Anyone else for using our draft capital for trades?

[Don Otreply]

My pick is the most awesome guy available, 😁👍🍸🚬

[Thrivefourfive]

23 hours ago, TheWeatherMan said:

Trade 1st and 2nd round picks for 3rd 4th and 5th rounders where Beane is better at drafting.  Nearly zero playoff production from the last 2 years of 1st and 2nd round picks was a killer vs the Chiefs.  

Shhh he doesn’t draft all pro players there either. 
 

Beane drafts third and fourth rounders. Period. They all play like third and fourth rounders, no matter where he drafts them.

 

Beane’s big board must be one singular tier. Then he picks his guys based on where other teams have them ranked. I dunno.. he sucks at drafting great players. 
 

Isn’t Higgins going in UFA? Don’t have to trade picks to sign that guy

I know teams don’t have to draft. Can the Bills skip the first two rounds and use the money in free agency?

 

Edited 23 hours ago by Thrivefourfive

[3rdand12]

3 minutes ago, Thrivefourfive said:

Shhh he doesn’t draft all pro players there either. 
 

Beane drafts third and fourth rounders. Period. They all play like third and fourth rounders, no matter where he drafts them.

 

Beane’s big board must be one singular tier. Then he picks his guys based on where other teams have them ranked. I dunno.. he sucks at drafting great players. 
 

Isn’t Higgins going in UFA? Don’t have to trade picks to sign that guy

I know teams don’t have to draft. Can the Bills skip the first two rounds and use the money in free agency?

said it before

 Myles and Higgins

You win the offseason , and possibly the SB. yea, that

[Thrivefourfive]

Just now, 3rdand12 said:

said it before

 Myles and Higgins

You win the offseason , and possibly the SB. yea, that

Higgins is there, right? I don’t think he’s a 1A, but he fits EXACTLY what we could use, minus the nagging injuries. Defenses will have to play him honestly because of how quickly our football gets around the field. So where Josh can put the ball, Higgins is the matchup nightmare just based on height, catch radius and hands that we never had in Diggs. 
 

I’d take a WR who puts up 80/1200/10 next season. Yes, yes I think I would. 

[LABILLBACKER]

13 hours ago, Sweats said:

Trading a 1st round pick for a proven commodity like Diggs, proves that Beane will pull the trigger if he believes that player can make a difference, however, bringing in Von (although not a pick swap) may make him think twice about FA's nearing their 30's.

 

In the beginning, i believed in the FO strategy of building through the draft, however, it's not really working for us, so might as well try something else and kick the tires on a new strategy.

 

IMHO

Von was 33 when we signed him. That was risky & foolish.  Myles just turned 29 and Maxx is 27.  These dudes are substantially younger.  Beane's ability to find high draft pick defensive talent has to be questioned.  Go after known commodities.  

[JohnNord]

On 2/4/2025 at 8:33 PM, Alphadawg7 said:

 

 

This is when you make a move like a major trade.  This team is on the doorstep with its most important pieces all returning and it has continuity within the staff.  

 

Go get Garrett, use 2 firsts if you have to.  Then if you see another player available where we can add a high quality player at Outside WR, CB, or S that could be had in a trade using one of our 2nds and maybe another pick if need be, pull the trigger.  We got a lot of draft capital this year, and the least amount of holes to fill in a long time.  Use some to go get the talent for a team that is absolutely ready to win NOW and do it before the other teams in our division get better as well. 

I can co-sign for this.  It does appear that Beane, and other GM’s as well, overvalue draft picks.  Everyone loves draft picks until you end up with Kaiir Elam or Cody Ford.  So a draft pick is really only as good as the player you draft.  
 

This season there aren’t going to be a ton of “holes to fill” as this board loves to say.  The Bills currently have 6 picks over the first four rounds and then 2 6th round selections.  All of these players aren’t making the team.  Plus there’s also Free Agency.  
 

If the Bills have a chance to trade for Garrett they need to go for it

[Alphadawg7]

6 minutes ago, JohnNord said:

I can co-sign for this.  It does appear that Beane, and other GM’s as well, overvalue draft picks.  Everyone loves draft picks until you end up with Kaiir Elam or Cody Ford.  So a draft pick is really only as good as the player you draft.  
 

This season there aren’t going to be a ton of “holes to fill” as this board loves to say.  The Bills currently have 6 picks over the first four rounds and then 2 6th round selections.  All of these players aren’t making the team.  Plus there’s also Free Agency.  
 

