Why do Beane/McDermott place low value on selecting WR's in the draft?

[Jerry Jabber]

Since Beane/McDermott have been with the Bills since 2017, the Bills have had seven 1st round picks, five of which have been used on the defense, two of them for the offense [Allen, Diggs (1st used in the trade to the Vikings)]. Without a doubt, Allen is a generational talent at QB, but outside of Diggs, the Bills WR is full of underachievers. Davis underwhelmed as a #2 WR and is a #3 WR at best. McKenzie could not handle the starting slot WR role. Crowder, Shakir and the others were either slot or gadget type players. Beasley and Brown were brought back to the team because of how badly the WR corps performed (outside of Diggs). 

 

Since 2017, the highest the Bills drafted a WR was in the 2nd round [Zay Jones], the rest have been all between the 4th and 7th rounds:

Ray Ray McCloud – 6th round (2018)

Austin Proehl – 7th round (2018)

2019 – No WRs drafted

Gabe Davis – 4th round (2020)

Isaiah Hodgins – 6th round (2020)

Marquez Stevenson – 6th round (2021)

Khalil Shakir – 5th round (2022)

 

I don't understand why the Bills have not given Allen all the tools to be successful? Beane maneuvered up and down the draft board to get in position to draft Allen, then gave him a $258 million dollar contract. Why does Beane/McDermott undervalue the WR position so much? Diggs cannot do everything on his own. When Diggs is double covered and taken out of the game, the rest of the WR's struggle to get open and catch on a consistent basis. With drafting lower round WR's, most of the time, they're not going to be NFL ready in year one. It took Hodgins to year three to show he can stay healthy and show some promise, but instead, the Bills kept Shakir on the active roster and put Hodgins on the Practice Squad, by which Hodgins was signed by the Giants. So if it takes Shakir three years to show promise, are the Bills going to take another low round rookie and keep that unproven rookie over a player they took the time to develop and train (like Hodgins?) Hate to say it, but I feel Beane/McDermott value RB's higher than WR's as we've seen Singletary and Moss drafted in the 3rd and Cook in the second. 

 

Bottom line, Allen cannot do it all. Expecting Allen to continually stretch out plays, make things happen with his feet does not work out 100% of the time. Chiefs and Bengals have multiple weapons for Mahomes and Burrow, if the Bills are serious about winning a Superbowl, they need to give the same type of receivers to Allen before they waste all his good years.

[Aussie Joe]

WIth respect.. how are we supposed to know?

[JakeFrommStateFarm]

McBean would rather draft Boogie Basham than a WR who can help Josh

[Gunsgoodtime]

3 minutes ago, JakeFrommStateFarm said:

McBean would rather draft Boogie Basham than a WR who can help Josh

Or a LB with a top pick that has everyone scratching their heads.  We are out of the playoffs again because the team uses draft capital 3 to 1 on Defense

[Beck Water]

 

You are stating an Eternal Mystery of Bills Football to which we would all like to know the answer.

 

Next question why do Beane and McDermott place low value on improving the OL, by draft or FA?

[The Jokeman]

Maybe we should take a page from the Chiefs and take them sooner?

 

2018 Tremon Smith Round 6

2019 Mecole Hardman Round 2

2020 None drafted

2021 Cornell Powell Round 5

2022 Skyy Moore Round 2

[Beck Water]

12 minutes ago, JakeFrommStateFarm said:

McBean would rather draft Boogie Basham than a WR who can help Josh

 

I'd be OK if he drafted an OL who could protect Josh instead of Boogie Basham.

[Rc2catch]

4 of those guys are contributors in the league so I’d say they’ve drafted decent there. Had they hit on the defensive line picks there would be more to spread around 

[Albany,n.y.]

Here's an answer to both not spending #1s drafting WR or O-Line:  For whatever reason they prefer veterans over rookies at both WR & O-line.  The team has signed veteran free agents over drafting those spots on offense. 

[Coach Tuesday]

BUT tHeY TrADeD A fIrSt fOr DiGgS

[Brianmoorman4jesus]

This team would rather dress a guy like Jake Kumero, Siran Neil or Tawain Jones than Elam, Shakir or Hodgins. Just a mindless obsession with STs. And we aren’t even good at STs. It’s as senseless as it is infuriating. If you can’t play a real position and you are ST only, you better be a K/P/LS/Return specialist or you aren’t active on my team. Get the guys on the field that can help you score and stop them. STs has been completely phased out. There are barely any returns and when there are it’s a penalty. Kick the ball through the end zone of kick offs and out of bounds on punts.

[The Jokeman]

5 minutes ago, Rc2catch said:

4 of those guys are contributors in the league so I’d say they’ve drafted decent there. Had they hit on the defensive line picks there would be more to spread around 

Solid analysis. 

