Now that the dust has settled in Buffalo, it’s time to address the firing of Sean McDermott.
The Monday after the Bills lost to the Denver Broncos in the AFC Divisional Round, they announced McDermott would no longer be the head coach of the team. In his nine seasons as head coach, McDermott led Buffalo to the playoffs eight times and secured five AFC East titles, but was unable to make it to the Super Bowl.
Bills’ owner Terry Pegula commented on the firing, stating, “Another playoff failure, that’s why I decided that Sean had to leave.”
McDermott had his flaws; there were things he could’ve done better. But he isn’t the reason Buffalo can’t get over the hump.
The man to blame is general manager Brandon Beane.
Beane has consistently shown that he isn’t doing what is best for the team’s success. He’s why the Bills continue failing to meet expectations.
Draft Struggles
Beane has built a reputation for poor draft decisions. Since drafting quarterback Josh Allen in 2018, the Bills have only drafted two Pro Bowlers (Dawson Knox and James Cook). To put this into perspective, Beane has drafted 55 players in his time in Buffalo. For the Bills to only turn two of those players into Pro Bowlers is unacceptable.
Beane has also drafted two of the biggest busts in recent memory, with cornerback Kaiir Elam in 2022 and wide receiver Keon Coleman in 2024. Coleman has fallen far from the expectations of a second-round receiver.
The year the Bills drafted Coleman, the media heavily criticized Beane for not trading up for players such as Brian Thomas Jr. or Rome Odunze, who have both had better starts than Coleman.
Beane’s struggles in the early rounds of drafts have led people to question his drafting and scouting abilities.
Questionable Signings
Beane has been notorious for bringing back former Bills late in their career. Players such as Tre’Davious White, Jordan Poyer, Jordan Phillips, Dane Jackson, Shaq Lawson, and Gabe Davis have been brought back for second or even third stints with the team.
While this is not always a bad thing, as it can bolster leadership and depth, it has typically not worked out so well for Buffalo. These players are nearing the end of their careers and are unable to produce at the level they once could. Sometimes you wonder if Beane knows he can sign players from other teams.
Other signings, such as Von Miller and Josh Palmer, have also been criticized for being overpaid and risky. It is safe to say the benefits did not outweigh the risks.
Wide Receiver Neglect
Since Stefon Diggs was traded to the Texans in 2024, the Bills’ wide receiver group has arguably been one of the worst in the league — and they have a former MVP throwing them the ball.
Khalil Shakir led Buffalo this season with an underwhelming 719 receiving yards and 72 receptions.
Since Diggs left the team, Beane has signed seven receivers and traded for one. In their time with the Bills, those eight players combined for only 1,338 receiving yards and nine touchdowns. Los Angeles Rams receiver Puka Nacua recorded 1,715 yards and 10 touchdowns this season alone.
In a season where many people expected Buffalo to trade for a receiver at the deadline, Beane failed to get a deal done.
Should Beane Still Have a Job?
McDermott was not perfect, but it’s self-evident that Beane has not done enough to get the Bills to the promised land.
McDermott was never the problem. He brought Buffalo out of a 17-season playoff drought and created a winning culture. McDermott did everything he could for the Bills, but was held back by the careless, and sometimes non-existent, moves by Beane, who should have been fired.
With McDermott out and Joe Brady in, a new era begins in Buffalo.
Beane and the Bills have to figure things out quickly — or else they will waste one of the most talented quarterbacks in the history of the NFL.
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