Buffalo Bills: Ranking the best departed players in McDermott-Beane era

NASHVILLE, TN - OCTOBER 06: (L-R) Shaq Lawson #90, Jordan Phillips #97 and Kevin Johnson #29 of the Buffalo Bills celebrate a sack by Phillips during the first quarter against the Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium on October 6, 2019 in Nashville, Tennessee. Buffalo defeats Tennessee 14-7. (Photo by Brett Carlsen/Getty Images)
NASHVILLE, TN - OCTOBER 06: (L-R) Shaq Lawson #90, Jordan Phillips #97 and Kevin Johnson #29 of the Buffalo Bills celebrate a sack by Phillips during the first quarter against the Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium on October 6, 2019 in Nashville, Tennessee. Buffalo defeats Tennessee 14-7. (Photo by Brett Carlsen/Getty Images)
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Buffalo Bills
EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ – OCTOBER 26: (NEW YORK DAILIES OUT) Sammy Watkins #14 and Robert Woods #10 of the Buffalo Bills in action against the New York Jets on October 26, 2014 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The Bills defeated the Jets 43-23. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)

1. Sammy Watkins

This is a spot that would have went to Robert Woods if he had left the Buffalo Bills while Brandon Beane was general manager. However, since that isn’t the case then this goes to his former teammate, both in Buffalo and with the Los Angeles Rams, Sammy Watkins.

The Bills made two trades prior to the 2017 season that were connected, the first being when the Brandon Beane traded Darby to the Eagles and the trade of Sammy Watkins to the Rams for cornerback E.J. Gaines and a second round pick.

This certainly was a surprise when the deal took place because Watkins hadn’t reached his full potential at the time but looked like he could be a key piece of this offense. However, this was an excellent move on Brandon Beane’s part because Watkins value probably wouldn’t be higher at that point.

While Watkins never reached being that top tier wide receiver that he was thought he could be coming out of college, he has still had a productive career. He finished with 593 receiving yards and eight touchdowns in the one season with the Rams and in the past two seasons with the Chiefs has 92 receptions, 1,192 receiving yards and six touchdowns.

While there is a chance that Shaq Lawson or Jordan Phillips could continue to develop in their career, the Buffalo Bills under Sean McDermott and Brandon Beane have not given up many players that have made them regret it.

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