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Brandon Bean
You got value. You can't build a roster of value. You build a roster of talent and you have to turn that value into players. And it goes back to what we said before. Everybody loves picks until they're players. Now from the Connors and Ferris podcast
Podcast Host
studio, this is the Buffalo plus podcast.
Jenna Cottrell
All right, welcome back to the Buffalo plus podcast. Mike Catalana, Dan Fates, I am Jenna Cottrell. Please be sure to like, comment, subscribe and share. We are here in the Connors and Ferris podcast studio. Breaking down NFL draft day number two, rounds two and three and the Bills they did pick players as Buffalo taking at 35 overall, TJ Parker, the Edge rusher out of Clemson and then at 62 they ended up taking IGB. We're going to use, we're going to use what his nickname is, what people call him, a corner out of Ohio State. Michael, they picked players. Corner was certainly a surprise for a lot of people. Your overall thoughts on day two in the first picks of this Bills draft class?
Dan Fates
All right, so I, I appreciated what Brandon Bean did in round number one even though I would have liked to have seen a pick. We all like to see a pick, right? You understand the logic behind trading back for value and then he made selections. Now I don't want to be negative because I don't know as much about TJ Parker, right. Or, or igb. Now Igbosan I think is how it's pronounced. Davison, I don't know enough about them and I know there's a hope certainly no matter where you pick. And as we've said this, Dan, when you pick earlier than expected a guy you're like okay, can he play? So we'll find out if they can play. I don't think based on what most people thought they got the value for the picks since that was such an important part of what they did by trading back. I am going to be open minded about what these two young men can do. It's a huge night for them. I will say that my initial instincts have usually been pretty good on the players that they've drafted in the past few years and that's why I'm holding back on not negativity but a lack of enthusiasm for what they've done.
Brandon Bean
Yeah, another great live show. Appreciate everybody that followed along on Friday night. I was time with the family a little bit but also just the fact of I was thinking about it a lot and I kind of talked about on there but just if you didn't follow along reiterating like I wrapped my Head around all day Friday that there was what Brandon Bean did, I can understand, okay, trading back and getting, getting the extra value. And I was telling Jenna, Mike, I was telling Jenna, I think you were doing the newscast where I was like, there are principles that normally you have in hockey. We were talking about hockey the other day and I said it happens so fast that you don't really have time to like basketball, to pull it out and reset your defense or reset your offense in the half court. And I was talking about how whether it's not turning the puck over in the five foot rule or getting pucks deep or just little things like that. And I was like, normally I would want to take those dart throws and chances in the first round compared to the fourth because that's historically where you would find you have a higher success rate of finding impact players. But this draft is different. And I think that's what I've, I've struggled to kind of wrap my head around. Was that to Jenna's point, a lot of the meat and potatoes were in the 30 to 65. And the fact that Bean was able to accomplish what I didn't think he would be able to do and gain more value, that's great. But I wasn't ready to say it was a masterclass by Bean when a card hadn't been turned in yet. And that's where I said I sat on the fence after day one where I was like, well, we have to see, like, you got value. You can't build a roster of value. You build a roster of talent and you have to turn that value into players. And it goes back to what we said before. Everybody loves picks until they're players. I think a lot of people were really excited about all the picks the Bills had and then I think they made the picks. And I don't think people are as excited as what they were.
Jenna Cottrell
Yeah, I agree. I think. And we can start with T.J. parker. Now, I think for the Bills, you figure they would go some type of defensive line. They went with an edge rusher. And TJ Parker, you look at his numbers in 2024 and they, they jump off the page and then you see what he did in 2025. And one of the things that was kind of talked about with him is, is a prospect is just like his numbers in 24 were gaudy. And what he has been able to do in 2025 is probably a bit more indicative of the player he can be. 6 4, 2, 6 3. He's someone that's talked about as being violent. His strengths including weaponizing his hands, point of attack, he's violent. Ball stripping ability is elite and that is not coincidental. Had six force fumbles in 2024. That being said I just looked at a player and I thought, I thought I. I liked other guys better really I liked Cash Cassius Howell better. Zion Lodge was another guy that I thought could have more upside. And so I just looking at other players I was, I was a little bit surprised to see the Bills take TJ Parker there because you mentioned the value Dan TJ Parker was someone that I saw mocks more towards the middle if not closer to the end of the second round as opposed to being a guy that is used with the third pick in the second round. So when I saw that I was like okay, that's interesting because there's been so much emphasis on value and the Bills are getting a guy that I've been, I've seen that has been you know talked about being back half or middle of the back half of of the second round. So I did think that was interesting and I just, I when I'm going through prospects and I've done a lot to, to go through prospects in this year. Yeah I will start, I will star a player that I really think makes sense in Buffalo. And neither of the players they drafted today are players that I start now. That does not mean that they can't be good and they can't be a good fit. I just looking at some of the. The weaknesses of these players to me it didn't seem like those were guys that I like the weaknesses of
Brandon Bean
igb
Jenna Cottrell
well of TJ Parker is still that like his production once the. The caliber of play went up his numbers struggle. And so I just, I always. And that goes with you know college to then to the NFL that that competition levels com is rising. And so you look at his 2024 season you're like oh my God incredible.
