The Buffalo Bills’ rebuild is ahead of schedule and much of the credit for the team’s success in 2019 belongs to head coach Sean McDermott and general manager Brandon Beane.

Since joining the Bills, McDermott and Beane have made the playoffs twice in three seasons. Despite the success that the duo had in year one, they knew a rebuild needed to occur. Beane shed many bad contracts from the previous regime and many young players were inserted into the lineup in year two. The end result was a 6-10 campaign, but there was a silver lining. Young players were given playing experience and the team had plenty of cap space and draft picks to address needs in the offseason offseason.

Instead of going the route of the Jets, inking star players to big contracts, Beane and McDermott went out and added key pieces at many positions in free agency. John Brown and Cole Beasley were big name additions at wide receiver. Mitch Morse, Quinton Spain, Jon Feliciano and Ty Nsekhe were part of an offensive line overhaul. With few holes to address in the draft, the duo were able to add the best players available according to their draft board. Beane and McDermott selected the likes of Ed Oliver, Cody Ford, Devin Singletary and Dawson Knox, players who have all contributed as rookies.

Considering the success of their free agent additions, the play of their rookie class and the team’s 10-4 record, it should come as no surprise that both McDermott and Beane are getting some looks for end of the year awards.

NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero surveyed high-ranking executives in personnel from 24 NFL teams, including 13 general managers, on who they would vote for in end of the year awards. When it came to Coach of the Year, McDermott garnered the most votes.

With a 10-4 record and a second playoff berth in three years secured, McDermott received seven votes to edge out Ravens coach John Harbaugh (5 1/2) and 49ers head man Kyle Shanahan (five). “They’ve played really good defensively,” an NFC personnel director said of the Bills. “He’s winning with a young quarterback -- they’re kind of winning because of the quarterback, too. I just think they have an identity. The team knows who they are. Isn’t that 90 percent of it?”

Mike Tomlin (Steelers), Matt LaFleur (Packers), Bill O’Brien (Texans) and Brian Flores (Dolphins) also received votes.

Beane did not have the most votes for Executive of the Year, but finished in third place behind John Lynch of the 49ers and John Schneider of the Seahawks.

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