Buffalo Bills’ GM Brandon Beane almost gave up Tremaine Edmunds to take Josh Allen

The night of the 2018 NFL Draft, the Buffalo Bills were prepared to give up both first-round picks and one of their second-rounders to move up to the fifth overall pick owned by the Denver Broncos. John Elway, who runs the show in Denver, was going to take the deal from the Bills as long as his preferred prospect wasn't on the board. This according to Bills general manager Brandon Beane, who spoke with The Buffalo News following the draft.

The Cleveland Browns were on the clock at fourth overall and up until the night of the draft all signs pointed to the Browns taking NC State pass-rusher, Bradley Chubb. In a bit of a surprising move, the Browns passed and took Ohio State cornerback Denzel Ward. This made Chubb available for the Broncos and the deal was taken off the table.

Beane said the picks two, four and five were the best possible landing spots for the Bills to move up for Josh Allen, who they were eventually able to take at seven. After those picks passed by, teams ahead of the Bills weren't looking to trade back. Fortunately for the Bills, the cards were dealt in the Bills favor.

“That was a blessing in disguise,” he said. “I was tight after Denver’s pick. I was trying not to show it to the room, but I was tight. Joe and I, we were very tight. I basically told everybody, ‘Just stay tuned, stay right here, and as soon as I get something, we’ll act.’ We just kept working it back and forth between the two of us, ‘OK, you call them now, I’m calling them.’ ”

With the Browns taking Denzel Ward at four and letting the Broncos have their favorite prospect slide to them, the Bills saved their second first-round pick that made it possible for them to move up to take Tremaine Edmunds.