Olean Times Herald

‘The biggest is middle linebacker with the Bills having lost incumbent Tremaine Edmunds to Chicago in free agency for a 4-year, $72 million contract the salary cap-strapped team couldn’t have come close to matching. However, the best two collegians who fill that need — Iowa’s Jack Campbell and Arkansas’ Drew Sanders — are projected more as high second-rounders.’

‘Because it’s been winning, Buffalo finds itself up against the salary cap and with only six draft picks in the seven rounds, the fewest in general manager Brandon Beane’s tenure. Worse, the Bills are selecting 27th in a particularly weak lottery where as few as 15 players might have legitimate first-round grades.’

What’s certain is that Bills general manager Brandon Beane is facing his cliched make-or-break draft. He has only six picks, his fewest in a single year, and has to make every one count.’

‘The passing of the former Bills defensive tackle wasn’t unexpected as he’d battled Parkinson’s disease for 28 years.’

‘They touted McKenzie as some sort of super weapon and he “acted” the celebrity part via community appearances and podcast interviews. And though clearly a bit of a self-promoter, he was a genuinely good guy. But his numbers didn’t speak to his reputation.’

‘“You understand every year people are going to come after you, especially if you’ve won it. We’ve won the division three years in a row and it’s going to get harder and harder every year. We feel we’ve got some good continuity and we’re just trying to add the right pieces. But we understand winning the (AFC) East, this may be the toughest year yet to try and pull that off.”’

‘To be sure, he’s 29 years old, elderly for an NFL running back. But, at 6-foot-3, 247 pounds, Henry is a beast, dominating in short-yardage and with exceptional speed for a back his size.’

‘Still, it seems odd that it took over a month for him to make that decision. And while we haven’t heard a word from Frazier, McDermott and Beane said all the right things at the Combine, but neither seemed particularly shocked or bothered by his exit.’

‘What’s certain is there are obstacles in getting the lease signed and the stadium approved with an April 2026 completion date.’

‘Still, it’s hard not to think both Farwell and Salgado were scapegoated.’

‘As described in Jessica Pegula’s letter, her mother’s medical emergency can bring comparisons to Bills safety Damar Hamlin suffering cardiac arrest on the field in Cincinnati during the Bills-Bengals game in January.’

‘And that’s why last Sunday’s result was likely so jarring to Beane and McDermott. It emphasized Buffalo, the preseason’s Super Bowl favorite, has fallen to the No. 3 team in the AFC and is closer to No. 4 Jacksonville than to Cincinnati.’

‘Salgado became this year’s sacrificial lamb in the Bills’ failed playoff run, though more could follow.’

‘This wasn’t just a loss. It was an evisceration that laid open the Bills’ myriad flaws for a sellout crowd and a national television audience.’

‘This wasn’t a loss that can be walked off with, “Oh, we just didn’t have it today … they outplayed us.” The Bills performance exuded a most malodorous air.’