Buffalo Bills normal supervisor Brandon Beane’s newest transfer is a determined try and make amends for not including a large receiver this offseason.
On Tuesday, the 7-4 Payments signed broad receiver Brandin Cooks after dropping 4 of their previous seven video games. The collective response of Buffalo followers ought to be meh.
Why Brandin Cooks signing should not transfer the needle
Cooks, a former New England Patriots star, is a shell of his former self. The 32-year-old veteran final completed with 1,037 receiving yards or extra throughout the 2021 season when nonetheless taking part in for the Houston Texans.
Over the previous 4 seasons, Cooks has did not surpass 699 receiving yards. Earlier than the New Orleans Saints launched him after Week 11, he averaged a career-low 8.7 yards per reception (165 yards) in 10 video games with the staff.
Beane might have thought followers would acknowledge Cooks’ identify, however they should not be fooled. They know he ought to’ve added one other WR a lot earlier.
How this transfer highlights Brandon Beane’s failure so as to add high quality WRs
The Payments did not make any splashes at WR this offseason. They signed WR Josh Palmer to a three-year, $29M deal in free company and waited till the seventh spherical of the 2025 NFL Draft to take Maryland WR Kaden Prather (choose No. 240).
After the draft, Beane defended himself for not doing extra to enhance the WR room. He advised WGR-AM in Buffalo that the Payments had among the best offenses within the league in 2024, so he did not have to. Moreover, he advised followers to cease complaining. The GM most likely needs he may retract that remark.
Palmer has zero landing catches after 12 weeks, and Prather was waived with an harm settlement in August. WR Khalil Shakir has been the staff’s prime receiver this season, however he isn’t a real No. 1. In 11 video games, the previous Boise State star has a team-leading 564 receiving yards, which ranks thirty second within the NFL.
To make issues worse for the Payments, second-year WR Keon Coleman, whom they hoped would blossom this season, is dealing with disciplinary points. He has been a healthy scratch for 2 video games after lacking a staff assembly earlier than a Week 11 sport in opposition to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
The dearth of high quality pass-catchers is clearly impacting QB Josh Allen. The 2024 league MVP has thrown 9 interceptions in 11 video games after tossing six in 17 final season.
Beane reportedly tried to amass Miami Dolphins WR Jaylen Waddle earlier than the commerce deadline handed on Nov. 4, however the AFC East rival rejected him. Now, he’ll Plan B in Cooks.
That does not cowl for refusing so as to add one other WR this offseason. The GM’s error might forestall the Payments from profitable a Tremendous Bowl, losing one other yr of Allen’s prime.