If the Bills have a chance to trade for Garrett they need to go for it

 

Agree, but we traded our 3rd for Cooper, so we have 5 over the first 4 rounds, but we have 2 in the 5th too and 3 more in the 6th as well...so we got quite a few extra picks throughout the draft and all our picks next year still.  And if we don't resign Cooper, I think he could get us a comp pick too.  

[LABILLBACKER]

10 hours ago, Steptide said:

It scares me when beane and McDermott talk about how even though they haven't won the superbowl they've been successful. It makes me think they'll just keep doing what they've been doing, which is signing mid tier guys and getting the most out of them and drafting guys to develop them. F all that. It's time to go all in. If this season proved anything, it's that they can lose alot of core players and still be competitive. So go all in, win a superbowl, and if the season after we lose some dudes, so be it 

And there lies the greatest problem.  Starting with the owner (Terry) and down to his 2 hand picked leaders (Sean & Brandon).  I think Terry could care less about ever going to a SB.  I think Sean and Brandon have protection and job security as long as Josh is here. He guarantees the organization playoffs every year.  I'm sure Josh has a completely different idea of success then these 3 do.

Edited 21 hours ago by LABILLBACKER

[Straight Hucklebuck]

Beane’s press conference was more of the same philosophy.

 

The blue print hasn’t changed at all - overvalue our own players, run the cap up, restructure to create room, and sign low end Free Agents. 
 

I expect more “team first” guys in the Draft with low ceilings. 
 

He wants you to know how close the team is and to pay attention to those 13-wins. 

 

 

[GASabresIUFan]

Here are the 2024 starters in the Bills last season acquired through the draft (20 full or spot starters)

* (The are also 12 draftees starting or playing significant roles for other NFL teams)

2017 - Dawkins, Milano

2018- Allen, Taron Johnson  (Beane's first draft)

2019 - Oliver, Knox

2020 - AJE, Bass

2021 - Rousseau, Brown, Hamlin

2022 - Cook, Bernard, Shakir, Benford

2023 - Torrence, Kincaid, Dorian Williams (spot starter)

2024 - Coleman, Bishop (spot starter)

 

The Bills also played 10 rookies last year, including 8 draftees.

 

Obviously the Draft is critical to building the Bills and maintaining cap integrity.  

 

That said, they are kind of in a unique position.  The Bills are in win now mode after Beane's two year overhaul has left the Bills, younger, cheaper and in many ways better, although he only has 1 year left on the rookie deals for Rousseau, Cook, Shakir, Benford and Bernard.  The Bills can clear 40 mill in cap space with some relatively easy moves and have all but 3 starters under contract.  The 3 open jobs are CB (replacing Douglas), WR (replacing Cooper) and S (replacing Hamlin).  Bishop is likely taking over for Hamlin, leaving only 2 starting jobs for new players.  The Bills also have most of their depth under contract with a few exceptions in Hollins, Gilliam, Ty Johnson, Alec Anderson, Smoot and LS Reid Ferguson. I suspect the Bills want all 6 of the named UFAs back.  They have significant draft capital heading into the draft with as many as 10 picks depending on how the compensatory picks are assigned.   The bottom line is with a nearly complete roster, 40 mill in potential cap space and 10 draft picks, Beane can afford to go shopping in both the trade market and the FA market to fill the few holes in the roster to try to put his win now roster over the top.

 

Looking at the offseason, the Bills greatest needs are in order

1) Starting CB - Douglas is gone and Elam isn't up to the task  - solution - Likely a FA with a draft pick (or 2) for depth

2) Starting Boundary WR - I'd like to see Beane use a premium pick to replace Cooper, but I suspect he'll go a medium priced FA with a WR added from later in the draft.  I want Golden or Egbuka if we keep our 1st rd pick.

3) Edge Rusher - I'm actually all in on the Myles Garrett idea, especially if it clears Elam and AJE off the roster as the Athletics' Joe B suggested.  We are in win now mode and getting a future HOFer to play opposite of Rousseau changes the dynamic of the defense.  

4)Safety depth - Rapp's eventual replacement drafted in the 4th rd of the draft.

5) DT - Need more depth here if the don't believe Carter is the guy to replace Jones long-term

 

So as to the OP question, we are in win now mode and using some of the 10 picks to add good veterans is wise.  

