With the hiring of Drew Terrell as the Buffalo Bills' new wide receiver coach, it will be interesting to see how his youthful energy will translate to the receivers on the field.
Since the wide receiver corps underachieved last season, all signs point to the Bills' front office being more aggressive in the types of players they pursue to upgrade the position.
To build a stronger receiving corps, the receivers must help quarterback Josh Allen connect more effectively on deep passes and communicate successfully with the new coaching staff. