What are the NFL draft trends in Round 1 for first-year Bills coaches?

Buffalo Bills head coach Joe Brady will be part of his first draft at the helm of an NFL team in fewer than two weeks. Brady, along with General Manager Brandon Beane, will work together to hopefully find a future star for the franchise.

Draft pundits have had some different views on whether the Bills will add an offensive juggernaut to support Josh Allen or a defensive star to lead the revamped defense under new Defensive Coordinator Jim Leonhard. The most common projected picks have been wide receivers, edge rushers, and linebackers.

Which side will Buffalo emphasize in this year's draft?

Because most NFL head coaches rise from coordinator positions, they typically bring a clear offensive or defensive identity. The Buffalo Bills draft history since 1998 reflects this trend.

In each case, a new head coach used their first draft pick on a player that matched their area of expertise—offense for offensive-minded coaches and defense for defensive-minded ones.

It makes sense that this pattern exists. A coach with expertise on one side of the ball would want to select a player who aligns with the coach's philosophical background. It's easier for player evaluations, and it feels safer for the coach.

This trend fit whether the coach was a veteran or a first-year head coach.

Realistic targets that fit the pattern

Buffalo will select a prospect on offense to bolster the weapons surrounding quarterback Josh Allen.

In particular, several wide receivers have been linked to the Bills in mock drafts:

• KC Concepcion, Texas A&M: Concepcion won the Paul Hornung Award as college football's most versatile player. He was a first-team AP All-American. He recorded 61 receptions for 919 receiving yards and nine touchdowns last year.
• Omar Cooper, Indiana: Cooper earned second-team All-Big Ten honors. Cooper played out of the slot last year, but lined up in the perimeter during the earlier part of his college career. Cooper reeled in 69 passes for 939 yards and 13 touchdowns last year.
• Denzel Boston, Washington: Boston was a third-team All-Big Ten wide receiver. Boston caught 62 passes for 881 yards and 11 touchdowns. At 6-4, his size gives him an advantage over defensive backs in all areas of the passing game.

In conclusion

We know that the general manager ultimately makes the pick in conjunction with the coaching staff and scouts. However, the general manager seems to consider the coach's strength when adding a player to the roster for the initial draft for the new head coach.

After all, it's not Joe Brady's first experience as part of a Draft. However, as a head coach for the first time, his experience will undoubtedly have an influence on who Beane selects for Buffalo in the first round.

The NFL Draft takes place April 23-25 in Pittsburgh this year. Buffalo currently holds the No. 26 overall pick in the first round.

This article originally appeared on Bills Wire: What are the NFL draft trends in Round 1 for first-year Bills coaches?