Bills GM Brandon Beane Wants to Avoid Rams-Like Tear-Down
The Los Angeles Rams may have won Super Bowl LVI last year, but some around the NFL don't seem to approve of their methods.
To build a championship roster, the Rams mortgaged a large portion of their future. They infamously sent off multiple draft picks to bring in stars like Matthew Stafford, Jalen Ramsey and Von Miller. Even though they won a ring, their disregard for the future has drawn criticism around the league. The latest to call out the Rams' approach is Buffalo Bills general manager Brandon Beane.
"We're trying to work our way out so that we don't have just a tear-down," Beane said Tuesday. "And you see that happen from a team here or there like 'man, we can't do anymore. We got to get rid of some of these huge salaries and the only way to do it is either try to kick it further down the road, making it harder, or start trading, releasing, and taking those hits.'
"We're trying not to do that, we want to be competitive every single year. And so some years, you're just not going to be able to go get a big ticket item every year. I know that's sexy to go do that. And listen, we want as many talented players as we can get, but we've got to be fiscally responsible."
Beane didn't mention the Rams by name, but it isn't hard to figure out that they're the team he's referring to.
The Bills executive isn't the first NFL higher-up to criticize Los Angeles' team-building philosophy this offseason. In early April, Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay called out the Rams' approach, saying "That's what you have to be careful about."
This offseason, Los Angeles is seeing the negative effects of repeatedly going all in. The Rams have traded away players such as Ramsey and Allen Robinson for minimal returns just to attempt to free up money. They are also without their first-round pick for the seventh consecutive draft thanks to the Stafford trade, which especially hurts because that pick is at No. 6 overall.
Even with the tough times the Rams are facing, they did still win a ring thanks to this philosophy. Many fans would happily take some bad years to see their team lift the Lombardi Trophy like Los Angeles did in 2022.
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