Adding receiver DJ Moore in trade allows Bills to focus on defensive needs in NFL draft

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) — Buffalo Bills general manager Brandon Beane is on firmer ground defending his approach to the NFL draft this weekend, a year after facing criticism for failing to upgrade the team’s receiver position. Beane got ahead of questions long before having to wait until Day 2 to submit Buffalo’s first pick, and before selecting Connecticut receiver Skyler Bell in the fourth round on Saturday. Beane’s most significant draft decision came in early March. Rather than risk a high pick on a receiver, and the time it might take for a prospect to develop, Beane took a surer route. He traded Buffalo’s second-round selection, 60th overall, to Chicago to acquire DJ Moore, an eight-year veteran, who’s topped 1,100 yards four times. Moore’s addition immediately upgrades a relatively no-name receiver group that’s lacked a proven downfield option since the Bills traded Stefon Diggs to Houston two years ago. Aside from addressing a key need, Moore's addition freed Beane to hone his focus on a defense in transition following head coach Sean McDermott’s firing in January. Buffalo replaced McDermott by promoting offensive coordinator Joe Brady, who envisioned the defense adopting the same attacking approach as his offense. Jim Leonhard takes over as coordinator and is switching the defense to a 3-4 scheme and the Bills not re-signing several veterans, including linebacker Matt Milano and tackle DaQuan Jones. “No matter what type of system we’re running or who’s coaching the team, I felt we did need some infusion of youth on this defense,” Beane said. “And I just think it’s more where the iteration of this roster is more than a coaching transition.” Beane began the draft by completing three trades to back out of the first round and acquire two selections and give Buffalo five of the top 126 picks, after having just two over that span entering the draft. And he used three of those choices to fill two of the defense’s most pressing needs in adding (35th), Ohio State cornerback (62) and inside linebacker Kaleb Elarms-Orr (126). The Bills then filled offensive depth needs in rounding out their first five picks with Bell (125th) and Boston College tackle Jude Bowry (102). Overall, six of Buffalo’s 10 selections were defensive players. “The whole time it’s like, don’t forget we got DJ Moore,” Brady said he kept reminding himself through the weekend. Though Brady has an offensive background, he backed the defense-first approach in the days leading up to the draft. “It was the best thing for our football team,” Brady said. “Anytime that we stop an opposing offense and get the ball back to Josh (Allen), it helps the offense.”