Buffalo Bills fans are well aware that the team doesn’t currently have a second-round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. That comes with good reason, as One Bills Drive sent the 60th pick to the Chicago Bears for a return package that included wide receiver DJ Moore.
While there’s been a mixed reaction from Bills Mafia about the compensation for the trade, I started to think about Brandon Beane’s history of picking in Round 2 as the team’s general manager. Like most clubs, the draft is an inexact science, and that holds true for the Buffalo’s decision makers.
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With that being said, I decided to do a bit of an exercise ranking every pick to this point during the Beane era. Readers should note that the Bills did not make a selection in Round 2 of the 2018 draft, as Beane packaged picks 53 and 56 to move up from pick 12 to select Josh Allen with pick seven in Round 1.
Ready? Here we go with my ranking of the Buffalo Bills’ second-round picks as chosen with Brandon Beane’s input…
8. DE Boogie Basham (Pick 61, 2021)
The Boogie Basham pick was a bit of a head scratcher from the start, as Buffalo had already selected defensive end Gregory Rousseau with pick 30 just a day earlier. Unfortunately, things never materialized with Basham, as he only appeared in 23 games across two seasons for the Bills. Following his second season in Buffalo, Basham was shipped to the New York Giants along with a seventh-round pick in exchange for a sixth-round pick.
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7. DT T.J. Sanders (Pick 41, 2025)
This selection should include an asterisk, as T.J. Sanders missed time during his rookie season with injuries. It’s too soon to judge the South Carolina prospect, but the expectations should remain high. Beane sent the 56th, 62nd, and 109th picks to the Chicago Bears to acquire the 41st, 72nd, and 240th picks so he could move up and select Sanders.
6. OT Cody Ford (Pick 38, 2019)
Cody Ford was expected to be the Bills’ answer at right tackle after Beane traded up to pick 38 to select him in the 2019 NFL Draft. Despite starting 29 games across three seasons, there was early speculation that Ford was better suited to play guard in the NFL. Ford eventually made the move to guard, but was traded to the Arizona Cardinals for a fifth-round pick following the 2021 season.
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5. WR Keon Coleman (Pick 33, 2024)
Unless you’ve been living under a rock for the past two seasons, you know that the Keon Coleman experience has brought mixed results. There have been some ups, plenty of downs, and some bizarre sound bites coming out of postseason press conferences from owner Terry Pegula. No one knows if Coleman will play another game in Buffalo, as trade talks among fans will continue throughout the offseason.
4. DE A.J. Epenesa (Pick 57, 2020)
A.J. Epenesa recently signed a one-year prove-it deal with the Cleveland Browns, ending his six-year stint in Buffalo. Epenesa was a perfectly fine player for the Bills, starting 19 games and collecting 24 sacks, four interceptions, and three fumble recoveries. Epenesa earned a second contract with Buffalo, but was never considered a starter or impact player for the Bills.
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3. S Cole Bishop (Pick 60, 2024)
After a rocky start in Buffalo, the Cole Bishop found his groove during the 2025 season. Bishop started every game in 2025, becoming one of the most valuable members of the Bills’ defense. Bishop chipped in with three interceptions, two sacks, four tackles for loss, and 85 combined tackles last season.
2. RG O’Cyrus Torrence (Pick 59, 2023)
O’Cyrus Torrence has established himself as a mainstay on the offensive line during through three seasons in Buffalo, starting 50 of 51 regular-season games. The former Florida Gator is now eligible for a contract extension, and could become one of the highest-paid guards in the NFL. Though he still has room to grow and improve, Torrence has brought consistency to the right guard position. Torrence has shown well while teaming up with right tackle Spencer Brown to become a formidable duo against NFL defenses.
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1. RB James Cook III (Pick 63, 2022)
James Cook led the NFL in rushing for the 2025 season, solidifying his status as one of the most explosive weapons in the league. Cook has been named to the Pro Bowl the last three seasons, and was a second-team All-Pro selection in 2025. Cook has easily been Beane’s best pick of the second round.
In nine drafts under Beane’s tutelage, the Bills have managed to find more talent than projects in Round 2. Basham and Ford were major misses (though Ford is still playing in the NFL), while Epenesa played decently but never quite lived up to his draft status.
The jury’s still out on Coleman, but new head coach Joe Brady said his taking charge is best thing for the third-year wide receiver’s career. As for T.J. Sanders, it remains to be seen how he fits in with a scheme change under new defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard — but there’s sure to be a lot of competition at defensive tackle.
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In Torrence, the Bills may have their long-term starter at right guard if they manage to sign him to a long-term contract extension. Landing both Bishop and Cook are major wins for Beane, with both players more often than not playing key roles in Buffalo’s continued success. Interestingly, many fans were initially skeptical about Bishop and Cook, with a fair share looking to move on to other options.
It’s difficult to argue that the Bills’ best pick in Round 2 was the one they never made, instead using it as a means to move up and select Josh Allen. So what’s your take here? Weigh in below with your thoughts on this list, and your own rankings of Brandon Beane’s second-round picks.
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