Buffalo Plus: A Buffalo Bills Podcast

Episode: The BILLS Draft Plan POSSIBILITIES and ESPN’s Field Yates
Hosts: Mike Catalana, Jenna Cottrell, Dan Fates
Guest: Field Yates (ESPN)
Date: April 10, 2025

Overview

This episode dives deep into Buffalo Bills' 2025 draft possibilities, focusing on philosophy, roster strengths and weaknesses, Brandon Beane's history and approach, and the current state of the roster. The team welcomes ESPN’s Field Yates for a wide-ranging interview about Bean's drafting, potential Bills targets, and bigger NFL draft trends. The episode also includes lively, in-depth debate on trading strategies, positional needs, and reflections on last year’s picks.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Assessing the State of the Bills Pre-Draft

• Roster Depth and Impact Talent

  • The Bills' roster is considered strong and well-constructed from spots 10-53, but the hosts agree it lacks star, top-tier playmakers at key positions.
  • "Where the Bills are lacking is that top, top tier talent...Depth isn't going to win you a championship." — Dan Fates [08:41]

• Immediate Rookie Contributions

  • There’s frustration that last year’s rookie class made minimal playoff impact, with the group insisting it's not enough to treat rookies as redshirts.
  • "I don't want to hear anymore that rookies can't contribute. Khalil Shakir made some plays in the playoffs when he was young. Gabe Davis made plays in the playoffs when he was young." — Mike Catalana [02:16]

• Drafting for Need vs. Best Player Available

  • Last year’s approach didn't yield enough "difference makers." There’s general agreement the team needs both immediate contributors and future core pieces.

2. Draft Philosophy: More Picks vs. Aggressive Moves

• More Picks Mean More Chances

  • Mike Catalana pushes back on the notion that the roster is "too good" for 10 rookies to make it. The value of more swings at late-round difference-makers is stressed, referencing recent success with mid/late-round picks like Christian Benford and Matt Milano.
  • "The more picks you have, the more shots you have...Don't tell me you can't make all these picks and have them contribute." — Mike Catalana [05:15]

• Considered Aggression

  • Jenna and Dan would prefer targeted aggression to secure players the Bills truly covet, even if it means fewer overall draft picks. But, as Mike puts it, "Two things can be true at the same time"—trading up is good if the right player is there; stockpiling picks also has merit. [07:19]

3. What Does the Draft Class Offer?

• 2025 as a 'Starter Draft'

  • The group references Daniel Jeremiah’s line that this class is about finding multiple starters versus landing a superstar.
  • "Everyone seems to agree this draft is a starter draft. Maybe not a ton of star power, but your goal should be to come away with three to four starters. They are out there." — (cited by Dan Fates) [12:04]

• Where to Search for Value

  • There’s consensus that Rounds 3–5 hold "the meat of the class." Moving around in these rounds could yield important rotational or developmental pieces.

Field Yates Interview Highlights

(Begins at [13:21])

On Brandon Beane’s GM Tenure

• "My grade is going to be, like, it’s got to start as at least a B+ for Brandon Bean…Josh Allen is a Stones pick...You can’t nail them all. My impression of Brandon Bean is that he’s got the right level of aggressive." — Field Yates [15:07]
• Praises Bean’s extensions and overall roster construction, believes a Super Bowl in the next five years is a reasonable expectation with Allen at QB.

Dream Scenario at Pick 30

• Trade Down is On the Table

  • Field suggests this could be the year to trade back and accumulate further picks in Rounds 2–5 given the draft’s depth and the relatively slim urgent needs on the roster.
  • "I feel like this is the year where they could trade back, do it again…The depth of this year’s class [is] really strong." — Field Yates [17:30]

• Biggest Need: Cornerback

  • Yates identifies CB as the top need, noting that Buffalo’s scheme allows for more flexibility in physical measurables, enabling later-round value.
  • "The Bills don’t value the same things in corners that every team does...Sean McDermott is also a whisper at corner." — Field Yates [18:24]
  • Names Azariah Thomas (FSU), Benjamin Morrison (ND), and Savone Revel (ECU) as possible CB fits, the latter a Day 2 target after returning from injury.

• Notable Defensive Tackle Prospects

  • Darius Alexander (Toledo): "Not a consensus first, but a top 50ish player...very experienced, awesome final season, great pass-rusher."
  • Alfred Collins (Texas): "6’6”, 332 lbs, 35” arms...I think Alfred Collins in time has the chance to become a very, very talented football player." [23:41]

• Wide Receivers to Watch After Round 1

  • Picks out Ella Gale Manor (Stanford), Kyle Williams (Washington State), and Savion Williams (TCU) as intriguing mid-round WR options for Buffalo.
  • "If you’re looking for a fun football player to watch…Savion Williams from TCU, they figured out the best way to unlock him was wildcat QB...he’s become this fun Swiss-Army knife." [25:03]

Bills Draft Scenarios & Strategies

(from [26:26])

Trade Up

• Practical scenarios involve modest advances (e.g., up to pick 26) by sacrificing a fourth-rounder and future seventh. Matthew Golden (WR, Houston) is floated as a trade-up WR target.
• "If they were sold on him as a receiver, it would be kind of wild that they’d trade up this year." — Mike Catalana [29:57]

Trade Back

• Example: Back from 30 to 36 (Jaguars), possibly gaining pick 88 (third round) and a future seventh.

