5 Buffalo Bills Draft Picks That Did Better Elsewhere

As we close in on the 87th annual meeting of National Football League franchises to select newly eligible players, better known as the NFL Draft, we take a look back at the draft history of the Buffalo Bills

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The 2022 NFL draft is scheduled to be held in Las Vegas, Nevada, from April 28th through 30th.  The Bills hold the 25th selection in the first round, and what they might do is anybody's guess. And what that player will eventually become for the Bills is an even bigger mystery. Will they become a star in Western New York?  Or, will they be a draft bust?  Or even worse, will they have an All-Pro career for another team down the road?

Today, we take a look at 5 players originally drafted by the Bills, that went on to bigger and better things for other NFL Teams.

5. K - Gary Anderson - 7th Round 1982

Originally selected in the 7th round out of Syracuse, Anderson had an abysmal pre-season with the Bills and was cut.  The Pittsburgh Steelers signed him, and the rest is history.  He spent 13 years with Pittsburgh, and had stints with four other teams, eventually playing in 353 games and scoring 2,454 points. Both of which are the second-most in NFL history

4. RB - Greg Bell - 1st Round 1984

Drafted in the first round by the Bills in 1984, Bell had a successful career in Western New York but blossomed into an All-Pro when he was sent to the Rams on Halloween of 1987 in the three-team trade that netted the Bills, Cornelius Bennett.  Bell had his best year with the Rams in 1988, in which he had 1,212 rushing yards and led the league with sixteen touchdowns.

3. CB - Stephon Gilmore -1st Round 2012

Gilmore was selected tenth overall in the 2012 NFL Draft, and had a good career in Buffalo, spending 5 seasons as a starting cornerback for the Bills, and earning a Pro-Bowl nod in 2016.  But his career went to the next level after signing a 5-year free agent contract with New England.  His post-Buffalo accolades included NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 2019, 2× First-team All-Pro in 2018 and 2019, 5× Pro Bowl selection in 2016, 2018–2021.

2. CB - Antoine Winfield - 1st Round 1999

Winfield had a solid career in Buffalo, after being a 1st round pick in 1999.  But once he left for Minnesota, his career went to new heights being named to 3 Pro-bowls (2008-2010), being named a second-team All-Pro in 2008, and being named one of the 50 greatest Vikings of all-time.

1. RB - Marshawn Lynch - 1st Round 2007

Lynch started his career with back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons for the Bills.  But after the team drafted CJ Spiller (Facepalm) he was sent to Seattle in 2010, Beast Mode was truly born.  He notched 4 straight 1,000 yard campaigns, won a Super Bowl, was named First-team All-Pro in 2012, a 5× Pro Bowler, 2× NFL rushing touchdowns leader, and was named to the NFL 2010s All-Decade Team