Note to general managers who currently hold a pick in the range of Nos. 10-25 in the first round of the NFL draft: Have the contact numbers of colleagues Brandon Beane, Howie Roseman and Brian Gutekunst at the ready.
Since Beane led his first Buffalo Bills draft in 2018, no general manager has moved up in the first round (not including deals involving veteran players) more than his four trades. Roseman (Philadelphia) also has made four trades and Gutekunst (Green Bay) three deals during that span.
On Thursday night, Philadelphia is at No. 22, Green Bay No. 25 and the Bills No. 28. History suggests each team will want to move up.
“I’ll take any call,” Beane said during his pre-draft news conference last week.
And make any call.
Here is a look at the win-loss-push records of Beane, Roseman and Gutekunst on their first-round move-up trades:
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Brandon Beane (3-0-1)
2018: Moved up five spots to No. 7 to draft quarterback Josh Allen. The Bills traded Nos. 12, 53 and 56 to Tampa Bay for Nos. 7 and 255.
Win. A mega win. Beane’s first-ever Bills draft pick will be tough to top. Allen is 63-35 in the regular season/playoffs, doesn’t miss games and has led his team to four consecutive AFC East titles.
2018: Moved up six spots to No. 16 to draft linebacker Tremaine Edmunds. The Bills traded Nos. 22 and 65 to Baltimore and the Ravens also included No. 154.
Win. Edmunds played five years for the Bills, starting all 89 of his regular-season games, making 565 tackles and earning two Pro Bowl selections. Edmunds left in March 2023 as a free agent to sign with Chicago.
2022: Moved up two spots to No. 23 to draft cornerback Kaiir Elam. The Bills traded Nos. 25 and 130 to Baltimore.
Push. Elam started six games as a rookie (with two interceptions), but an ankle injury derailed his second season (three games). He has two interceptions in four playoff games. This is a big year for Elam. Can he challenge Christian Bedford for the starting spot opposite Rasul Douglas?
2023: Moved up two spots to No. 25 to draft tight end Dalton Kincaid. The Bills traded Nos. 27 and 130 to Jacksonville.
Win. In 18 regular-season/playoff games as a rookie, Kincaid caught 81 passes for 777 yards and three touchdowns. The next step is increasing his 9.2-yard per catch average and scoring more touchdowns.
Howie Roseman (2-1-1)
2019: Moved up three spots to No. 22 to draft offensive tackle Andre Dillard. The Eagles traded Nos. 25, 127 and 197 to Baltimore.
Loss. In four Eagles seasons, Dillard started only nine of his 43 games. The Eagles declined his fifth-year option and he is now a journeymen, playing for Tennessee last year and signing with Green Bay last week.
2021: Moved up two spots to No. 10 to draft receiver DeVonta Smith. The Eagles traded Nos. 12 and 84 to Dallas.
Win. Smith has missed one game in three years and has 240 catches and 19 touchdowns in the regular season and 27 catches and one touchdown in the playoffs. Smith signed a three-year, $75 million contract extension last week.
2022: Moved up two spots to No. 13 to draft defensive tackle Jordan Davis. The Eagles traded Nos. 15, 124, 162 and 166 to Houston.
Push. Davis has started 22 of his 30 games in two seasons, playing 743 snaps and making 63 tackles (2½ sacks). Davis is expected to be a regular starter this year after Fletcher Cox’s retirement.
2023: Moved up one spot to No. 9 to draft defensive tackle Jalen Carter. The Eagles traded No. 10 last year and No. 122 this year to Chicago.
Win. Carter started only one game last year, but had 33 tackles and six sacks in 563 snaps and finished second in the Defensive Rookie of the Year balloting behind Houston’s Will Anderson.
Brian Gutekunst (3-0)
2018: Moved up nine spots to No. 18 to draft cornerback Jaire Alexander. The Packers traded Nos. 27, 76 and 186 to Seattle for Nos. 18 and 248.
Win. Alexander battled injuries in 2021 and ’23, but when healthy, has made two Pro Bowls and has 10 interceptions in 71 games.
2019: Moved up nine spots to No. 21 to draft safety Darnell Savage. The Packers traded Nos. 30, 114 and 118 to Seattle.
Win. Savage played five years for the Packers and signed with Jacksonville as a free agent last month. He started 69 of his 72 regular-season games (302 tackles, nine interceptions) and all seven of his playoff games (25 tackles, one interception).
2020: Moved up four spots to No. 26 to draft quarterback Jordan Love. The Packers traded Nos. 30 and 136 to Miami.
Win. Love watched Aaron Rodgers for three seasons and went 9-8 last year (32 touchdowns, 11 interceptions), helping Green Bay to a wild-card round win at Dallas.
Ryan O'Halloran
Sports Reporter