15 takeaways from Brandon Beane’s post-free agency press conference

Buffalo Bills general manager Brandon Beane does a video press conference after free agency.

Vernon Butler (Louisiana Tech) after being selected by the Carolina Panthers. Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports

Vernon Butler is Jordan Phillips

Beane had some successes in Carolina. Defnesive tackle Vernon Butler wasn’t exactly on of them. As a former first-round pick, he did not start a game in the NFL until last season. Still, Beane said he saw enough last season to bring Butler on board.

“The light seemed to come on a little bit for Vernon last year,” Beane said.

Beane also mentioned the departed Jordan Phillips. It sounds like Butler has a shot at filling those big shoes since the GM made a direct comparison.

“I just felt like the light was starting to come on. I kind of view him like how we kind of got Jordan Phillips. Not everything had played out perfectly yet. Jordan was a second-round pick and we just feel like our system fits Vernon the way Jordan fit it. Hopefully he can get to the level Jordan did,” Beane said.