Two Bills Drive

'It is not immediately clear whether McDermott or Beane will have final say over the Bills' 53-man roster. McDermott, who spent the 2011 through 2016 seasons as the Panthers' defensive coordinator, has experience working with Beane.'

'But the job is also more attractive than most openings that pop up. The Bills aren't bad — they've been an average team for the past three seasons, going 24-24 in that span. They also have some interesting pieces in Taylor, Watkins, and LeSean McCoy. So, it's not insane to suggest the Bills are a good draft away from becoming a playoff team.'

'According to NFL Network, Beane’s contract will run concurrent with that of new head coach Sean McDermott. Beane worked with McDermott for six seasons in Carolina as the Panthers defensive coordinator.'

'Beane was seen as the favorite during the interview process, being the first to be interviewed by the Bills and the only one to get a second interview with the team.'

'Bradford, 24, was waived by the San Francisco 49ers back on May 2. Bradford has played in six games over the past four seasons since being drafted by the Green Bay Packers in the fourth round of the 2014 NFL Draft. The Packers waived Bradford on December 17, 2016, but was picked up by the 49ers immediately after.'

'Beane, 40, has been a staple in the Carolina Panthers front office since 1998, working his way up to assistant general manager in 2015.'

'Theoretically, Beane and McDermott will be hand-in-hand, with a similar vision for how they want the football team to be built, and all the while knowing if they don't get the job done, then it likely means both of them — not just one like the last Bills HC-GM pairing — will be the ones sent packing.'

'“During our search for a new General Manager, Brandon stood out to Kim and I as he embodies the type of leader and type of person we want in our organization,” Bills Owner/CEO Terry Pegula in a team statement. “Brandon has excelled in a variety of roles for a Panthers team that has consistently competed at a high level in this league.'

'He was signed by San Francisco late last season after he was released by Green Bay and appeared in two games for the 49ers. Bradford has experience at the weak side linebacker position, but in a different defensive scheme than Buffalo’s.'

'Barnidge, who made a free agent visit to One Bills Drive last week, met up with Wood at the Kentucky Derby this past weekend. Barnidge was part of a 12-person party organized by Wood for the weekend at Churchill Downs.'

'The Bills last week demurred on that option year, mostly because of Watkins injury history. If they picked up Year No. 5 they would owe him nearly $13.3 million, a figure he would earn even if he couldn’t pass his 2018 physical. That’s an expensive commitment for a player who might miss all or part of the season.'

'Monday was the busiest day yet in the Buffalo Bills' search for a new general manager, with a second interview and a new name added to the list of candidates.'

'A sampling of offseason power rankings shows little is expected of the team in 2017. ESPN debuted its rankings Monday, with the Bills coming in at No. 26.'

'Beane has been an assistant GM the past two seasons and has been relatively limited when it comes to actual scouting experience. The other candidates so far — Texans assistant GM Brian Gaine, Eagles college scouting director Trey Brown and Packers player personnel chief Brian Gutekunst — have significantly more credentials for evaluating prospects and free agents and overseeing a crew.'

'The Bills are one of only two NFL teams without a GM (or equivalent job title) after firing Doug Whaley last month, but the other team with an opening, Washington, is expected to reconfigure its front office without filling the role. That means the Bills have no competition for whoever it is they want to hire.'