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He was also a 6th round pick in XFL draft for skill positions, which means that each of the eight teams, including his own, selected 3-4 WRs ahead of him. That means at least 25 WRs were already off the board across the XFL. So who's good at scouting?

I think they get pretty high marks. Outstanding on culture change, character, drafting (all rounds), UDFA signings, free agent selection, mixing young and veteran players, managing contracts and so far, the salary cap. A few areas to call out: -- Cap management will become an important issue over the next couple years as there will have to be contracts for current players and re-signings. Some of it is resigning young guys, but also how to manage the situation with players like Poyer and Hyde who have been stars, outperformed their contracts and are now about 30. -- I'm still bothered that we traded out of Mahomes spot (and Watson still on the board), but I get that McDermott didn't feel ready to take a QB. That's a major evaluation process and he would have had to trust the outgoing regime on that call. -- I like Allen a lot, but they got away with an enormous risk in his first season. They didn't hire a proper QB coach for him. The guy they hired was a WR coach. And they didn't have a seasoned QB to help mentor him. The went with just Peterman and then JA had to get thrown in halfway through the opening game. He came back strong from the injury, showed promise and they essentially got away with this oversight. It was good to see that they addressed the issue properly in the 2nd year. That was a big strategic mistake and they got away with one there. Overall... good job so far!!

I also take it back to a pretty famous play several years ago when DeSean Jackson was about to score on a long TD against Cowboys and he dropped the ball at the 1 yard line, clearly before he crossed into the end zone. He was untouched and clearly intended to score the TD.... NO Touchdown! If the Cowboys had picked it up, it would have been their ball.

Honestly if he can't make it based on his capabilities on offense and is still on the team because we can't find a better gunner on punts, then they've made a mistake. He has to make it as a WR.

If you look back at the TBD thread when it happened, the board was lit up and very excited about this... #asteroidaverted

Doesn't trading up mean that we're close to 1 player away? To move up from 22 to lets say 15, it would certainly cost our #2. So then our next pick isn't until end of 3rd round. I'm not convinced we should move up for WR. Perhaps for OT. I can see for DE as really my top wish would be Chaisson. It seems like there's a drop-off at the position if we can't get him??

I'm still not exactly sure whether McBeane has caught some lightning in a bottle or if they're sustainably better at scouting/drafting than others, but its really amazing how many of his picks outside the first round have become starters in their rookie years.... Dawkins, Ford, Singletary, Knox, Milano, Taron Johnson. Thats 6 guys in rounds 2-5 out of 12 picks. Add in Levi Wallace and that's an astounding batting average. Can that really keep going??

What's the definition of ELITE talent? Outside of QB, possibly OT and probably DE/Edge, I don't think the first round is nirvana. If one of the top 4 OT or K'lavon Chaisson falls to #22, they should go for it. Outside of that a trade-down seems a good strategy for Bills with their needs. Look at the top 10 WRs last year (excluded RB/TE), only 3 were drafted in the first round: 1. Michael Thomas 3 2. Keenan Allen 3 3. DeAndre Hopkins 1 4. Julian Edelman 7 5. Julio Jones 1 6. Allen Robinson 2 7. Cooper Kupp 3 8. Tyler Boyd 2 9. Robert Woods 2 10. DJ Moore 1 Add to that guys like Tyreek Hill (5), Kenny Galloday (3), Adam Theilan (UDFA), Mike Evans (1), OBJ (1), Amari Cooper (1), Devante Adams (2) and even Antonio Brown (6). Just a minority are first rounders.

Yikes....that description sounds like Jonathan Martin

I think his goal was to have 3 picks in the top 53, as Beane has stated, we're not just one player away. The trade back in this scenario just happened to be with the Dolphins. He justified it by making the assumption that the Patriots would pick the guy otherwise, so he would end up in the division regardless.

Interesting what you did, but hard to react to 34, 39 and 53 as its not clear who's still on the board when those picks come about

In his comments the alternative is to assume that if they don't, then the Patriots would take him

I think you'd only get a 3rd for that, so late in the round. That would be OK, but it depends on who's on the board at the time. If someone like Chaisson ever fell, I'm sure we'd be grabbing him at #22.

Excellent interviews! Its great to see reporters ask some good, in-depth questions rather than jumping into the normal line of questioning that just gets standard talking points. I went and bookmarked Rotoworld in my browser!

Football is a game of momentum. You can have all of it in one moment, then the other team does something well; gets a turnover, converts a key 3rd/4th down or for example, TJ Watts sack and then it all changes. Once it changes, one bad thing after another happens going the other direction. We see it all the time. That game is obviously an extreme example of this, but it happens. Once the momentum gets into a team's head one bad thing after another unfolds right before our eyes....

Its a great article for sure! I've gone back and looked at several multi-round mock drafts since and he's generally being slotted in the middle of the 2nd round. I can see the Bills trying to grab him there. I'm sure they'll be monitoring whether to make a call to move up a few slots or if he'll drop to them. We'll see what happens after he combine.

Beane's drafting has been pretty good even deep in the draft. I agree, the #22 pick is not a throwaway.

Why do you say you're not a JoeB fan, but liked the article? I read the piece and its very consistent with his typical approach to these stories

The last couple mocks I've seen have us taking Higgins or Shenault at #22. However, with QBs moving up they also show AJ Epenesa, Terrell Lewis and sometimes K'Lavon Chaisson on the board at 22. Given some of Beane's comments about impact Edge rushers I would imagine he might look hard at one of them rather than grab the receiver with the first pick.

It was great having Gore on the team this past year. I know that his wisdom helped a lot of young players and he acquitted himself well when Singletary pulled his hamstring. But clearly he and everyone knows that the next step up for the team is to strengthen our running game further by bringing in someone to pair with Singletary that brings the heat every down for 18-19 games!

You wouldn't have made the blockbuster Russell Bodine trade?

I guess facts are facts, but it certainly feels implausible that we were first in the fewest ST penalties. I would have loved to see a poll on that from the group in advance of seeing that article. I don't think anyone would have imagined they're in the top 10, much less first?!?

I doubt Long gets cut. Both Feliciano and Cody Ford just underwent shoulder surgeries. While they're projected to be back by training camp, you can never be sure

If I was Athletic Director for a program, I would make a standing ground rule to reporters that they can't ask anyone about prospective jobs until the season is over. Whats he supposed to do, distract everyone by saying he'll be leaving right after the National Championship game and have that turn into a major story while the team is focused on the task at hand? McDermott actually handled it well when he was asked about Daboll and Cleveland the week before Texans game.

On the injury front we definitely had a great year. I don't really know whether / what we're doing that is different from others. Is this just a matter of luck or something else? Regarding sprains, pulls and recovery I know that the Bills have spent a lot on top-notch medical care for players. I have not idea how that compares to the rest of the league. Regarding breaks, ACLs and a myriad of other injuries may be just dumb luck. Someone rolling up on an ankle or knee is just unfortunate bad break.