 

Edited 8 hours ago by GASabresIUFan

[JohnNord]

8 hours ago, Alphadawg7 said:

 

Agree, but we traded our 3rd for Cooper, so we have 5 over the first 4 rounds, but we have 2 in the 5th too and 3 more in the 6th as well...so we got quite a few extra picks throughout the draft and all our picks next year still.  And if we don't resign Cooper, I think he could get us a comp pick too.  

It’s actually 6 picks:

 

Round 1

Round 2

Round 2: from Houston in Stefon Diggs trade

Round 4

Round 4: from Chicago

Round 4: compensatory

Round 5: compensatory 

Round 6

Round 6: from Cleveland in Amari Cooper trade

Round 6: from New York Giants

[Steptide]

10 hours ago, LABILLBACKER said:

And there lies the greatest problem.  Starting with the owner (Terry) and down to his 2 hand picked leaders (Sean & Brandon).  I think Terry could care less about ever going to a SB.  I think Sean and Brandon have protection and job security as long as Josh is here. He guarantees the organization playoffs every year.  I'm sure Josh has a completely different idea of success then these 3 do.

I believe beane and McDermott are trying to win a superbowl, I just think it's time to change the philosophy a bit. It might be time to ditch the whole "trust the process" thing and start getting some big names. 

[I'm Spartacus]

35 minutes ago, Steptide said:

I believe beane and McDermott are trying to win a superbowl, I just think it's time to change the philosophy a bit. It might be time to ditch the whole "trust the process" thing and start getting some big names. 

3 things I'm sick of after 7 years....

"Trust the Process"

"Creating a choir boy culture"

"McDermott's defensive scheme that is NOT working"....time to change the narrative.

[GASabresIUFan]

There is no question Beane is trying to win a Super Bowl.  He wouldn't have signed Miller if he wasn't.  That attempt failed after his all-pros in Tre White and Milano got hurt along with Miller to destroy the opportunity Beane tried to create by signing Miller.

 

Once that attempt to get over the top failed, Beane had to reset and he has done a great job of resetting on the fly while keeping the Bills at the top of the AFC heap.  

 

Now cap compliant with a blossoming young team, Beane is in a good position to try again to get this team over the top.  I don't know if he'll risk all the proposed draft capital to get Myles Garrett, but I think there is a distinct possibility, especially as Garrett has a significant say (limited no trade clause) in where he goes.  

 

Beane has never been shy about using his draft picks to make the team better.  He used a 1st to get Diggs, a 3rd for Douglas and a 3rd for Cooper.  He has also consistently traded excess players to other teams for additional draft capital like Ryan Bates for a 5th.  In the draft, his has moved both up and down the draft to get the capital he wanted or the player he wanted.  There is no pattern other than he views draft picks as capital to be spent as needed.

[butch rolle]

21 hours ago, ColoradoBills said:

 

Just to be accurate, both Cook and Benford are getting a big bump in pay under the PPE (Proven Player Escalator) this season.

Cook is getting $5.6M and Benford $3.2M.

https://www.spotrac.com/nfl/player/_/id/76939/james-cook

https://www.spotrac.com/nfl/player/_/id/77062/christian-benford

 

That is a good point but when you compare $3.2M to what Benford would command on the open market ($20M+ AAV) that still is crucial from a roster construction aspect.  If we don't have a significant amount of starters on rookie deals, the math doesn't work.

[Alphadawg7]

4 hours ago, JohnNord said:

It’s actually 6 picks:

 

Round 1

Round 2

Round 2: from Houston in Stefon Diggs trade

Round 4

Round 4: from Chicago

Round 4: compensatory

Round 5: compensatory 

Round 6

Round 6: from Cleveland in Amari Cooper trade

Round 6: from New York Giants

 

That was what we were projected when Davis signed his new deal.  But season performance affects comp picks, and he didn't finish in the top 35% of his position, so its most likely going to be a 5th now, giving us two 5th round comp picks for him and Floyd.  

 

Hopefully we get lucky and get a 4th for Davis, but I don't think that is likely after he did very little while active and then got hurt and only put up the 175th most receiving yards this year.  

 

So I expect 1, 2, 2, 4, 4, 5, 5, 6, 6, 6, as our picks this season.

[JohnNord]

7 hours ago, GASabresIUFan said:

Here are the 2024 starters in the Bills last season acquired through the draft (20 full or spot starters)

* (The are also 12 draftees starting or playing significant roles for other NFL teams)

2017 - Dawkins, Milano

2018- Allen, Taron Johnson  (Beane's first draft)

2019 - Oliver, Knox

2020 - AJE, Bass

2021 - Rousseau, Brown, Hamlin

2022 - Cook, Bernard, Shakir, Benford

2023 - Torrence, Kincaid, Dorian Williams (spot starter)

2024 - Coleman, Bishop (spot starter)

 

The Bills also played 10 rookies last year, including 8 draftees.