Brandon Bean
He was a guy that was rising.
Jenna Cottrell
Yes.
Brandon Bean
And then the play kind of plateau. Now Clemson also went right to shit.
Jenna Cottrell
Yes.
Brandon Bean
You wonder how much on the positive
Dan Fates
side he has shown a high ability even though it was two years ago. Daniel Jeremiah in February had him mock 17th in the draft first round. That's February. So he recognizes the talent. Not saying he's not talented but he did drop down amongst most people were to Jenna's point of where he was going to be picked. And look everybody's got their preferences on edge. I say he looks like a Sean McDermott draft pick. That's also so I say that with a little sarcasm because Brandon Bean runs the draft just like he ran the draft when Josh Allen was picked. Right. And when you got any of the best players, it's his draft. That's what he does. He doesn't call timeouts for Sean McDermott or now Joe Brady, but he makes the picks. And so it felt like a player that fits more in a 4, 3 look, says he's a versatile player. That's great. And hopefully he's really good there. Not saying he can't play, but he looks like a player that would have been drafted in AJ epanessa range. Not his style of play, but his range, which is in the 50s with the initials. Yes, I thought that, yes, it's a
Brandon Bean
little AJ Because I think we all also had the impression that, that they would go speed.
Dan Fates
Yeah. And he's more of. He's not good all around, kind of.
Jenna Cottrell
It is funny because I feel like we think so much about Sean McDermott's impact on what they choose and the players that they drafted, but this is very much the type that they have drafted with Sean McDermott there and now without Sean McDermott there.
Dan Fates
Yeah.
Jenna Cottrell
Do you know what I'm saying?
Dan Fates
Because it's Brandon Bean, because it's his drive.
Jenna Cottrell
No, I know, but I think a lot of people like, oh, Sean is the one influencing the roster.
Dan Fates
Yes. Is that the, that people would think that. I think the bigger issue is the, the bigger story tonight or tomorrow is the Ohio State corner. Your draft in a corner. You traded up to get him talented player physically matches up, incredible amount of penalties which I think can be coached out of some players.
Jenna Cottrell
They did, they did drop. They were higher in 2024. They did drop in 2024.
Brandon Bean
Did you hear what he did, Mike? He wore boxing.
Jenna Cottrell
No, he wore oven mitts at practice.
Dan Fates
Okay. Whatever it is that takes to know.
Brandon Bean
Do you know who else?
Dan Fates
Oh, did he do that?
Jenna Cottrell
Yeah, Kair wore boxing gloves. IGB had to wear oven mitts. Dan doesn't like that.
Dan Fates
Hold on, hold on. Let's get to the point about this. You drafted Max Hairston last year in the second round.
Brandon Bean
First.
Dan Fates
I mean, excuse me, in the first round. Now you drafted a corner in the second round. What did Brandon Bean say about it?
Podcast Host
I would say that will impact our team. I mean, if you look at the corners are premium positions. If you just look at, you know, who makes the, you know, the top dollars in the league. And if you look at our season last year, and it's happened before, John, those guys are all Going to play. They're going to play. It's a long season. And when you have corners that are not capable, they get bullseyes on them real fast. And especially when you're playing the prime time quarterbacks, the primetime offenses in this league, I can tell you this, if there's another good corner tomorrow, we'll take them. Like, think of how many guys we went through last season that played in the playoffs for us or helping us get to the playoffs. So you're going to need those guys.
