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In the days that follow, analysts will offer grades for that class.

Those grades, of course, will be silly. It takes years to properly judge what a team gets from its draft class. With that in mind, it is a fair time to look back at what general manager Brandon Beane鈥檚 2022 class has given the Buffalo Bills.

Here鈥檚 a look:

First round, 23rd overall CB Kaiir Elam, Florida

Grade: D

It didn鈥檛 work. That鈥檚 the easiest way to summarize Elam鈥檚 three years with the Bills, a stretch that came to an end when they traded him to the Dallas Cowboys earlier this offseason. Elam had some decent moments, but ultimately, he鈥檒l go down as a bust.

鈥淭hat鈥檚 a tough one, it really is,鈥� Beane said after trading Elam away. 鈥淚 love Kaiir. 鈥� It didn鈥檛 work and it stinks and it鈥檚 not for a lack of effort on any side here, and the guy worked so hard.鈥�

That is true. Elam routinely was one of the last players on the practice field. He owned his struggles, and never stopped trying to improve. As Beane said, it just didn鈥檛 work.

鈥淭his game is about confidence, and especially (cornerback) is a hard, hard position, and Kaiir had some good moments here. He really did,鈥� Beane said. 鈥淭hought he had some good training camps, but in the end, he and I had a conversation after the season about where he was going into his last year and, like anything, he knows the expectations and he鈥檚 a competitor. It was hurting him to not play.

鈥淯ltimately, it鈥檚 on me. I made the selection that didn鈥檛 work out, and I own that.鈥�

Elam played in 29 games with 12 starts in the regular season for the Bills, finishing with two interceptions and six passes defensed.

Second round, 63rd overall RB James Cook, Georgia

Grade: A

Initially thought to be a pass-catching running back, Cook has proven to be a whole lot more than that. He鈥檚 got back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons, making the Pro Bowl both years, and in 2024 tied a single-season franchise record set by O.J. Simpson in 1975 with 16 rushing touchdowns.

Things are a bit dicey right now as Cook seeks a contract extension. He wasn鈥檛 in attendance this week as the Bills started their offseason program, but on the field, Cook has been everything the front office could have hoped for when they made the pick.

鈥淟ove James. Look forward to James putting on our helmet again this year and doing well for us,鈥� Beane said Tuesday. 鈥淚 know he plans that. James is a competitive dude.鈥�

Third round, 89th overall LB Terrel Bernard, Baylor

Grade: A

Bernard appeared in 16 games as a rookie but started just one time. He was a healthy inactive in the postseason his first year.

It was fair to wonder at that point whether the ceiling for Bernard was as a depth player. He proved right away in the 2023 season that was incorrect. Bernard replaced Tremaine Edmunds, who signed with the Bears as an unrestricted free agent, as the team鈥檚 starting middle linebacker, and immediately started delivering big plays.

Over the past two years, Bernard has five interceptions, four fumble recoveries, 7陆 sacks and 15 tackles for loss. His forced fumble and recovery in the divisional round against Baltimore in January was the play of the game in the Bills鈥� win.

On top of all that, he was voted the team鈥檚 only defensive captain in 2024. He signed a four-year contract extension this offseason.

Fifth round, 148th overall WR Khalil Shakir, Boise State

Grade: A

Shakir started to emerge over the second half of his second season, finishing 2023 with 39 catches for 611 yards and two touchdowns. He took the next step in his career in 2024, leading the Bills in targets (100), catches (76) and yards (821), along with four touchdowns. With remarkable contact balance, Shakir has become quarterback Josh Allen鈥檚 most reliable target. The Bills rewarded him with a four-year contract this offseason, reflecting his value to the offense.

Sixth round, 180th overall Matt Araiza, P, San Diego State

Grade: Incomplete

Araiza was cut before ever playing a regular-season game for the Bills after his name surfaced in a lawsuit accusing him of raping a minor. Araiza was never criminally charged and his name was ultimately dropped from the lawsuit. He spent two years out of football after being released by the Bills, but the Chiefs ultimately signed him as their punter in 2024. The Bills have said they were unaware of Araiza鈥檚 potential to be named in a lawsuit ahead of drafting him, so it鈥檚 unfair to criticize Beane for the pick. The team did need a punter at the time.

Sixth round, 185th overall CB Christian Benford, Villanova

Grade: A+

In the running as Beane鈥檚 best draft pick, Benford beat out Elam for the starting job coming out of training camp in 2022 and hasn鈥檛 looked back. He has started 35 regular-season games in the past three years and made 25 passes defensed to go with five interceptions. The Bills rewarded Benford with a four-year contract extension this offseason.

鈥淭his is life-changing 鈥� like, family, legacy, everything,鈥� Benford said upon signing his extension. 鈥淎ll it takes is one person to believe me. So it鈥檚 like, it means a lot.鈥�

Sixth round, 209th overall OT Luke Tenuta, Virginia Tech

Grade: C-

Tenuta was released at the end of training camp as a rookie and claimed off waivers the next day by the Indianapolis Colts. He was released by the Colts and claimed off waivers by the Packers, making his NFL debut on Christmas Day against the Dolphins.

Tenuta spent the 2023 season on injured reserve with Green Bay because of an ankle injury. He spent the 2024 season on the Arizona Cardinals鈥� practice squad and is now back on the Colts鈥� 90-man roster this offseason.

Seventh round, 231st overall LB Baylon Spector, Clemson

Grade: B-

Spector has played in 26 games over three years with the Bills, starting four times, all of which came in 2024. Injuries have been the biggest obstacle to him earning a more defined role. Still, as a seventh-round pick on a playoff roster, he鈥檚 been a pretty good return on investment.

Overall grade: A-

Missing on the first-round pick knocks the overall grade down just a bit, but Beane found foundational pieces on every other day in the draft.