It’s no coincidence that the Buffalo Bills’ recent run of success began back in 2017 when the team hired head coach Sean McDermott and general manager Brandon Beane.
Since then, the team has a 66.4 win percentage, an 89-45 record, five AFC East division titles, seven playoff appearances, and two AFC Championship Game appearances.
And while there are plenty of examples around the league of teams with seemingly model front offices —the Kansas City Chiefs, Philadelphia Eagles, Baltimore Ravens — the Bills rank right at the top.
According to an anonymous poll of 29 general managers, head coaches and high-ranking team executives conducted by the Athletic, the Bills (one first-place vote, 65 total points) were ranked the No. 4 front office in the NFL behind only the Eagles (11 first-place votes, 177 total votes), Ravens (nine first-place votes, 163 total votes), and Los Angeles Rams (three first-place votes, 84 total votes).
“General manager Brandon Beane and coach Sean McDermott share a like-minded view on roster acquisition,” The Athletics’s Jeff Howe wrote. “And while there have been inconsistencies in the draft, the Bills were still able to reload on the fly over the last two years, shedding veterans for a youth movement.”
Beane has built the Bills into a perennial Super Bowl contender, and his track record with the draft speaks for itself.
Since 2017, the Bills have drafted several cornerstone players including quarterback Josh Allen, running back James Cook, offensive tackle Dion Dawkins, defensive tackle Ed Oliver, defensive end Gregory Rousseau, linebacker Matt Milano, and cornerbacks Tre’Davious White and Christian Benford, who’ve combined for 10 Pro Bowl selections, seven All-Pro selections, and one MVP.
“They nailed the QB, and that goes a really long way,” one anonymous executive said. “I was not a huge Josh Allen fan (before the draft). They put in the work and the time, and that was not a slam-dunk pick by any stretch. But they identified him.”
Added another: “They have a really good staff and a clear vision for what a Bill looks like. With few exceptions, their guys are always tough and competitive.”