The Buffalo Bills are moving into their next major offseason phase in due time: Training camp.
The Bills will kick off their 2025 training camp on July 23 at St. John Fisher University. As with every offseason, Bills Wire will examine each position group ahead of this pivotal time on the football calendar.
Today’s training camp preview will focus on Buffalo’s quarterback situation.
Our 2025 wide receivers preview can be found below:
At the top
Khalil Shakir led the Bills in receiving with 76 receptions for 821 yards and four touchdowns last season. The slot receiver was the only Buffalo player to reach triple-digit targets, as Shakir hit exactly 100 total. Shakir is quarterback Josh Allen’s more reliable target.
Second-year receiver Keon Coleman looks to take on a bigger role in Buffalo’s offense this year. Coleman had a solid start, but injuries derailed his season. Coleman has big-play potential, as he led the Bills with an average of 19.2 yards per reception.
Free agent signing Joshua Palmer will likely hold down the final wideout spot. Palmer had good separation metrics during his time in Los Angeles. In Buffalo, he will have the chance to earn consistent first-team reps.
Depth chart
Curtis Samuel is next in line. Samuel was injured during the preseason, and it never really allowed him to stand out last year. He had 31 catches for 253 yards and one touchdown.
Elijah Moore has the best chance of falling in line next. Moore is versatile but will most likely play in the slot in Joe Brady’s offense.
Laviska Shenault Jr. has the inside track for the final receiving spot on the roster. However, his value will be mostly seen in the special teams game as a returner.
Behind this group, the Bills have a bevy of young receivers whose best bet will be earning a spot on Buffalo’s practice squad. Tyrell Shavers, KJ Hamler, Jalen Virgil, Kaden Prather, Kelly Akharaiyi, and Kristian Wilkinson round out the receiver group.
In 2025…
Shakir will most likely lead the way for Buffalo’s receivers again. Shakiri signed a four-year, $53 million deal that indicates he will still be the No. 1 option for Josh Allen. The hope is that Shakir will build upon his career-best 2024 campaign.
There’s hope that a healthy and stronger Coleman can become more of a force out wide. If Coleman can stretch the field consistently, he would help open up a large chunk of the field and give Offensive Coordinator Joe Brady more options in the passing attack.
Palmer will be given the first opportunity to start for the Bills. However, if he doesn’t shine early in the season, it would not be surprising to see Buffalo turn to Samuel and Moore sooner rather than later.
However, with the skill sets of each of the receivers, it seems that all of them should have a role in this offense. It wouldn’t be shocking for any of them to have a standout week on any given gameday.
This article originally appeared on Bills Wire: Previewing the Bills’ wide receivers ahead of 2025 NFL training camp