Buffalo Bills fire general manager Doug Whaley 1 day after the draft

The Buffalo Bills announced Sunday that general manager Doug Whaley has been fired. The Bills hired him in 2013 and signed him to an extension before the start of the 2016 season.

Buffalo never made it to the playoffs while Whaley was the general manager. During Whaley’s tenure, the Bills had a losing record of 30-34.

“After a thorough review of our football operations over the past several months, Kim [Pegula] and I informed Doug this morning that we will be moving in a new direction,” Bills co-owner Terry Pegula said in a statement. “We have enjoyed working with Doug. He is a good person, and we want to thank him for his work and commitment to our football team.

“This was my decision. It was not an easy decision, but I believe it’s the right one for the future of the Buffalo Bills. Our search for a new general manager will begin immediately.”

Whaley traded up to select Sammy Watkins in 2014 and had to give up a first-round pick in 2015 to do so. Watkins is talented, but he has missed 11 games due to injury. It doesn’t help that the Bills haven’t been able to coax consistent quarterback play out of any player who has taken the field for them during Whaley’s time as general manager.

Buffalo drafted EJ Manuel in 2013, but Whaley did not make that selection. Buddy Nix, who was the general manager at the time, drafted him. A couple of weeks after the draft, Nix resigned and Whaley took over as the GM.

Quarterbacks like Matt Cassel and Kyle Orton have lined up under center for the Bills during Whaley’s tenure. The Bills have Tyrod Taylor on the roster, and he has potential. Cardale Jones and T.J. Yates are waiting in the wings, and the Bills drafted Pitt’s Nathan Peterman in the fifth round of the 2017 draft. But none of the quarterbacks on the Bills’ roster looks like a surefire franchise quarterback.

The Bills parted ways with head coach Rex Ryan last season after Buffalo’s Week 16 loss to the Dolphins, but they chose to retain Whaley. Now, head coach Sean McDermott will have a new general manager to build the roster with in Buffalo.