Bills Biggest Draft Busts Since 2000
With the 2025 NFL Draft just a few days away, the Bills will be looking to add young stars to their roster in order to make another run for the Super Bowl. Since it will be Buffalo’s 25th draft since the start of the 21st century, we thought it would be a good time to reminisce about the team’s draft history. While Brandon Beane has been the general manager of the team for the longest time during this century, the team hasn’t always been so lucky in having him draft their talent. Here, we’ll see why as we dive into the biggest draft busts since 2000.
WR Sammy Watkins (2014 - Fourth-Overall Pick)
It’s hard to say Sammy Watkins is a bust when looking at his raw numbers. He played in nine NFL seasons, averaging 56 receptions for 825 yards and five touchdowns per season over 17 games. Clearly, Watkins had a successful career, but his success is overshadowed when looking back at that spectacular 2014 wide receiver class. The other receivers taken in the first round were Mike Evans, Odell Beckham Jr., Brandin Cooks, and Kelvin Benjamin. Even in the second round, there were studs like Davante Adams, Allen Robinson, and Jarvis Landry. Many of these receivers outclass Watkins, combined with the fact that the Bills traded up for this pick, giving up their 2015 first-rounder to the Browns, makes this a blunder for the fourth pick in the draft.
DE Erik Flowers (2000 - 26th-Overall Pick)
The very first pick of the 21st century was a big miss. On the bright side, this wasn’t the biggest bust at the defensive end position, as the Browns took Courtney Brown with the first pick. However, Brown at least had a promising rookie season and was a starter for the majority of his career, whereas Erik Flowers can’t claim either of those accomplishments. In five NFL seasons, the former Arizona State Sun Devil compiled just five sacks, seven tackles for loss, and 60 tackles in his career. He spent just two seasons in Buffalo before getting cut and subsequently spent his final three NFL seasons with the Texans and Rams. After failing to make the Falcons’ 53-man roster in 2005, he was out of the league for good. The Oceanside, California native attempted to make a comeback in pro football, signing with the CFL’s Toronto Argonauts in March of 2006 before suffering a back injury before training camp, which effectively ended his playing career.
DE Aaron Maybin (2009 - 11th-Overall Pick)
The Bills have no shortage of bad defensive end picks—honorable mention to Boogie Basham at 61st-overall—and Aaron Maybin was no different. Obviously, a player taken at such a pristine spot has sky-high expectations. Not only did Maybin not pan out, but Brian Orakpo was picked two spots later. Orakpo went on to go to four Pro Bowls in his career, with multiple double-digit sack seasons, while Maybin’s six career sacks all came in his 2011 campaign. Like Flowers, Maybin failed to make the NFL main roster and signed with the Argonauts. He retired from football after one season in the CFL, where he played in one game and recorded two tackles.
DT John McCargo (2006 - 26th-Overall Pick)
Marv Levy’s tenure as general manager didn’t last very long, deciding to return to football at 80 years old as an executive after coaching the Bills from 1986-97. Levy lasted only two seasons as general manager, stepping down from the position after his contract expired in 2007. His first draft wasn’t horrible, but trading up for John McCargo was a big miss. With the eighth pick, the Bills took Donte Whitner, just a pick after the Raiders took Michael Huff, making it back-to-back safeties selected in the top eight. Then, after reaching for Whitner, they reached for McCargo, making it a disappointing first round. If this draft were to be redone, the Bills should’ve taken Haloti Ngata at number eight, and then if they still wanted to trade up, they could’ve stayed put with their second-round pick and selected Danieal Manning. Luckily, the team made up for it by taking Bills Wall of Fame hopeful Kyle Williams in the fifth round, but this draft is still marred by the McCargo pick.
OT Mike Williams (2002 - Fourth-Overall Pick)
When a team drafts a tackle inside the top five, they’re expecting a reliable starter for a decade. This didn’t turn out to be the case with Mike Williams. Drafted as a franchise left tackle, he couldn’t play well at a consistent level. He was moved around to right tackle and guard, and eventually lost his spot at left tackle to Jason Peters. The Bills released Williams after four seasons, signing with the Jaguars and missing the entire 2006 season due to being on injured reserve. Just three picks later in ‘02, the Vikings selected Bryant McKinnie, who played for 12 seasons and started in 162 games. In hindsight, the Bills would’ve surely picked McKinnie and secured a franchise tackle if they could turn back the clock.
