Trading for a higher spot at the NFL Draft is always a tricky business. But in 2018, the Buffalo Bills pulled off one of the most memorable trade-ups in recent memory when they gave up multiple picks to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to move from the 12th overall position to No. 7 where they took Josh Allen. It was not a widely popular decision at that time, as the Bills also sent both their second-round picks in the same draft to the Buccaneers.
On Tuesday, Buffalo Bills general manager Brandon Beane touched on the subject.
“We got criticized for how much we gave up for Josh [Allen], and I’m like, ‘Well if he doesn’t work out, I’m not going to be here anyway. If he does work out, nobody’s going to give a shit.’”
#Bills GM Brandon Beane explaining his thought process when he traded up for Josh Allen is hilarious. 😂😂pic.twitter.com/YpvQZkwStw
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) February 28, 2024
The Buffalo Bills 100% Won The 2018 Trade With The Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Several years later, Beane is still running the show for the Buffalo Bills front office, with the team consistently being viewed as a Super Bowl contender, thanks in large part to Allen blossoming into one of the best quarterbacks of his generation.
Allen has earned two Pro Bowl nods and has passed for 22,703 yards and 167 touchdowns so far in his career in the NFL. He also has 3,611 rushing yards and 53 rushing touchdowns. If it weren’t for the existence of Patrick Mahomes in the AFC, Allen and the Buffalo Bills probably have already ended the Super Bowl drought of the franchise.
As for the 2024 NFL Draft, the Bills are picking late in the first round, as they have the 28th pick overall after going 11-6 in the regular season.