One of the most gratifying feelings for all staff of the NFL staff is to find players in the last cycles of the draft who benefit productive careers, even to star quarries and Buffalo bills have found a bunch in their history.
“I think you are finally trying to get the best football players you can,” said Bills Brandon Beane’s managing director recently about not hanging on with a chosen player.
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“I know that it spoke every year, but we play the players who are good enough to play,” said coach Sean McDermott. “As if we did not have a agenda on” hey this player because he was drafted in this lap, must play on the non -drained player. “”
The Beane / McDermott regime has found several low -aid successes, but the regimes of previous invoices also have.
Best late choices of the Buffalo bills
Buffalo Bills Robb Riddick balloon in action against Atlanta Falcons at the Fulton County stadium.
1961 – C al Bemiller (7th): The former Syracuse star played nine years in Buffalo and started 125 consecutive games.
1962 – LB Mike Stratton (13th): His 11 -year -old Buffalo career was rewarded with a place on the Bills renowned wall.
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1962 – De Tom Sestak (17th): Like Stratton, he found himself on the wall of the Bills renown and was the biggest defensive line player of the team until Bruce Smith arrives.
1964 – K Pete Gogolak (12th): He only played two years in Buffalo, but he revolutionized the game with his footballer style kick movement.
1971 – Wr Bobby Chandler (7th): His lack of speed overturned him the recovery board, but what he had a pair of hands.
1975 – RB Roland Hooks (10th): For seven years in Buffalo, he was the ultimate man, a back that could run and catch, start or get out of the bench.
1977 – CB Charlie Romes (12th): In 10 years, he made 28 interceptions, the fourth best in the history of the team.
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1981 – RB Robb Riddick (10th): He finally replaced the hooks on the list and was the same type of reliable public service player.
1985 – Wr Andre Reed (4th): He was from the state of Kutztown (Pennsylvania) and no one knew who he was, but now he is the receiver of all time of the Bills.
1986 – from Mark Pike (7th): Steve Tasker obtained all glory and trips to Pro Bowl, but Pike is a special platform for special teams from all time in Buffalo.
1987 – OT Howard Ballard (11th): The house was part of a very good offensive line that helped Bills dominate AFC in the late 80s and early 1990s.
1988 – NT Jeff Wright (8th): Took the place of Fred Smerlas in the middle and although he was undersized, he made a lot of parts.
Jay Riemersma celebrates a touchdown.
1996 – Te Jay Riemersma (7th): It was a long time to make the team, but the only tight invoices that caught more passes were Pete Metzelaars.
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2003 – CB / Kr Terrence McGee (4th): Has become a reliable starter while becoming the first launch turnr of all the team’s time with 5,450 yards and five affected.
2006 – DT Kyle Williams (5th): One of the great discoveries in the middle of mid-rudder, he continued to play 13 seasons and had 609 plated and 48.5 bags.
2008 – WR Stevie Johnson (7th): No one thought about him after two years, but he then found his niche and became the first bill to record three consecutive seasons of 1,000 yards.
2017 – LB Matt Milano (5th): An undersized player who, when he was not injured, was one of the best books in the NFL.
2018 – CB Taron Johnson (4th): Has established itself as one of the best NFL nickel corners during its first seven years.
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2020 – Wr Gabe Davis (4th): The inconsistency and injuries injured him, but he captured 163 assists for 2,730 yards and 27 TD in four years.
2020 – K Tyler Bass (6th): The end of 2023 did not go well, but it was rebounded and was solid in 2024 and is on the right track to become one of the best boots in the history of the team.
2022 – WR Khalil Shakir (5th): Over the past two seasons, he has become the most reliable target of Josh Allen and he led the team in the sockets and construction sites in 2024.
2022 – CB Christian Benford (6th): That year, the Bills chose Kaiir Elam in the first round and it turned out that Benford was the much best player. He has just signed a lucrative contract extension while Elam was exchanged for cowboys.
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Sal Maiorana covered the Buffalo Bills for four decades, including 35 years as a full-time editor for D&C, he has written many books on the history of the team, and he is also co-host of the program Balav in Bills Podcast / Youtube. It can be attached to [email protected], and you can follow it on X @Salmaiorana and on Bluesky @salmaiorana.bsky.social. Register for his Newsletter Bills Blast here: https://profile.democratandchronicle.com/newsletters/bills-blast
This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Buffalo Bills Drafts: Best late choices in the years