Brandon Bean
That was Brandon Bean being asked about. You're drafting a corner and how much of an impact player can he make? Because he also said, I don't think it's in that bite. But he said that they have penciled in Bedford and Harrison.
Dan Fates
But that's their competition, right? I mean, yes, I don't have any problem with the competition thing. You just drafted the guy a year ago and you picked high with other needs. They must feel very strongly about him. Jenna. They moved up spots to get him.
Jenna Cottrell
Yeah. That's why I'm like, they clearly showed that this was their guy that they wanted to get.
Brandon Bean
And I like that. That's one thing I like moving up.
Dan Fates
Find your guy. You want being aggressive.
Brandon Bean
Yeah, Aggressive Bean. I like aggressive Bean saying, this is my guy. He makes me feel something and I want to go up and get him.
Dan Fates
Right.
Brandon Bean
Because I don't want that 2% chance that he's not there.
Dan Fates
Right.
Brandon Bean
Like they were talking about Daniel. Jeremiah was on part of my take before the draft and was saying, like Ty Simpson, Ty Simpson's team feels like Arizona that they're going to be able to get him at 35 or whatever. It's a 98% chance. But he's like, do you want to take that 2% chance? And it's like when Howie, when he, when he locks in on his. His guy, he does whatever he has
Dan Fates
up and gets them, he.
Brandon Bean
Okay, so I know that and I know everybody was talking in my mentions and a lot of people in the comments were like, well, who did you want then at 26? And I was like, I don't really have a great answer. I thought Ken Falk would. Would have fit.
Jenna Cottrell
Keldrick Falk.
Brandon Bean
Keldrick Falk could have fit. I thought Omar Cooper Jr. Could have fit. He was another guy that I.
Dan Fates
About Casey Concepcion. There were reports that the Bills were trying to be in on him. Did you not want to make a move up?
Jenna Cottrell
Right.
Brandon Bean
If you thought, hey, I think he will be there, but you weren't aggressive enough. Like you didn't have that.
Dan Fates
You weren't all in.
Brandon Bean
Right. So my bigger thing in my, my bone to pick with. This is in Jen and I were talking about in the live show. You're drafting a third corner. He hasn't played safety. That's a possibility. I guess he doesn't play nickel or in this line. Hasn't.
Dan Fates
Right.
Brandon Bean
Okay. He's longer. And being said in the bite like he has a different skill set than Benford and Harrison, that's fine. And being talked about how injuries have been a problem for the secondary and big moments. Yes. And don't get me wrong, Mike, you've said it before. There has never been a team that has said we have too many good corners. That is never a problem that a team has. What I struggle with is. And there are so many people that are commenting in. When I was like, I tweeted like I'm shooketh, like, I'm surprised that they took a corner and moved up and used a premium draft capital to make this pick. And people are saying, well, they had Dane Jackson last year playing in the playoff game. I think you're missing some important context as to why Dane Jackson was playing in that game. They had a healthy corner for depth and it was Jamarcus Ingram. And Brandon Bean released him to add Darius Slay, who by all accounts had no chance playing. We're not trying to rehash the Darius Slay thing, but to sit there and say, well, we've gotten burned because of our corners, weren't healthy or we didn't have healthy corners, you can talk about playing Max Harrison in week 18 in the second half. That's absolutely part of it. But your healthy corner at depth was Jamarcus Ingram.
Dan Fates
Yep.
Brandon Bean
And Brandon Bean released him.
Dan Fates
He did. And Jenna, if you go back to the Kansas City game the year before Christian Benford went out with a concussion, it was Kyrie Elam, a first round pick. So you got Dane Jackson playing a seventh round pick who was in and out. I mean, back four different times with the Bills. Then you have Kyrie Elam, who was a number one pick. So the idea of having depth is a good one. I just think I will say this. There's still picks to be made, there's players to bring in. It's only. It is the first three rounds, but it's only three rounds of the draft. But I did not expect that type of player to be their pick. Where they picked. I thought if they would have kept 91 and taken a corner.
Jenna Cottrell
Totally agree.
Dan Fates
It was a Little bit different.
Jenna Cottrell
See, my thing is though, you're picking someone. You're moving up in the second round to pick a player that a second round pick is expected to be a starter.
Dan Fates
Yes.
