Of all, Buffalo Bills’ GM Brandon Beane has one goal entering the 2025 NFL Draft– make defense stronger. And we can blame the Kansas City Chiefs ripping apart his defense. If not for Patrick Mahomes and Co., Josh Allen’s Bills could have at least one Super Bowl appearance to their name. But, nah, every time they have faced the Chiefs and Mahomes has somehow managed to inflict defeat no matter how well the Bills play. Even after Allen led them to their fifth consecutive AFC East division title, two sensational playoff victories, once the Chiefs came around, the Bills fell short again. So, this year, Beane knew the plan to stop the Chiefs’ postseason domination over them. However, it seems the Bill Mafia isn’t exactly impressed with his draft strategy. But Brandon? Let’s just say that he came with his numbers written and receipts arranged.

Beane used his first 5 draft picks to pick either defensive linemen or cornerbacks. With their 30th overall, the Bills chose Kentucky’s CB Maxwell Hairston. Then they picked two defensive tackles in the second and fourth rounds. South Carolina’s TJ Sanders and Kentucky’s Deone Walker. Sandwiched between those defensive tackles was a defensive end from Arkansas, Landon Jackson, in the third round. Finally, they concluded their defensive additions with two more corners in Ohio State’s Jordan Hancock and Virginia Tech’s Dorian Strong.

In total, they brought in six defenders from their nine picks– three corners, two defensive tackles and an edge rusher. But this time, considering the Bills spent 80% of their draft capital on defensive players, the Bills Mafia again, wasn’t happy. Even after the Bills selected a receiver in Maryland’s Kaden Prather, they criticized their lack of interest in wide receivers. Given that Josh Allen doesn’t have a Pro Bowl-status receiver, the Bills Mafia disagreed with Beane’s draft strategy. However, Beane has had enough of the complaints. He simply went on a 1-minute rant after joining the WGR550 with Jeremy and Joe.

“I was just listening to the last minutes of your show before I came on. Sounds like 2018 all over with you guys,” Beane said. Taken by surprise, co-host Jeremy White asked, “How so?” That’s when Beane exploded.

“Well, you guys were b——- in 2018 about Josh Allen. You guys wanted Josh Rosen, and now you guys are b——- that we don’t have a receiver. I don’t get it, like. We just scored 30 points in a row for eight straight games. A year ago, I get you guys asking why we didn’t have receivers, but I don’t understand it now. You just saw us lead the league in points. When you add all the postseason, no one scored more points than the Buffalo Bills, including the Super Bowl champions.

“So, you just saw us do it without Stefon Diggs, same group. How is this group not better than last year’s group? Like I don’t… Like our job is to score points and win games. Where do we need to get better? Defense! We did that. So, I get it, you got to have a show and you got to have something to b—- about but b——- about wide receiver is one of the dumbest arguments I’ve heard.”

Beane is absolutely bang on. The duo of Josh Allen and OC Joe Brady exploded last year.

The Bills set franchise records for points (525) and TDs (65) scored in a single season. Even without the services of Stefon Diggs, who left for Houston, the Bills didn’t slow down. They kept on winning games convincingly. Allen also picked up his first NFL MVP award as Beane continued to justify their draft approach.

Brandon Beane defended his draft strategy like a lockdown cornerback

Despite not having a receiver with more than 900 receiving yards, Allen didn’t slow down. After defeating his MVP competitor, Lamar Jackson, in the playoffs, Allen was voted the Most Valuable Player in 2024. He did it without any Pro-Bowl or All-Pro receiver in his offense.

Most importantly, Allen was the only Bills player to receive an All-Pro honor last year, finishing eighth in passer rating, 14th in yards, and seventh in TDs on the air. His athleticism on the ground also helped him score 531 rushing yards, and fourth-best 40 TDs. That’s why Beane wasn’t at all pleased with the criticism over their lack of interest in wide receivers.

“I don’t understand this narrative. I felt it a little bit from a couple of the reporters in the thing, like our job is to score points. It doesn’t matter what receivers, what quarterback, what if you score points at the level we scored, that is winning football,” Beane mused.

With Amari Cooper unlikely to return, the only receivers the Bills have right now are Khalil Shakir, Keon Coleman, and Josh Palmer. Those may not be household names, but considering Allen’s productions, he may not need a top-level wideout.

What he and the Bills need is postseason victories. It’s safe to say, Beane is going by the “defense wins championships” narrative. Once their defense stops Patrick Mahomes and Co., the Bills may finally reach the Super Bowl for the first time since the 1993 season. Until proven, well, the voices will continue.