Evaluating the new Buffalo Bills front office

Since acquiring quarterback Josh Allen in the 2018 draft, the Buffalo Bills have been a mainstay in the NFL playoffs. They have been successful 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 have been eliminated in all five playoff series, three times at the hands of the Kansas City Chiefs. This is a demoralizing one-sided rivalry and one that has the potential to spiral even further out of control this season.

During the offseason, the Bills traded star wide receiver Stefon Diggs to the Houston Texans in what had become a highly anticipated move. They also lost their WR2, Gabe Davis, who signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Even with a revamped passing room, the goal of reaching the Super Bowl remains the same. The question is whether or not this receiving corps is capable of achieving this.

Khalil Shakir

Despite being drafted in 2022, Khalil Shakir, 24, is now Allen’s most familiar target among receivers. The former fifth-rounder stood out in the playoffs last season, earning a workload pretty comparable to the top two targets.

Now, despite only 49 career receptions, Shakir will play a larger role in the offense throughout the season. He’s proven he can step up in big moments, but consistency will be the biggest factor in him potentially becoming Buffalo’s best receiver.

Standing only six feet tall, Shakir is not known for his outside abilities. He works best in the slot, as does one of Buffalo’s latest 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 is by no means a star, but is a reliable option in the slot.

Samuel, 27, has topped 600 receiving yards 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 final three seasons.

Now a member of the Bills, Samuel will have an interesting role given the similarities in playing style between him and Shakir. Assuming they can pull it off, this will be Samuel’s best chance to succeed as a team so far in his career.

Keon Coleman

Rookie Keon Coleman will play a completely different role than Shakir and Samuel. The Florida State prospect stands 6-foot-3 and is known for his ball-hopping abilities. Given Allen’s tendency to throw the ball down the field, he and Coleman, 21, seem like a perfect match.

The Bills seem to view him the same way, as they used the No. 33 overall pick to acquire him in April’s draft. In a draft class filled with wide receiver talent, it’s hard to argue that there was anyone better than Coleman to move up and get the football. He also displayed elite speed at times during his college career.

Coleman is truly a do-it-all guy, which he proved by returning punts at Florida State. If he and Allen make a quick connection, he could have a major impact in year one.

To note

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 receiver.

All of these players should see at least a half-decent snap split, giving Allen a variety of options to throw to. It would be foolish to exclude Buffalo this season because of their receiving corps, especially considering the unit the Chiefs used to win the last Super Bowl.