Jenna Cottrell
Just like a first round pick from the year before is expected to be a starter. And we know that Christian Benford is actually a starter. So you can say all you want about how there's depth and I, I agree that the. It's nice to have depth. That corner. But also this to me says that Max Harrison was not what they wanted and they need something different or not
Brandon Bean
what Jim Leonard wanted. That's.
Dan Fates
Yeah.
Jenna Cottrell
Which is not what they want.
Dan Fates
Does seem to be. I thought he's going to want a more physical player, which makes sense.
Jenna Cottrell
And I'm not. I'm not.
Dan Fates
So I didn't think Max was a good fit for Sean McDermott.
Jenna Cottrell
So I, I agree with that because
Brandon Bean
we were talking about in the live show, there's two options. Either because I said we joked around a little bit about the winners and losers on the Bill's current roster. Like, hey, big win for Keon Coleman and Brandon being doubled down.
Jenna Cottrell
He said not lip service.
Brandon Bean
It's not lip service. He said that after, when he spoke to the media on Friday night. That what we've seen from Keon is, is. Is really great these few weeks and all of this stuff that's. But arrow up for Keon, like. Yes. Keon should be very happy. Right.
Dan Fates
Also air up for defensive lineman.
Jenna Cottrell
Yeah. Interior.
Dan Fates
Interior line.
Brandon Bean
I said that. Dwayne Carter.
Dan Fates
Dwayne Carter.
Brandon Bean
Big night for him.
Dan Fates
T.J. sanders.
Brandon Bean
Big nights for them. D.E.
Dan Fates
walker. I mean, obviously T.J. sanders.
Brandon Bean
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Jenna Cottrell
Sorry. I was about to say T.J. parker.
Dan Fates
Yes.
Jenna Cottrell
Not right.
Brandon Bean
Kind of a arrow down. If you're Max Harrison. And we were kind of talking about it and Jenna's like, you're drafting this guy in the second round to be a starter. And then Bean comes out and says he's penciled in as our starter. Benford and Harrison are penciled in starter. And so it's. Actions speak louder than words. So it's like if I'm Max Harrison, I'm going. I was the first overall pick last year. Now I'm well in their first round pick.
Dan Fates
Not first overall, but first round pick. First round pick. But there's nothing wrong with putting him on notice a little bit to compete. That is jarring to Michael.
Brandon Bean
Yeah. What did we talk yesterday? Value. That's where I. That's where I'm struggling. Because. Because either you're drafting over your first round pick from a year ago, which
Dan Fates
is what it sounds like we're trying
Brandon Bean
to do, or you're drafting a backup in the second round.
Dan Fates
Unless they feel like this player can help them to be a depth guy and eventually move into that spot. Which.
Jenna Cottrell
Which again, does not bode well for Max Harris.
Dan Fates
It does, but in that case, I don't have a problem with that. But it's only one year with somewhat limited time on the field for Max, and you're already looking to. If this was an entirely different regime in here, there's a different person picking.
Jenna Cottrell
Agreed.
Dan Fates
That happens sometimes. Usually not. When they just picked them.
Jenna Cottrell
That is. Yes, that is different.
Dan Fates
And I don't. Yeah. To your point, he's not the type of corner that you go, oh, he could play here, he could play there.
Brandon Bean
And I talked about it before. Like, Bean calls it a premium position for corner and he's like, they get paid a lot and they. Absolutely.
Jenna Cottrell
Sorry, do.
Brandon Bean
But I'm going to be honest. Like, it's kind of why we didn't think they would draft a defensive tackle.
Dan Fates
Right.
Brandon Bean
Because you can find serviceable defensive tackles.
Dan Fates
You're talking about like more of a nose tackle type.
Brandon Bean
Right. You can find those in the free agent market relatively cheap and they may
Dan Fates
still end up doing that.
Brandon Bean
Absolutely. But I also think that you could sign Trey White for $5 million and run back the number one pass defense in the league last year and, and, and use a second round pick at a more of a spot of need.
Jenna Cottrell
You mean like a premium position, like wide receiver? We're, we're trading up to get a depth at corner. What about wide receiver? I do not feel confident in Keon Coleman taking this leap. And you know what I have not seen, I have not seen him out on the field and OTAs, because we have not been there yet, by the way. They are. Absolutely.
Dan Fates
To be talking about what he's doing in April is absurd. It's just absurd.