[Rocbillsfan1]

2 years ago our starters were diggs brown Beasley McKenzie with Davis as #4 and impressing as a rookie. 
 

last year we had diggs sanders Beasley Davis. 
 

to say we never gave him tools is beyond idiotic. The roster construction failed this year as crowder got hurt and Davis failed under pressure of trying to be #2 and McKenzie severely regressing and not being reliable. I don’t think anyone was seriously questioning our playmakers the past 3 years. As of right now though yea we need to put in work to fix this position. 

[ShakAttack]

Why?  Well, I think part of it probably has something to do with maybe because the previous 2 years offense did not seem to be as much of an issue?  Particularly, the passing game.  I think most of us agreed where we would need an upgrade most was at running back.  But after this season, and after yesterday's game, the need for a better WR2 became a seemingly greater priority than it was in the past.  I don't think it's rocket science though.  Needs change every year.  Let's not forget how it used to seem like our WRs had very little issue getting open.  So the system was working, at the time.  Maybe it's Dorsey's fault?  Don't know. 

 

When last season ended, it seemed like our offense was elite, ESPECIALLY in the passing game, but the lack of a pass rush kept us out of the Super Bowl, so the priority was pass rush and getting a faster/bigger/more athletic corner to add to our talented backfield.  Then everyone got hurt.  And things changed.  I really always felt like the loss of Daboll was being so underrated when people automatically pegged us the Super Bowl favorites this season.  And now Daboll is the NFL's coach of the year.

Edited January 24, 2023 by BobBelcher

[Gunsgoodtime]

17 minutes ago, Albany,n.y. said:

Here's an answer to both not spending #1s drafting WR or O-Line:  For whatever reason they prefer veterans over rookies at both WR & O-line.  The team has signed veteran free agents over drafting those spots on offense. 

How is that working out?

[Nextmanup]

Because they are "Football guys" and McDermott in particular is a defense first sort of person.

It's why an offensive minded HC would be a lot better.

 

This game is about clever scheming on offense now.  The whole "you win with defense" thing is long gone.

 

I wouldn't be a bit surprised if he takes a frigging defensive lineman FIRST in the draft this year...saying we need to re-vamp things on the DL.

 

It's like flushing the pick down the toilet.

 

 

[Aussie Joe]

18 minutes ago, Albany,n.y. said:

Here's an answer to both not spending #1s drafting WR or O-Line:  For whatever reason they prefer veterans over rookies at both WR & O-line.  The team has signed veteran free agents over drafting those spots on offense. 

 

They prefer veterans over rookies at all positions...

 

In fact Davis (WR)  and Brown (OL) played a lot as rookies...

[The Jokeman]

2 minutes ago, BobBelcher said:

Why?  Well, I think part of it probably has something to do with maybe because the previous 2 years offense did not seem to be as much of an issue?  Particularly, the passing game.  I think most of us agreed where we would need an upgrade most was at running back.  But after this season, and after yesterday's game, the need for a better WR2 became a seemingly greater priority than it was in the past.  I don't think it's rocket science though.  Needs change every year.  Let's not forget how it used to seem like our WRs had very little issue getting open.  So the system was working, at the time.  Maybe it's Dorsey's fault?  Don't know. 

I just think we need another reliable option in the passing game. Not necessarily a true #2 but someone that can do what Beasley did. Can get 8-10 yards and catch 4-5 a game.  As to me Davis and Knox aren't reliable enough.

[Gunsgoodtime]

12 minutes ago, Rocbillsfan1 said:

2 years ago our starters were diggs brown Beasley McKenzie with Davis as #4 and impressing as a rookie. 
 

last year we had diggs sanders Beasley Davis. 
 

to say we never gave him tools is beyond idiotic. The roster construction failed this year as crowder got hurt and Davis failed under pressure of trying to be #2 and McKenzie severely regressing and not being reliable. I don’t think anyone was seriously questioning our playmakers the past 3 years. As of right now though yea we need to put in work to fix this position. 

I actually was questioning them before the season even started, It was and immediate downgrade to 2 wr positions in my eyes.  Unfortunately I was right

[ShakAttack]

1 minute ago, The Jokeman said:

I just think we need another reliable option in the passing game. Not necessarily a true #2 but someone that can do what Beasley did. Can get 8-10 yards and catch 4-5 a game.  As to me Davis and Knox aren't reliable enough.

 

It's hard not to wonder if we didn't use Shakir enough?  He made some great plays when we called his number this season.  Makes you wonder, if he were given an expanded role, would he come through?  Like Hodgins did for Daboll in NY.  Yeah I know, completely different players, but my point is, is it a matter of how we are (incorrectly) evaluating our talent?