It sounds as though this week’s NFL draft could be the last hurrah for several members of the Bills’ front office. It’s possible, in fact, that the Bills will clean out their entire scouting staff after the draft, a league source told Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk.
“We are all getting fired next week,” said one of the Bills’ scouts.
In responding to Florio’s report, the Bills didn’t deny that changes could be on the horizon.
“Right now, our focus is on the preparation for this week’s draft. Like every year, evaluations of our player personnel staff take place following the draft. And this year will be no different,” stated the team.
Firings in Buffalo may go above the scouting staff, as general manager Doug Whaley is seemingly losing clout while rookie head coach Sean McDermott‘s voice gains prominence. McDermott has essentially taken over for Whaley as the Bills’ spokesman on important football matters, notes the Associated Press, which reports that the former Panthers defensive coordinator is going to “have a significant say” in the team’s draft process.
The Bills haven’t allowed Whaley to speak to reporters since the Senior Bowl in January, per Vic Carucci of the Buffalo News, which is reminiscent of the gag order the Redskins placed on GM Scot McCloughan before firing him earlier this year. It wouldn’t be a surprise if the Bills were to give Whaley the ax sometime between after the draft and the end of next season, tweets the Buffalo News’ Tim Graham, who adds that McDermott would choose the Bills’ next GM (Twitter link).
This isn’t the first time Whaley has come up as a potential chopping block victim recently, but last month, owner Terry Pegula refuted the notion that he’s on the outs. McDermott, meanwhile, expects him and Whaley to continue working together going forward, telling the AP that the GM is still running the 53-man roster and will have plenty of say during the draft.
“Doug has great familiarity with the players because he’s been looking at these players for a long time, so I’m trusting Doug on that,” McDermott said. “At the end of the day, it’s a decision that Doug and I will make together.”
The Bills are set to pick 10th overall in the first round, the result of a 7-9 campaign in 2016. In Whaley’s four seasons as the GM, Buffalo has gone 30-34 and extended its league-worst playoff drought to 17 years.
What do you mean? It’s all been running so seamlessly. They are the best farm affiliate of the Patriots.
You win life
The NFL should really implement an aptitude test to all current and future team owners. Some of these folks have no business making any sort of decisions.
3 coaches 3 busted first round picks besides Watkins but probably didn’t need to make the the trade like that to get him I think it’s time the GM goes
Watkins can’t stay healthy. He’s really good when he’s available. And the Clemson kid from last year should b pretty good. Just wasn’t a good fit for the Ryan Bros D.
I’m sure they all put in good effort knowing they’re getting canned. So Bills taking a punter 10th overall?
Watkins may be a good player when healthy. But look at the player we could have had in Mike Evans by staying put in the draft and not sacrificing what we did for Sammy. That to me shows poor player talent evaluation.