Editor’s note: This is the ninth in a series previewing the Bills’ position groups as training camp looms. Today: Wide receivers.
Keon Coleman knows all eyes are on him. The second-year wide receiver enters training camp with the Buffalo Bills needing to make a jump from last season. Those expectations are clear to him, and the 22-year-old Coleman had a laundry list of things he was working on when he spoke at minicamp.
“Speed, technique, lifting, getting stronger, getting bigger, getting faster, putting masks back on, getting back swole, playing physical and stuff like that,” Coleman said. “And then, other than that, just perfecting my craft.”
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Bills receiver Keon Coleman knows he has to play better this season. Harry Scull Jr., Buffalo News
In his rookie campaign, Coleman had 29 catches on 57 targets for 556 yards and four touchdowns. He worked through a middle-of-season wrist injury that sidelined him for four regular-season games. But even once he returned to the lineup, his numbers were down. In the postseason, Coleman had just three catches on eight targets for 22 yards.
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Now healthy, Coleman is out to prove why the Bills took him with their first selection of the 2024 draft. And outside of his personal pride, the offense needs him.
On the roster: 13
Keon Coleman, Curtis Samuel, Joshua Palmer, Khalil Shakir, Jalen Virgil, Laviska Shenault Jr., Elijah Moore, K.J. Hamler, Tyrell Shavers, Kaden Prather, Kristian Wilkerson, Kelly Akharaiyi and Stephen Gosnell.
Buffalo Bills position preview: Will James Cook's workload – and salary – increase?
Cook is a pro, so don’t bet on his contract status becoming a distraction. He’ll show up and do his work, but will he be rewarded for it? That remains to be seen.
How many on the final 53?
Six: Coleman, Shakir, Palmer, Samuel, Moore and Shenault.
Most impactful offseason move
Joshua Palmer. The Bills brought in the former Los Angeles Chargers receiver on a three-year deal, and they’re looking for him to make an impact on the offense.
His best season came in 2022, with 72 catches for 769 yards and three touchdowns. A change of scenery could benefit the Toronto native, who’s thrilled to be a lot closer to home. But outside of personal reasons for the move, Palmer is embracing the Bills’ offense and the chance to play with quarterback Josh Allen. While some looked for the Bills to make a bigger move this offseason, Palmer adds a steady downfield threat with his ability to separate.
Biggest question to answer in camp
Can the group as a whole give Allen the weapons he needs? Now, this is not solely on the wide receivers. Offensive coordinator Joe Brady is still rolling with the “everybody eats” mentality, which means tight ends and running backs will be involved in the passing game. Still, with Allen’s MVP-caliber playmaking ability, the receivers need to hold up their end of the bargain and make a splash on game days. Khalil Shakir led the team last season with 821 yards and 76 catches. Outside of his steady presence, can the group take a step forward?
Buffalo Bills OTA
Can Bills wide receiver Curtis Samuel find his form after an injury-riddled 2024 campaign? Derek Gee, Buffalo News
Battle to watch
Curtis Samuel vs. expectations. Samuel joined the Bills in March of 2024 on a three-year contract. The former second-round pick was expected to give Brady a chance to show his creative genius, but in 2025, Samuel did not quite pan out. He battled injuries, which general manager Brandon Beane and head coach Sean McDermott both considered key context in evaluating Samuel’s first year in Buffalo. Samuel finished the season with just 253 yards on 31 catches in 14 games. Seven of those catches, good for 52 yards, came in Week 18 against the Patriots. Can Samuel get back to how he played in 2020 in Carolina with Brady when he had 77 catches for 851 yards and three touchdowns and rushed for 200 yards and two scores?
Buffalo Bills position preview: Is O'Cyrus Torrence a candidate for an extension?
Depth on the interior is a question mark for the Bills. They didn't draft a guard or center on Day 3. Their starters are formidable, however, and, paired with their bookend tackles, Dion Dawkins and Spencer Brown, Buffalo has one of the best offensive lines in the NFL.
Under-the-radar player
Laviska Shenault Jr. Shenault enters camp firmly on the bubble, but he could push the Bills to keep six receivers instead of their usual five. Shenault thinks the evolving kickoff rules give him an opportunity to showcase what he can do when he has the ball in his hands. A second-round pick of the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2020, Shenault is now on his fifth team. If he can show his worth on special teams – where he reunited with new Bills special teams coordinator Chris Tabor – and provide value as a backup, he could get a chance to prove himself on a one-year deal.
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