Assessing the new-look Buffalo Bills receiver room
Buffalo Bills WR Khalil Shakir
Since acquiring QB Josh Allen in the 2018 draft, the Buffalo Bills have been a mainstay in the NFL playoffs. They’ve made it each of the last five seasons, even reaching the AFC Championship game during the 2020-21 season.
Despite this continued success, the Bills have yet to reach the Super Bowl during Allen’s tenure in Buffalo. They’ve been eliminated in all five playoffs runs, three times at the hands of the Kansas City Chiefs. It’s a demoralizing one-sided rivalry and one that has the potential to get more out of hand this season.
Over the course of the offseason, the Bills traded away star wide receiver Stefon Diggs to the Houston Texans in what had become a long-awaited move. They also lost their WR2, Gabe Davis, who signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Even with a revamped room of pass-catchers, the goal of reaching the Super Bowl remains the same. The question is whether or not this receiving corps is capable of getting there.
Khalil Shakir
Despite being drafted in 2022, Khalil Shakir, 24, is now Allen’s most-familiar target amongst the receivers. The former fifth-rounder stood out in the playoffs last season, earning a fairly comparable workload to the top two targets.
Now, despite having just 49 career receptions, Shakir will be featured more prominently in the offense throughout the entirety of the season. He’s proven he can step up in big moments, but consistency will be the biggest factor in his potentially becoming Buffalo’s top receiver.
Standing at just six feet tall, Shakir isn’t known for his abilities on the outside. He works best in the slot, as does one of Buffalo’s newest additions.
Curtis Samuel
Hoping to find a veteran presence, the Bills brought in wide receiver Curtis Samuel during the offseason. The former Ohio State Buckeye isn’t a star by any means, but is a reliable option in the slot.
Samuel, 27, has surpassed 600 yards receiving in four of his last five seasons. He began his career with a four year stint in Carolina, before joining the Washington Commanders for the last three seasons.
Now a member of the Bills, Samuel will have an interesting role given the play-style similarities between him and Shakir. Assuming they can make it work, it will be Samuel’s best chance at team success thus far in his career.
Keon Coleman
Playing a completely different role from Shakir and Samuel will be rookie Keon Coleman. The Florida State prospect stands at 6-foot-3 and is known for his jump ball abilities. Given Allen’s tendency to launch the ball down the field, he and the 21 year-old Coleman seem like a match made in heaven.
The Bills appear to view him similarly, as they used the No. 33 overall pick to acquire him in April’s draft. In a draft class loaded with receiver talent, it’s hard to argue there was anyone better at going up and getting the football than Coleman. He also flashed elite speed at times during his collegiate career.
Coleman is truly a do-it-all guy, which he proved by returning punts at Florida State. If he and Allen form a quick connection, he could have a major impact in year one.
Worth mentioning
The Bills also have a set of quality tight ends in Dalton Kincaid and Dawson Knox. Additionally, they brought in Chase Claypool, Marquez Valdes-Scantling and Mack Hollins to fill out the depth chart at the receiver position.
All of these players should see at least a half-decent snap share, giving Allen a variety of options to throw to. It would be foolish to count Buffalo out this season because of their receiving corps, especially considering the unit the Chiefs used to win the most recent Super Bowl.
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