The Buffalo Bills selected Florida cornerback Kaiir Elam with their first-overall selection at the 2022 NFL draft–but not without making a curious decision first.
Originally the Bills were slated to pick at the 25th overall selection in Round 1. Instead, Buffalo general manager Brandon Beane opted to trade up.
In doing so, Beane sent his team’s fourth-round pick to the Baltimore Ravens for the No. 23 spot.
Was giving up a mid-round pick really worth it? Beane thought so, and explained why.
Essentially, the GM said he checked two boxes in Elam.
“If I’m going to get aggressive, it’s usually when there’s value there and it fills a need,” Beane said.
By mentioning value, Beane is referencing where the Bills had Elam on their draft board. We have to take Beane’s word at it, but he said Elam was the last player the team had a “first-round grade” on.
For Beane’s full explanation, see the attached video below via WIVB-TV:
Drafting Kaiir Elam and moving up to get him was Brandon Beane’s favorite kind of pick: it addresses a need and it has what they have as a first round value.
“If I’m gonna get aggressive it’s usually when there’s a value there and it fills a need.” pic.twitter.com/by1gIcgWl4
— Heather Prusak (@haprusak) April 29, 2022
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