Brandin Cooks signing further highlights Bills' crucial offseason mistake

Beane may have thought fans would recognize Cooks' name, but they shouldn't be fooled. They know he should've added another WR much earlier.

How this move highlights Brandon Beane's failure to add quality WRs  

The Bills didn't make any splashes at WR this offseason. They signed WR Josh Palmer to a three-year, $29M deal in free agency and waited until the seventh round of the 2025 NFL Draft to take Maryland WR Kaden Prather (pick No. 240). 

After the draft, Beane defended himself for not doing more to improve the WR room. He told WGR-AM in Buffalo that the Bills had one of the best offenses in the league in 2024, so he didn't need to. Additionally, he told fans to stop complaining. The GM probably wishes he could retract that comment.

Palmer has zero touchdown catches after 12 weeks, and Prather was waived with an injury settlement in August. WR Khalil Shakir has been the team's top receiver this season, but he's not a true No. 1. In 11 games, the former Boise State star has a team-leading 564 receiving yards, which ranks 32nd in the NFL. 

To make matters worse for the Bills, second-year WR Keon Coleman, whom they hoped would blossom this season, is facing disciplinary issues. He has been a healthy scratch for two games after missing a team meeting before a Week 11 game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.  

The lack of quality pass-catchers is clearly impacting QB Josh Allen. The 2024 league MVP has thrown nine interceptions in 11 games after tossing six in 17 last season. 

Beane reportedly tried to acquire Miami Dolphins WR Jaylen Waddle before the trade deadline passed on Nov. 4, but the AFC East rival rejected him. Now, he's going to Plan B in Cooks. 

That doesn't cover for refusing to add another WR this offseason. The GM's error may prevent the Bills from winning a Super Bowl, wasting another year of Allen's prime.