  • This would give Buffalo four picks in Rounds 2–3 (36, 56, 62, 88).
  • "You are four picks in the meat of this draft. And Bean has said he’s always liked having a third-round pick." — Mike Catalana [35:19]

• Needs a trade partner—teams like the Giants or Browns could be enticed if a QB falls.

Stay Put at 30

• The team could target "immediate impact" options at CB, DT, or WR depending on who drops.

Draft Needs, Player Preferences, and Bills Board

• Defensive back is viewed as a larger long-term need than WR due to expiring contracts and uncertain depth.
• The hosts rattle off a list of CB, S, and DT targets for Buffalo’s Day 1 and 2 picks:
  • CB: Trey Amos (Ole Miss), Azariah Thomas (FSU), Maxwell Harrison (Kentucky), Savone Revel (ECU), Benjamin Morrison (ND)
  • S: Xavier Watts (Notre Dame)
  • DT: Kenneth Grant (Michigan), Darius Alexander (Toledo)
• "If I’m Beane, I do whatever I can...trading back multiple times to get, in my head, how can I get three of these guys? Maybe four." — Dan Fates [39:44]

Critique & Reflection on Last Year’s Buffalo Draft

• Keon Coleman is under pressure to elevate in year two and justify his significant draft status (2nd round)—"He left his rookie year with his coach and his GM saying, step up." — Mike Catalana [46:22]
• Cole Bishop expected to start at safety; if not, could be a serious indictment.
• Last year’s class lacked immediate impact and must develop in 2025 for Buffalo to maintain its window.

Memorable Quotes & Moments

• On Roster Construction & Draft Approach

  • "If you draft well and perform well, no matter rookie or veteran, you’re going to play for the Bills." — Dan Fates [05:01]
  • "Don’t pretend that having extra picks means they’re all a waste...You need to fill special teams roles and Sean made that point at the owner’s meeting." — Mike Catalana [07:19]

• On the Difficulty of Drafting Stars

  • "To sit here and say you can find that at 30 is a little bit of a stretch to me…The Chiefs were just, they had higher end players at big time positions and the Bills didn’t." — Dan Fates [10:49]

• On Practical Draft Room Realities

  • "Not only just the trading partner, but it’s managing what you like and where it falls because you’re splitting hairs." — Dan Fates [37:50]

Timestamps for Important Segments

• [00:54] — Episode overview, where the Bills stand pre-draft
• [05:15] — Mike's case for maximizing the value of 10 picks
• [12:04] — Starter draft vs. superstar draft discussion
• [13:21] — Field Yates interview begins
• [15:07] — Yates grades Brandon Beane’s tenure, praises Allen pick
• [17:30] — Yates' dream scenario: trading back, cornerback analysis
• [21:45] — Darius Alexander (Toledo DT) and defensive tackle market value
• [25:03] — WR prospects for Buffalo outside Round 1
• [26:26] — Hosts review Field Yates’ advice, break down trade scenarios
• [29:57] — Matthew Golden as a possible trade-up WR target
• [35:19] — Trade back example: four picks in rounds 2-3
• [39:44] — Host personal boards for Buffalo picks
• [46:22] — Keon Coleman critique and rookie class review

Tone, Chemistry, and Lightning Round

• The hosts’ banter is spirited and tongue-in-cheek, with self-deprecating humor and well-argued respectful disagreements throughout.
• Personal anecdotes (e.g., car seat battles, airport lounge hacks, family stories) offer a human touch and showcase the Bills community.

Takeaways for Bills Fans & Draft Enthusiasts

• Philosophy over Splash: Expect the Bills to prioritize finding several solid future starters (especially DBs and DTs) over swinging for single superstar upside.
• Flexibility is Key: Staying nimble—ready to move up or down for the right player or value—is likely Beane’s approach.
• Corner & Defensive Tackle Priorities: CB and DT are considered bigger needs than WR, especially as the draft’s value lines up with these positions in Rounds 2–4.
• All Eyes on Year 2 Picks: Last year’s rookies—Keon Coleman, Cole Bishop—must deliver for this strategy to work.

Notable Quotes (W/ Timestamps)

• "I don’t want to hear anymore that rookies can’t contribute. Khalil Shakir made plays in the playoffs when he was young. Gabe Davis made plays in the playoffs when he was young." — Mike Catalana [02:16]
• "The more picks you have, the more shots you have ... Don’t tell me you can’t make all these picks and have them contribute." — Mike Catalana [05:15]
• "Where the Bills are lacking is that top, top tier talent…Depth isn’t going to win you a championship." — Dan Fates [08:41]
• "This is the year where they could trade back, do it again ... because of the strength of this year’s draft class." — Field Yates [17:30]
• "If you draft well and perform well, no matter rookie or veteran, you are going to play for the Bills." — Dan Fates [05:01]
• "If you told me to expect or not expect a Super Bowl at some point in the next five years for Buffalo, I fully expect one." — Field Yates [16:54]

For a Bills fan or draft observer, this episode offers a practical, transparent look at Buffalo’s team-building challenges, encourages realistic expectations, and arms fans with the key names, stats, and draft scenarios that will drive conversation and coverage as the draft approaches.