 

Obviously the Draft is critical to building the Bills and maintain cap integrity.  

 

That said, the are kind of in a unique position.  The Bills are in win now mode after Beane's two year overhaul has left the Bills, younger, cheaper and in many ways better, although he only has 1 year left on the rookie deals for Rousseau, Cook, Shakir, Benford and Bernard.  The Bills can clear 40 mill in cap space with some relatively easy moves and have all but 3 starters under contract.  The 3 open jobs are CB (replacing Douglas), WR (replacing Cooper) and S (replacing Hamlin).  Bishop is likely taking over for Hamlin, leaving only 2 starting jobs for new players.  The Bills also have most of their depth under contract with a few exceptions in Hollins, Gilliam, Ty Johnson, Alec Anderson, Smoot and LS Reid Ferguson. I suspect the Bills want all 6 of the named UFAs back.  They have significant draft capital heading into the draft with as many as 10 picks depending on how the compensatory picks are assigned.   The bottom line is with a nearly complete roster, 40 mill in potential cap space and 10 draft picks, Beane can afford to go shopping in both the trade market and the FA market to fill the few holes in the roster to try to put his win now roster over the top.

 

Looking at the offseason, the Bills greatest needs are in order

1) Starting CB - Douglas is gone and Elam isn't up to the task  - solution - Likely a FA with a draft pick (or 2) for depth

2) Starting Boundary WR - I'd like to see Beane use a premium pick to replace Cooper, but I suspect he'll go a medium priced FA with a WR added from later in the draft.  I want Golden or Egbuka if we keep our 1st rd pick.

3) Edge Rusher - I'm actually all in on the Myles Garrett idea, especially if it clears Elam and AJE off the roster as the Athletics' Joe B suggested.  We are in win now mode and getting a future HOFer to play opposite of Rousseau changes the dynamic of the defense.  

4)Safety depth - Rapp's eventual replacement drafted in the 4th rd of the draft.

5) DT - Need more depth here if the don't believe Carter is the guy to replace Jones long-term

 

So as to the OP question, we are in win now mode and using some of the 10 picks to add good veterans is wise.  

 

Good breakdown, dude.  And that 2022 draft is looking a lot strong after 3 seasons!

 

I think they’ll bring back Hollins and Johnson.  Both players won’t be getting big money elsewhere and offer double duty on Special Teams.  The other signing I can see is Smoot.  He too shouldn’t receive huge offers and I think they value his versatility.  It’s a given Ferguson is back as well.

That’s why I prefer they explore a big trade.  Even if they keep all the picks, the chances of the rookies playing at a high level is not great.  Also, the track record of Bills rookies making an impact in year 1, isn’t so strong.  
 

They need to do something to bring in higher level talent on defense or at WR and how is the perfect time.  

Edited 9 hours ago by JohnNord

[JP51]

13 hours ago, LABILLBACKER said:

Von was 33 when we signed him. That was risky & foolish.  Myles just turned 29 and Maxx is 27.  These dudes are substantially younger.  Beane's ability to find high draft pick defensive talent has to be questioned.  Go after known commodities.  

yes at this point you need to pay for the experience after you have proven time and again thru the draft or FA that you are not good at it... 

[SoonerBillsFan]

What I would do...

 

Round 1  Trade for Vet

Round 2 Trade for Vet

Round 2: from Houston in Stefon Diggs trade 

Round 4

Round 4: from Chicago (Trade for Vet)

Round 4: compensatory

Round 5: compensatory 

Round 6

Round 6: from Cleveland in Amari Cooper trade

Round 6: from New York Giants

 

If its Maxx of Garrett then I trade a 2026 1st as well. I also don't care about the 6th round picks.

[ColoradoBills]

1 hour ago, butch rolle said:

That is a good point but when you compare $3.2M to what Benford would command on the open market ($20M+ AAV) that still is crucial from a roster construction aspect.  If we don't have a significant amount of starters on rookie deals, the math doesn't work.

 

I agree.  I just was informing the board on their bumps in pay.

I'm on the fence about a big trade vs. using the picks.

I'll leave it up to Beane.  I just hope they don't get burned like the Von deal ended up.