Buffalo Bills Training Camp Preview: Wide Receivers

After losing a number of athletes to free agency, the Bills brought in a handful of new faces in the receiving room

Training camp is less than two weeks away and the Buffalo Bills have nearly cleaned out the receiver room after last season. Let’s take a look at some of the receivers who will be attending training camp at St. John Fisher.

Keon Coleman

The 33rd overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, Coleman should make an almost immediate impact on the team as there are some holes to fill. The former two-sport collegiate athlete is confident, fast and smart on the field, and is in no rush to replace former Bills receivers Stefon Diggs and Gabe Davis.

“All I do is come out and be myself, be where I’m supposed to be. The game’s going to take care of itself, all I have to do is be in the moment. Because I’m not Gabe, I’m not Stef, I’m just Keon. We have a lot of other guys that definitely complement my game and we complement each other and Josh to make it work.”

The 6’3″ receiver played basketball and football at the University of Michigan, but only played football with the Seminoles. His knowledge of plyometrics from basketball helps him jump and catch hard-to-reach and contested balls.

Coleman threw for 11 touchdowns and 658 yards on 50 receptions last season and earned first-team All-ACC honors.

Chase Claypool

A former player for the Pittsburgh Steelers, Chicago Bears and then the Miami Dolphins, Chase Claypool was acquired by the Bills in early May.

The international athlete signed a one-year deal and can offer some veteran experience, even if he hasn’t turned heads over the past two seasons. Claypool was traded to the Bears in 2022 before being sent to Miami in October of last season after expressing his displeasure in Chicago.

He caught four passes in nine games with the Dolphins. In his rookie season with the Steelers (2020), Claypool recorded 11 touchdowns, 62 receptions and 873 yards with Ben Roethlisberger as his sharpshooter.

His size makes him difficult to beat on the field, but many have expressed concern about his attitude off the field.

Curtis Samuel

Samuel signed a three-year, $24 million contract in March with Buffalo after playing with the Carolina Panthers and Washington Commanders.

His most successful season came in 2020, when Joe Brady led Carolina’s offense. The Brooklyn native had 77 receptions for three touchdowns and 851 receiving yards.

From 2021-23 with the Commanders, Samuel had 132 receptions for 1,296 yards and eight receiving touchdowns, along with 49 carries for 237 yards and two rushing touchdowns.

Samuel is a dynamic receiver who brings speed and versatility on the field, as well as veteran experience in the locker room.

Marquez Valdes-Scantling

The two-time Super Bowl champion signed with Buffalo in mid-May and is another solid target for Josh Allen.

Valdes-Scantling started 10 games for the Kansas City Chiefs last season and rushed for 315 yards and a touchdown on 21 receptions. He led the NFL in receiving yards per reception with 20.9 yards in 2020.

MVS is a deep threat and has experience catching passes from football greats like Aaron Rodgers and Patrick Mahomes.