The Buffalo Bills had a huge question mark surrounding the offense heading into the 2024 season. After trading away Stefon Diggs, the wide receiver position looked bleak. Without a true No. 1 receiver, analysts far and wide doubted the Bills.
In Diggs' absence, Khalil Shakir stepped up, becoming the Bills' leading receiver, catching 76 passes for 821 yards and four touchdowns.
Despite his production and rising play, Shakir isn't considered among the best receivers in the NFL nationally. As a result, Pro Football Focus named him as the Bills' most underrated player and one of the NFL's most underrated.
"Shakir has been a stable contributor for the Bills’ receiving corps over the past two seasons, and he stepped up significantly in 2024 in Stefon Diggs‘ absence, leading the team in targets (115), receiving yards (995), PFF receiving grade (80.1) and yards per route run (2.20)," Jonathon Macri writes. "Shakir placed in the top 25 for the position in all of those categories. He has also been one of the most effective receivers with the ball in his hands, averaging 7.7 yards after the catch per reception since 2023, which is tied for the sixth-best mark among wide receivers."
Shakir was a steal in the fifth round of the 2022 NFL Draft. Shakir has been one of the most productive receivers of the class despite not getting much playing time as a rookie.
Shakir is hoping to string together his first 1,000-yard season in 2025. He's extension eligible, entering the final season of his rookie contract.
Buffalo's receiving room looks awfully different than it did two years ago, led by Diggs. The 2025 version is headlined by Shakir, flanked by Keon Coleman, Joshua Palmer, Elijah Moore, Curtis Samuel, and rookie Kaden Prather.
If Shakir can string together a 1,000-yard season and help lead the Bills to another deep playoff run, he can break his way into top-tier receiver conversations.