Buffalo entered the offseason with a familiar kind of pressure hanging over the building, but the twist came when Brandon Beane didn’t just survive the shake-up - he climbed higher. Two days after the Bills’ Divisional Round exit to the Denver Broncos last season, owner Terry Pegula fired Sean McDermott after nine seasons, and Beane’s role quickly became a major talking point around the league.
That was especially true because the Bills’ roster has long taken heat for not fully matching Josh Allen’s level of play. Beane has absorbed plenty of that criticism over the last two seasons, and the promotion to President of Football Operations only raised the spotlight. He now oversees the coaching staff, and while plenty of people viewed that as a questionable call, there’s no denying the Bills made meaningful changes to the roster under his watch.
Still, that kind of promotion can cut both ways. If the Bills stumble, Beane is going to be the first name fans circle.
That’s why Douglas Clawson of CBS Sports turned heads with a particularly aggressive prediction for Buffalo heading into 2026. In his set of one bold prediction for every team, Clawson didn’t focus on the new look under head coach Joe Brady or on the roster itself. He went straight at Beane, predicting the Bills will fire him this season.
" No, I'm not picking the Bills to win the Super Bowl. As much as I want that to happen, I think Buffalo will succumb to the pressure and fire GM Brandon Beane after a mediocre start. They stuck with him after parting ways with Sean McDermott but he didn't do enough to fill needs at wide receiver (DJ Moore) or edge rusher (Bradley Chubb) this offseason, which will ultimately cost him his job." said Clawson.
It’s a striking forecast, especially with Beane now holding even more authority as Buffalo’s football decision-maker. He was the one leading the search for a new head coach and helping reshape the roster, and the Bills have brought in a number of new faces as part of this new era.
Whether that gives Beane the breathing room to make the right moves, or just puts him under an even brighter microscope, will play out over the season. For now, the pressure is unmistakable.
In Other News...
Josh Allen Just Gave Bills Fans A New Way To Join In
Josh Allen has found another way to make Bills home games feel personal this season. Working with children at Golisano Childrens Hospital of Buffalo, he helped create eight one-of-a-kind Buffalo Bills hats that blend his hand-drawn logo with artwork from the kids, turning a simple accessory into a shared piece of team identity.
Allen will wear one of the hats before each of Buffalos eight regular-season home games, and fans can buy them too, with the proceeds going to the Patricia Allen Fund at the hospital. The project, part of his partnership with New Era, carries forward a charitable effort he began last season and gives Bills supporters a direct way to take part in it. [Read more 🡒]
Bills May Have Quietly Added A Receiver Skill They Still Needed
The Bills kept tinkering with their receiver mix this week by adding Greg Dortch to the practice squad, a move that goes beyond special teams insurance. Dortch brings a long track record as a punt returner, but the appeal here is his versatility as a receiver and the chance he gives Buffalo to add another small, quick target who can help stress coverage underneath.
What makes the signing interesting is the fit. Buffalo has spent the offseason trying to upgrade the receiver room, and Dortchs film-based profile suggests he can create separation against man coverage, which is a useful trait in an offense that can never really have too many reliable options. Whether he becomes more than depth will depend on opportunity, but the Bills clearly saw a skill set worth keeping in the building. [Read more 🡒]
Josh Allens Top Target Suddenly Puts Buffalos Week 1 Stability In Doubt
Khalil Shakirs availability has become one of the quieter concerns hanging over the Bills as they head toward their season opener against the Texans. Buffalos top target has missed recent practices because of an undisclosed injury, and while the team remains optimistic about his status, the lack of detail and the cautious approach to his recovery have made this worth watching closely.
The Bills still expect Shakir to be ready for Week 1, and there is some relief in the fact that DJ Moore, who had his own preseason injury scare, is also projected to be available. Even so, Buffalos passing game has a different feel when one of Josh Allens most trusted receivers is sidelined, even briefly, and the final practice reports should tell a lot about how settled the offense really is entering the opener. [Read more 🡒]