Bills’ offseason moves allow for “Best Player Available” draft

When the Buffalo Bills lost Shaq Lawson, Jordan Phillips, and Kevin Johnson in free agency, it left significant holes on the defense. Add in the potential loss of Quinton Spain, the retirement of Lorenzo Alexander, the need for firepower on offense, and the concerns over Cody Ford’s ability at tackle and it seemed as though general manager Brandon Beane certainly had his work cut out for them.

Every single area of concern outlined above has been addressed, in some way, shape, or form, since the offseason began.

• The defensive line has been bolstered by the signings of Mario Addison, Vernon Butler, and Quinton Jefferson.
• The offensive line was solidified by the re-signing of Quinton Spain and the addition of Darryl Williams as a formidable option on the right side of the line.
• The linebacking corp steadied the ship with the signing of A.J. Klein as well as Tyler Matakevich in an expected special teams role.
• The CB2 spot added potential answers in Josh Norman and E.J. Gaines.
• Last but not least, the Bills added one of the absolutely highest-caliber playmakers possible with the trade for Stefon Diggs.

Now, with the virtual NFL draft around the corner, what do the Bills have to address? The answer is not that much. Maybe fans aren’t satisfied with the options of Norman, Gaines, or Levi Wallace across from Tre’Davious White. Maybe the departure of Frank Gore and the assumed promotion of T.J. Yeldon to a prominent RB2 role isn’t so savory to fans. Outside of that, the conversation among most seems to be fans displaying some level of satisfaction with how the team has addressed their needs, at least for 2020. It stands to reason that Brandon Beane and his staff feel at least as pleased with the offseason this far.

As the Bills enter the 2020 NFL Draft with seven picks, arguably the biggest “immediate needs” are additional competition at CB2 and RB2. Are either of those needs so big that it necessitates reaching to address them? Not in the opinion of most fans, and almost certainly not in the opinion of Brandon Beane. That positions the Bills’ front office squarely in “best player available” territory.

You can follow me on Twitter @NickBat and look for episodes of “The Nick & Nolan Show” podcast on the Buffalo Rumblings podcast network.