Five Biggest Buffalo Bills' Draft Busts in Brandon Beane Era

The Buffalo Bills have had several strong draft classes during general manager Brandon Beane's tenure, but there have also been notable misses since 2018 that have hindered the team's pursuit of a Super Bowl.

Beane got off to a strong start in 2018, but his classes have shown mixed results in the years since. With the Bills' 2025 class producing limited early returns, there is increased importance on avoiding future draft missteps.

Here are five of the most notable draft misses during Beane's tenure, based on draft position and expected production.

5. WR Keon Coleman (2024, pick No. 33, second round)

This is less of an indictment of Coleman, who still has the support of new head coach Joe Brady, and more about missed opportunities. Ladd McConkey, selected with the next pick, surpassed 1,000 receiving yards in his rookie season, and Ricky Pearsall was on pace to approach that mark in 2025 before injuries limited his production.

Coleman has faced both on-field inconsistency and off-field issues early in his career. While he has worked hard in the offseason, the acquisition of DJ Moore has reduced his projected role.

4. RB Zack Moss (2020, pick No. 86, third round)

The Bills already had a young running back in Devin Singletary at the time of this selection, but Moss was expected to complement Singletary and quarterback Josh Allen in the run game.

Moss spent less than three seasons in Buffalo, rushing for 917 yards and eight touchdowns. He was traded to the Indianapolis Colts during the 2022 season for running back Nyheim Hines. Hines returned two kickoffs for touchdowns in the game following Damar Hamlin's cardiac arrest, a significant moment in recent Bills history.

3. P Matt Araiza (2022, pick No. 180, sixth round)

Araiza's situation was unusual. In August 2022, shortly after he was drafted, a civil lawsuit was filed alleging sexual assault. The Bills released him two days later. No criminal charges were filed, and he was dismissed from the lawsuit in December 2023.

Araiza later signed with the Kansas City Chiefs before the 2024 season and has ranked in the upper half of NFL punters in gross average in each of his first two seasons with the team.

2. EDGE Boogie Basham (2021, pick No. 61, second round)

In a deep defensive line rotation, Basham spent just two seasons with the Bills, recording 4.5 sacks and four tackles for loss. He was frequently a healthy scratch as a rookie season and appeared in only eight games in 2021. His role increased in 2022, but his production did not significantly improve.

Basham was traded to the New York Giants for a late-round pick swap in 2023 and has appeared in 20 NFL games since.

1. CB Kaiir Elam (2022, pick No. 23, first round)

Elam was selected to pair with Tre'Davious White at cornerback but lost the starting job to sixth-round pick Christian Benford entering Week 1 of his rookie season. Elam struggled to secure a consistent role while Benford developed into a reliable starter.

Elam was traded to the Dallas Cowboys for two late-round draft picks in March 2025. He spent the 2025 season with the Cowboys and the Tennessee Titans before signing a one-year contract with the Chiefs on April 2.

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