Although he’s only had the job for 13 months, Brandon Beane has already made quite an impact as the general manager of the Buffalo Bills.

He’s made a few blockbuster trades, dealing away Sammy Watkins and Ronald Darby in the 2017 preseason before acquiring wide receiver Kelvin Benjamin at the trade deadline. Perhaps most importantly, he constructed the Bills roster that ended the team’s infamous 17-year playoff drought.

Beane will forever be known as the man who took Buffalo back to the postseason.

Throughout his time as Bills’ general manager, Beane has proven himself as a rather savvy executive. He traded players that he inherited like Watkins, Darby, Marcell Dareus, and Tyrod Taylor in exchange for draft picks, selections he would use to move around in the 2018 draft in order to secure players of his choosing.

Although Buffalo is undoubtedly in a rebuilding phase, Beane has seemingly set the team up for long-term success. However, Sporting News’ Vinnie Iyer does not seem to share this opinion. Beane is ranked at No. 25 in the outlet’s recent NFL general manager rankings.

The Bills did make the playoffs for the first time in 18 years last season, but much of the reason for the run to the postseason was a defensive front and a running game that were established before Beane. Now that Tyrod Taylor, Cordy Glenn and Richie Incognito are gone and the passing game and secondary are made over, there probably will be a few rebuilding bumps as Buffalo tries to become a consistent contender with an updated identity.

To say that the team’s defensive front was “much of the reason” why the team made the playoffs last season is a bit of a stretch. The Bills’ defensive front, especially their front four, struggled throughout much of the 2017 season. Buffalo finished the 2017 season with the NFL’s fourth-worst rushing defense, allowing roughly 125 rushing yards per game. On top of that, the Bills’ defensive line consistently struggled to pressure opposing quarterbacks. Buffalo’s defensive linemen combined for just 21 sacks last season.

In addition, the Bills’ linebacker corps lacked athleticism. While middle linebacker Preston Brown led the league in tackles, he struggled in coverage, allowing 56 receptions for 545 yards, per Pro Football Focus. This is why Buffalo replaced him with rookie Tremaine Edmunds in the offseason.

Weakside linebacker Ramon Humber was replaced by fifth-round rookie Matt Milano midway through the 2017 season. While the Bills’ defensive front played well at times, the play of the front seven wasn’t “much of the reason” why Buffalo made the playoffs.

In fact, the Bills’ secondary was “much of the reason” why the team made the playoffs in 2017. Iyer writes that Buffalo’s secondary was “made over” this offseason, but that isn’t the case. The Bills’ defensive backfield was actually “made over” in the 2017 offseason, as Buffalo entered the 2017 season with an entirely new starting secondary. Micah Hyde, Jordan Poyer, Tre’Davious White, and E.J. Gaines played remarkably well, combining for 15 interceptions and 53 pass deflections.

The Bills’ secondary will have just one new starter next year. Two-time Pro Bowler Vontae Davis will likely start opposite White on the outside in 2018.

Buffalo, however, will have a revamped passing game next year. With Taylor gone, the Bills will start the 2018 season with an inexperienced quarterback under center, whether it be AJ McCarron, Nathan Peterman or rookie Josh Allen.

Buffalo’s offensive line is seemingly in disarray, as well. The Bills lost two starting interior linemen to retirement this offseason, as both Eric Wood and Richie Incognito rode into the sunset after the 2017 season. Buffalo may struggle to find replacements for the two Pro Bowl-caliber players.

While the Bills may experience some growing pains in the immediate future, to rank Beane as the 25th best, or seventh worst, general manager in the league is a bit unfair. Beane is ranked just two spots above new Houston Texans’ general manager Brian Gaine, who was actually Buffalo’s Vice President of Player Personnel last season.

Hopefully the roster that Beane constructed will perform well in 2018, allowing the executive to move up the list. We’ll just have to wait and see.