Why Bills could go defense for seventh time in last eight first-round draft picks

BUFFALO, N.Y. -- A quick scan down the Buffalo Bills' depth chart last season shows a clear trend. The Bills had one player on offense who was a former first-round pick -- quarterback Josh Allen -- compared to seven defensive players who were had been first-rounders and played meaningful roles.

Since general manager Brandon Beane's first draft with the team in 2018, Allen is the only offensive player the Bills took in the first round -- although in 2020 the team traded away its first-round pick to the Minnesota Vikings for wide receiver Stefon Diggs. That pick became receiver Justin Jefferson.

Before Allen, the Bills hadn't used a first-round pick on an offensive player since wide receiver…