baylon Spector, LB (231)
Ranking analysis:
It’s funny that Brandon Beane’s biggest bust is featured on the second-ranked draft class for this list, but that just shows how good the rest of the class is. If you flip-flop Elam for Benford, it doesn’t look so bad. Beane has had a knack for identifying late-round DB talent, and Benford is the shining star on that list.
Cook, Bernard, and Shakir are all above-average starters for the Bills. If Elam had panned out, this draft might have competed for the first-place spot.
1st place: 2018
Round 1
- Josh Allen, QB (7)
Tremaine Edmunds, LB (16)
Round 3
- Harrison Phillips, DT (96)
Round 4
- Taron Johnson, CB (121)
Round 5
- Siran Neal, DB (154)
- Wyatt Teller, OL (166)
Round 6
- Ray-Ray McCloud, WR (187)
Round 7
- Austin Proehl, WR (255)
Ranking analysis:
How can you argue that the 2018 draft class should be anything other than first? Possibly the greatest pick in franchise history was quarterback Josh Allen at pick seven. Beane took some heat for trading up to seven for an unpolished “toolsy” QB prospect, but boy, he hit a grand slam with it.
Even if Beane had missed on every other pick, the 2018 draft class still should be in first place. However, Beane still nailed some picks after that. Say what you want about Edmunds, but he was a starter from day one and played well.
Beane also selected Taron Johnson in the fourth round, and he turned out to be one of the best slot corners the NFL has seen this decade. Beane started out his Bills tenure with a bang; hopefully, in 2025 he can replicate similar success.