The Buffalo Bills’ draft class has been heralded by those inside the league as one of the biggest winners, for adhering to an organizational philosophy and adding potentially game-changing and franchise-altering talent.
General manager Brandon Beane and the Bills leaned hard into a defense that allowed 32 points in an AFC Championship loss by adding high-value prospects at key positions of need along the defensive line and in the secondary.
One year removed from trading back in the draft to select wide receiver Keon Coleman, Beane and the Bills didn’t add a pass catcher for quarterback Josh Allen until taking tight end Jackson Hawes in the fifth round while ignoring receiver until calling Kaden Prather’s name in Round 7.
In a wide-ranging conversation with NFL Reporter Ty Dunne, Beane revealed the simple thinking behind bolstering the defense while allowing Allen’s supporting cast already on the roster to develop rather than reaching for help at receiver.
“Because the depth was in the D-Line and some of the defensive positions,” Beane told Dunne, of GoLong. “Why not take advantage of that? And we believe we’ve added players — not only on the D-Line, but other defensive players — that can all help. Rush and coverage work together. If we didn’t score the points we scored, it doesn’t matter how many receivers. …
“You’ve got to be balanced so you’ve got to be able to run the ball, too. There’s only so many dollars that can go around. We’re paying Josh Allen No. 1 and it’s been written that, well, “I guess Josh Allen has to be the MVP again, they didn’t do anything at receiver.” Josh Allen’s been playing to that level for years. How many sexy receiver groups did Tom Brady have for all those Super Bowls? How many did he have?”
Much like the Philadelphia Eagles, who obliterated the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LIX, by sacking Patrick Mahomes six times, the Bills bolstered their defensive line with potential impact tackles T.J. Sanders and Deone Walker, after taking one of the top cornerbacks in a loaded class at the position, Maxwell Hairston in the first round.
Beane and the Bills stuck to a plan, focused on adding at premium positions, and upgrading a defense that wilted in the biggest moments of the penultimate game of the 2024 season, and have the potential to be rewarded handsomely for their efforts. Especially if Allen’s top targets make major strides as the defense improves this fall.
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