Brandon Beane's master plan finally realized moments after extending Buffalo Bills RB James Cook to a brand new contract

When the 2022 draft class had come and gone, it would be reasonable to assume that Beane would hit big on one or two players, but that draft class specifically might just rewrite Bills history with what they've been able to accomplish. Beane didn't just hit on one; he hit on half of his picks in that draft class in a big way. We're just going to ignore Kaiir Elam from that list, though.

Beane not only extended these superstars on both sides of the football, but he also found a way to do it on a relatively team-friendly deal compared to what some of these guys might've gotten outside One Bills Drive. He's like the reverse Thanos, he's collecting these infinity stones (new contracts) in hopes of total destruction (a Super Bowl), and he deserves all the flowers in the world for what he's been able to accomplish with the cap restraints and some less-than-ideal drama from his star players.

The Buffalo Bills' 2022 draft class

Let's take a trip down memory lane to see just how great his 2022 draft class really was.

• Round 1, No. 23: Kaiir Elam
• Round 2, No. 63: James Cook
• Round 3, No. 89: Terrel Bernard
• Round 5, No. 148: Khalil Shakir
• Round 6, No. 180: Matt Araiza
• Round 6, No. 185: Christian Benford
• Round 6. No 209: Luke Tenuta
• Round 7, No. 231: Baylon Spector

You're not going to hit on every pick, but Beane's knack for finding gems later in the draft is remarkable. 4 of his 8 picks went on to sign a second contract with the team. For all the players who received an extension, they are all for four years. Beane is saying the window is now, the time is now, spend the big bucks, and go win the whole darn thing.

While Elam being a first-round bust left a bitter taste in the mouth of the fans, finding an All-Pro level CB in the 6th round made that pill much easier to swallow. Benford wasn't the only All-Pro level player selected just one round previous; they found their starting LB in Terrel Bernard.

With James Cook locked up, all that's left to do is play some football. With the regular season just weeks away and the Buffalo core locked in for the next several years, it's a great day to be a fan of the Buffalo Bills.

Brandon Beane, take a bow. An absolute masterclass in drafting, developing, and re-signing your young core (all on team-friendly deals).

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