3 Draft Picks the Bills Gave Up on Too Early

The Buffalo Bills are building a contender under the leadership of Brandon Beane and Sean McDermott. A team like the Bills has to draft well considering Buffalo isn't the easiest place to lure free agents.

With that being said, the Bills, especially as of late, have drafted tremendously. However, they let some of those prized draft picks leave the franchise too early, leaving fans imagining what could have been.

3. Stephon Gilmore

Stephon Gilmore was drafted by the Buffalo Bills in 2012. / Brett Carlsen/Getty Images

The Bills used a No. 10 overall pick on Stephon Gilmore in 2012. He made one Pro Bowl with the team in five seasons and seemed to be hitting his peak once his contract was up following the 2016 season. But the team wouldn't give into his contract demands and allowed him to test free agency, where joined the rival New England Patriots. Since then, he's gone on to make two more Pro Bowls, win a Super Bowl, and earn Defensive Player of the Year honors. The Bills have one of the best defenses in the NFL as it is, but just imagine if Gilmore was playing alongside Tre'Davious White for years to come.

2. Robert Woods

Former Buffalo Bills WR Robert Woods / Rich Barnes/Getty Images

You may have forgotten Robert Woods started his career in Buffalo after being drafted in the second round back in 2013. Given Buffalo's largely stagnant offense during his tenure with the team, he was unable to shine, topping out at 65 receptions for 699 yards and 5 touchdowns back in 2014. Since joining the Rams, he's registered two 1,000-yard seasons and has hands down been Jared Goff's best target. LA scooped him up on a five-year, $34 million deal back in 2017 and the Bills probably didn't want to pay that much. Sadly, he would have been a tremendous target for Josh Allen if he stayed.

1. Marshawn Lynch

Marshawn Lynch began his career with the Buffalo Bills. / Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images

The trend continues with Marshawn Lynch, who was taken No. 12 overall by the Bills in 2007. He went over 1,000 yards in each of his first two seasons before receiving limited playing time in 2009. A hit-and-run case certainly affected his playing time as did the presence of Fred Jackson and CJ Spiller. The future star was then traded to Seattle during the 2010 season for two late-round picks and the rest is history. Lynch became a legend out west and launched "Beast Mode," while Bills fans watched another first-round pick succeed upon leaving Buffalo.