2022 Top 25 Buffalo Bills 25 and Under: No. 16 Khalil Shakir
The Buffalo Bills got what is considered one of the steals of the 2022 NFL Draft when they selected wide receiver Khalil Shakir in the fifth round. He is a versatile playmaker that enters the rankings of the Top 25 players on the Buffalo Bills roster who will be 25 years old or younger at the start of the season at 16th overall.
Shakir played in 43 games over four seasons at Boise State and finished with 208 receptions, 2,878 receiving yards, and 20 receiving touchdowns. However, he showed that versatility in college as he averaged almost two carries per game and in total had 71 rushing attempts, 414 rushing yards, and four rushing touchdowns.
He also saw some work as a punt returner with 24 punt returns over four seasons and averaged 7.5 yards per punt.
Khalil Shakir is a future starter for the Buffalo Bills
This season will likely be a year that Khalil Shakir doesn’t see regular snaps or targets. The Buffalo Bills have good depth across the board at wide receiver and running back which pushes Shakir down the depth chart.
If there is a spot he has a chance to make an impact as a rookie it would be if he were to win the punt return job but that would be surprising with some of the other players on the roster.
However, long-term Khalil Shakir should have a much bigger role and has a good chance to be the starting slot receiver as early as 2023. The versatility though will allow the Buffalo Bills to line him up in a number of different areas on the field and even utilize him on run plays like he was at Boise State.
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The Buffalo Bills have had success finding talent at wide receiver in the later rounds of the NFL Draft, like Gabriel Davis who was a fourth round pick in 2020. It wouldn’t be surprising to see Khalil Shakir be the next Day 3 draft pick emerge at the position in the next few seasons.