Buffalo, N.Y. (WGR 550) - When it comes to press conferences, I've learned over the years that general managers and coaches don't normally tend to tell us much. Not surprisingly, they try to keep their true thoughts and feelings inside the organization, and not make them available for public consumption.
However, Buffalo Bills general manager Brandon Beane is different.
I've always liked Beane's press conferences, because I think he is pretty much a straight-shooter, and will go as far as he can to give reporters an honest answer.
Beane held his end-of-season gathering with the local media earlier this week (a few weeks before anyone wanted this to be held, if we're being honest), and shared some insight into the upcoming offseason for the four-time AFC East champions.
Good news Bills fans: The team currently has nine picks in the 2024 NFL Draft, and expect to have 10 once a compensatory pick is awarded.
The Bills need all the picks they can get their hands on this offseason. Last year, they only had six picks to work with.
Buffalo has reached the point where teams that have sustained success usually end up. A number of big contracts have contributed to the Bills being about $45-$50 million over the estimated salary cap for the 2024 season.
That means there will be free agents the Bills would like to keep, but can't afford to re-sign. There will probably be some players released due to cap constraints.
When it comes to signing outside free agents, as Beane noted, don't expect any big splashes. The Bills will be shopping for bargains, which is why they really need to hit this draft and have some key contributions coming from players on cost-controlled contracts for the next few years.
At last year's draft, the Bills got two key players from their six-man class. Second-round pick O'Cyrus Torrence started every game at right guard this season, and first-round tight end Dalton Kincaid made an impact right from the start.
The 2022 draft class from the Bills has now yielded four starters in running back James Cook, linebacker Terrell Bernard, wide receiver Khalil Shakir and cornerback Christian Benford.
This year's draft will be is an important one to help restock the roster, and find some starters for the near future.
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I was very happy to hear what Beane had to say about the Bills' offense, in response to a question about Stefon Diggs' numbers plummeting over the second half of the season.
Beane said Diggs, who will turn 31 in November, is still a No. 1 wide receiver, and the team has to put weapons out there to keep teams from bracketing Diggs and taking him away.
Later on, during a response about the roster, Beane talked about getting more weapons to allow the Bills to dictate to opposing defenses. He also talked about how speed widens the field, and cited the Miami Dolphins wide receivers and running backs.
Bravo Mr. Beane!
The Bills need to make the addition of a speedy, explosive receiver a priority in the draft. They need to make the receiving group dangerous again.
Think back to the 2020 season when Diggs joined up with John Brown and Cole Beasley. The trio combined for just under 3,000 yards receiving and had 15 touchdowns.
Even though I obsess about making the offense more explosive, the heavy lifting for Beane will come on the defensive side of the ball, especially up front. Beane and McDermott are firm believers that you build your teams up front on both sides of the line.
Of the 11 defensive linemen listed on the Bills' depth chart for their AFC Divisional Round game against the Kansas City Chiefs, seven are set to become unrestricted free agents in March. The only linemen under contract in 2024 are: Von Miller, Ed Oliver, Greg Rousseau and Kingsley Jonathan.
I think Beane will be shopping in free agency for veterans who will play here on a one-year deal, and I fully expect them to take, at least, one defensive linemen somewhere in the first three rounds of the draft.
Did you know the Bills didn't use a single pick on that position in either of the last two drafts? They took six defensive linemen over the four drafts prior to that stretch, and three of the six were the first selection they made.
Free agent to-be wide receiver Gabe Davis is a goner. That will probably come as no surprise to many of you, and might make some of you very happy.
Beane did say the Bills would be fools not to want Davis back, but the contract has to work for both sides. That is the code for, "We can't/won't pay him what the free agent market will produce."
When asked whether or not some change would be good for a Bills team that has been eliminated in the AFC Divisional Round each of the last three seasons, Beane said they will look at areas where they are good, but not great. He added they don't accept just being good. They look to see how to make it great.
That needs to be the driving force of this offseason, because the Bills aren't great. They've been good enough to own the division, but they have to get to the next level on the NFL pyramid.