Brandon Bean
We're going to have the same conversation at training camp because they made, they, they made an effort. He was phenomenal at training camp last year.
Dan Fates
I'm trying not to be negative. I'm just calling on that. I'm not saying that Keon can't be much better this year. He's physically talented. If he works at it, does everything right, he can be better. But I'm looking at it saying, don't tell me that he looks great in April and you're encouraged. If that was coming into year two, I give you, this is year three now yes. This is year three. This is what the optimism is. And you want to put Max on notice. Why don't you put Keon on notice? And, yeah, I look at teams like the Bucks. I know the Bucks haven't done crap for a while, but, man, they took a Buca. They've had great receivers.
Brandon Bean
Tez Johnson.
Dan Fates
Johnson, yeah. In the seventh round.
Jenna Cottrell
Chris Bell went to Miami. Went to Miami, by the way. Chris Bell, all these good receivers went
Dan Fates
to these crappy teams.
Brandon Bean
Miami also got Jacob Rodriguez.
Jenna Cottrell
Yeah, I know.
Brandon Bean
We're gonna see all these guys.
Dan Fates
And I love Miami's draft and Cleveland's. That tells you something. I'm sorry.
Brandon Bean
Okay, I hear you. All right. Tomorrow or today. You're watching this Saturday, we're recapping the entire draft like it's. People wanted to say it was a master class by Bean, and I think he did a really good job in round one, but I said, like, we won't know the draft class for, like, two to three years. Like, even last year's draft class of TJ Sanders and Landon Jackson. Right. Like, it's not fair to judge them right after they're all signed and right after their rookie year. Like, it takes two, three years. But the thing is, and for as bad as they say this draft is at top end, your job as a general manager, no matter what you talk about the basics, we're talking about, like, the fundamentals of drafts. You got to find three starters. I think that's fair. You go into a draft saying, I need three. We're trying to find three starters, three
Dan Fates
player people that we're going to play
Brandon Bean
in a regular basis.
Dan Fates
Yeah.
Brandon Bean
That's how you also. Hey, spoiler alert. That's how you keep your draft. Yeah. Your cap low.
Dan Fates
All right, so what are we looking for in this final day of the draft?
Jenna Cottrell
I would like wide receiver. Yeah, they got to take linebacker, too.
Dan Fates
I would imagine they didn't take linebacker.
Brandon Bean
They'll probably draft a tight end and just don't. Just don't just make my head explode.
Jenna Cottrell
Don't. Don't do that. What do you think?
Dan Fates
I think they still could go anywhere. They've only taken one player from a position of immediate need, and I said they could take corner just because. Yeah, you always need them.
Jenna Cottrell
Trade it up in the second round to get a corner. All right, we'll have plenty more coverage on the Buffalo plus YouTube channel for Mike and Dan, I am Jenna. We'll catch you here with a recap of the entire draft. Please be sure to, like, comment. Subscribe. And share. We'll catch you later on. Thanks for watching
Brandon Bean
Buffalo plus.
Buffalo Plus Podcast: INSTANT REACTION – The Bills Get Defensive on Day 2 (TJ Parker & Davison Igbinosun) April 25, 2026 | Hosts: Mike Catalana, Jenna Cottrell, Dan Fetes
This episode delivers in-depth reactions and analysis of the Buffalo Bills’ second-day NFL Draft selections: Edge rusher TJ Parker (Clemson, #35 overall) and cornerback Davison Igbinosun, nicknamed IGB (Ohio State, #62 overall). The hosts dissect Brandon Bean’s strategies, debate player value, question positional choices, and offer candid insights into how these picks fit into the current roster.
On Bean’s Draft Style:
“I like aggressive Bean…He makes me feel something and I want to go up and get him.”
— Brandon Bean (11:31–11:39)
On Overemphasizing April Results:
“To be talking about what [Keon Coleman] is doing in April is absurd. It’s just absurd.”
— Dan Fates (19:04)
On Positional Priorities:
“They’ve only taken one player from a position of immediate need.”
— Dan Fates (21:25)
The hosts expect the Bills to target linebacker, wide receiver, or potentially tight end on Day 3, and urge fans to temper immediate judgments—true evaluation comes with time and on-field results.
Stay tuned for Buffalo Plus’ full draft recap episode following the conclusion of all rounds.