Bills’ inexperienced WR group dubbed his ‘biggest concern’ heading into training camp

It’s a general truth that applies to many areas of life: the better you are at your profession, the more you will be asked to do.

The Buffalo Bills certainly have quarterback Josh Allen doing it A little during the 2024 NFL season. The team retooled its receiving corps in the spring, moving on from perennial Pro Bowler Stefon Diggs and complementary piece Gabriel Davis in an effort to free up long-term financial flexibility. The moves leave the team without its top two pass catchers from a season ago and Allen looking for new go-to targets, a storyline that will be closely monitored throughout training camp this summer.

Buffalo added a slew of bodies to its receiving corps this offseason and is also hoping to replace some of its missing production internally, but some still wonder if the team has done enough at the receiving position to truly give Allen a real opportunity to succeed. The Athletic identified the pass catcher group as the Bills’ biggest “concern” heading into training camp, with writer Tim Graham wondering if “Allen (has) enough to work with at the receiver position wide” in a recent article describing the biggest qualm facing the Bills. every NFL team in camp.

“Only one wideout on the roster caught a pass from Allen in a game,” Graham wrote. “This is third-year pro Khalil Shakir, who looks promising but still has a way to go to establish his bona fides. Buffalo parted ways with Stefon Diggs and Gabe Davis, who combined for 162 receptions, 2,0002 yards and 15 touchdowns last year. Depth receivers Deonte Harty and Trent Sherfield are also gone.

“The organization has assembled a menagerie to complement tight ends Dalton Kincaid and Dawson Knox, including newcomers Curtis Samuel, Marquez Valdes-Scantling, KJ Hamler, Mack Hollins, recovery scratch ticket Chase Claypool and (fifth ) 2023 tour Justin Shorter. Fans are excited about 33rd pick Keon Coleman, although rookie receivers offer no guarantees. The new faces need to earn Allen’s trust for this offense to work.

Related: ESPN says recent first-round pick was Bills’ most surprising player at minicamp

It’s a legitimate concern for Graham – or for any writer, pundit or fan – that, like Allen, on paper he objectively doesn’t have much to work with. There is reason for optimism: Kincaid and Shakir both played through the 2023 season and Samuel, who signed a three-year contract with Buffalo during the offseason, reunites with the offensive coordinator who previously led him to his best production as a player. professional, but there are still many question marks. There is hopebut hope is not a plan.

The Bills are really hoping that Allen, who has established himself as one of the NFL’s premier players in recent years, can elevate what, on paper, is an inexperienced group of pass catchers. This is something the Kansas City Chiefs have asked Patrick Mahomes to do in recent years after moving on from All-Pro wide receiver Tyreek Hill during the 2022 offseason; This didn’t necessarily hamper the team, as they won two consecutive Super Bowls.

Buffalo’s aerial contributors show long-term promise — Kincaid and Shakir are 24 while Coleman is 21 — but doubts about the unit’s immediate feasibility are justified. Allen and the offense, as a whole, will try to silence some doubters when training camp begins at St. John Fisher University in Rochester next month.

—Benefit from free bill coverage Buffalo Bills on SI—

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