BB
Brandon Beane
GM since May 2017(9 years, 2 mo)
GM rankings — every move graded by contract value, sentiment, and fan votes.
F
F
F
Grade this GM's body of work
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The Verdict on Brandon, in One Read
On the Contract Value Index, Brandon Beane's front office has been significantly overpaying relative to production (F Contract Value Index). That ranks 8th of 32 on Sentiment among graded GMs. Reaction to the front office’s moves has been sharply negative (F Sentiment), drawn from current news and social signal. The crowd-sourced Fan Verdict currently sits at F.
About Brandon Beane
Background and career path of the Buffalo Bills general manager.
Path to the role
Beane studied communications at UNC Wilmington and turned down journalism for a low-paying internship with the Carolina Panthers in 1998. He spent 18 years in Carolina, climbing from personnel into director of football operations and ultimately assistant general manager, working alongside several future head coaches and GMs during a stretch that included two Super Bowl appearances. The Buffalo Bills hired him as general manager in May 2017.
Philosophy & notable moves
Beane's tenure is inseparable from one decision: drafting quarterback Josh Allen seventh overall in 2018. He tore down the roster he inherited, ended Buffalo's long playoff drought in his first year, and built a perennial AFC contender around Allen, Tremaine Edmunds and Ed Oliver. A two-time Sporting News Executive of the Year, he was elevated to president of football operations in 2026 while keeping his GM duties.
Fun facts
- He is a two-time Sporting News NFL Executive of the Year (2020 and 2022).
- His first NFL job was a low-paying internship with the Carolina Panthers, where he stayed for 18 years.
- He was a high school quarterback before moving into front-office work.
71
Transactions
71
Graded
0
Fan Votes
9 years
Tenure
League Comparison
#8
Sentiment Rank
of 32 GMs
#7
Most Active
71 moves
Contract Value
F
Poor contract value
OverpayFair ValueGreat Value
The Buffalo Bills have been paying a premium this season, with several contracts that outpace the expected production level. Across 45 contracts, 6 grade out as good value and 4 look like overpays based on comparable deals around the league. The best bang-for-the-buck deal was Geno Stone (A-) at $1.4M/yr — getting defensive back production well above the price point. The priciest commitment relative to production was Sam Franklin Jr (D-) at $2.3M/yr — the defensive back market may have been richer than the on-field return suggests. Cap flexibility could become a concern if these contracts don't produce at the expected level.
Public Sentiment
F
Poor reception
NegativeMixedPositive
Buffalo Bills' 2026 moves under Brandon Beane have drawn significant criticism from fans and media alike. Of 71 graded moves, 26 landed well with the fanbase, 29 drew mixed reactions, and 16 were viewed negatively. The standout move was bringing in DJ Moore (A+), which generated the most positive buzz. The most questioned decision was the Taron Johnson cut (F), which drew the sharpest criticism. The fanbase remains split — some moves look promising while others need time to prove their worth.
Draft History (During Tenure)
Elite drafter — 88% hit rate (Rds 1-3)2026 Draft
All 2026 Transactions
F
F
ReleaseJul 31, 2026
Buffalo Bills release S Wande Owens
C
C
SigningJul 31, 2026
Buffalo Bills sign Dante Pettis
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About this general manager
Brandon Beane is the general manager of the Buffalo Bills, in his 9th year as the lead executive. FanVerdicts covers every NFL GM and the full body of moves they've made — and asks fans to render the verdict. Cast your Fan Verdict on Brandon Beane, see where the crowd lands, and argue the call. FanVerdicts brings its own read too — the contract value of the deals they signed, the performance of the players they assembled, and the sentiment around recent moves — as one honest input alongside the crowd's. Where FanVerdicts has weighed in so far: Contract Value Index F, Performance B-, Sentiment F, Fan Verdict F.
Each GM grade is rolled up from the underlying transactions attributed to that GM's tenure. When a GM signs a player, that signing's Contract Value Index grade flows into the GM's portfolio score; the same player's subsequent performance and sentiment grades flow into the GM's respective summaries. Phased attribution applies for new GMs: the first three years weight the prior GM's legacy deals at 100%/66%/33%, ramping the new GM's ownership of roster outcomes.
For broader context, the NFL hub has team rankings, GM report cards, and the transactions feed. The NFL GM rankings page ranks every front office side-by-side on the same four dimensions.
