Buffalo Bills OC says underrated WR is ‘everything you want in a wide receiver’

It’s hard not to be excited about Khalil Shakir.

The Buffalo Bills forward has always been fun to watch, dating back to his time at Boise State when he was deployed like a Swiss army knife who was simply dynamic with the ball in his hands. He has shown flashes of his abilities throughout his two professional seasons, particularly during his 39-reception, 611-yard 2023 campaign in which he cemented his relationship with quarterback Josh Allen and is carved out a consistent role in Buffalo’s offense. His late-season breakthrough culminated in a decisive Week 18 win over the Miami Dolphins in which the sophomore caught six passes for 105 yards, helping the team consolidate its fourth consecutive league title. ‘AFC East.

His demonstrated chemistry with Allen, the overall ascending nature of his game and the offseason departures of Stefon Diggs and Gabriel Davis from the Bills receiving corps have set the stage for what could be a monster year for Shakir, who is expected to play a role leading. in Buffalo’s revamped air attack. Bills offensive coordinator Joe Brady spoke about the 24-year-old while speaking to reporters before an OTA practice Tuesday at One Bills Drive, praising his work ethic and ability while fanning, perhaps unintentionally, the flames of media hype.

“I think the most important thing for any receiver was his second year in the league,” Brady said. “You’re going to continue to grow, you’re going to continue to develop, you’re going to get a feel for defenses and how to run routes and leverage. There’s a lot more to it than just showing itineraries on-air. Seeing his development last year was huge. He’s an extremely brilliant player, like the intelligence I’m talking about, that’s Khalil Shakir.

Related: Bills OC Gives Rave Support for New WR: ‘He’s Extremely Bright’

“When he’s out there and his feel for zones and his understanding of the man, he can play outside, play inside, he’s everything you look for in a wide receiver. Evolution, (what is) next, depends largely on Khalil. Fortunately, given his work ethic and his approach, there’s no reason why he can’t (play a larger role). I just got that chemistry with Josh on different types of roads, and as we go from there.

Brady clearly enjoys using Shakir; After the coach took over interim play-calling duties in Week 11 last season, the forward’s role in the offense increased significantly, becoming a mainstay on sets of 11 players. The sophomore averaged 2.1 targets per game through the first 10 weeks of this season, with that number increasing to 3.4 targets per game after Brady took over as offensive coordinator midway through the campaign.

Perhaps that number can be expected to increase even further during the 2024 season, as Shakir is the only remaining player on Buffalo’s receiving corps to catch a pass from Allen in a game of regular season. He’ll have to compete for targets with second-year tight end Dalton Kincaid, rookie Keon Coleman and free agent signee Curtis Samuel, but if he’s able to build on his strong finish to the 2023 season as he enters his third year, the name “Khalil Shakir” could become a well-known name in the homes of football fans.