Brandon Beane's trade-deadline blunder could prevent Bills from winning Super Bowl

Buffalo Bills general manager Brandon Beane has failed to provide the firepower quarterback Josh Allen needs to win his first Super Bowl. 

In April, Beane defended himself for not doing more to upgrade the team's receiving corps in free agency and the NFL Draft. However, he should've done much more, especially now that the Bills (6-3) have lost three of their past five games following an embarrassing 30-13 road loss to the Miami Dolphins (3-7) in Week 10. 

Brandon Beane squandered opportunity to improve receiving corps before trade deadline passed

After winning league MVP in 2024, Allen's play hasn't been as sharp this season, due in part to the lack of elite weapons in the passing game. Entering Sunday, he had an above-average 64.7 QBR after logging a 74.8 QBR last season.

When Beane realized his QB needed more help, he reportedly tried to trade for Dolphins WR Jaylen Waddle. Buffalo offered Miami a first-round pick and more for the former Alabama standout, but Buffalo's AFC East rival rejected the proposal. 

Beane's first mistake was attempting to execute an intra-divisional trade, which is rare in the NFL. Teams don't want to face their former players twice a year, especially stars like Waddle.

Against Buffalo, the Dolphins star had five receptions for a team-high 84 yards and one touchdown catch. WR Khalil Shakir, meanwhile, led Buffalo in receiving, with seven receptions for 58 yards. 

Beane could've also tried to acquire WR Rashid Shaheed (whom the New Orleans Saints traded to the Seattle Seahawks before the deadline passed). Shaheed had 499 receiving yards in his first nine games with the Saints. Entering Sunday, TE Dalton Kincaid led the Bills in receiving yards, with 411 in seven games.

But Beane didn't acquire a top WR before the deadline. And now that gives the Bills a problem in the AFC East, where the New England Patriots have emerged as a legit threat. 

New England (8-2) is first in the division and already beat Buffalo, 23-20, in Week 5. The Patriots host the Bills in Week 15, a matchup that should have major postseason implications. 

WR Stefon Diggs, a former Bill, has been key in New England's ascension this season. In his first nine games, he had 508 receiving yards. Although he was often a pain for the team, the Bills may wish they had a WR of Diggs' caliber on their roster. It would certainly improve their Super Bowl hopes, which may be slipping away.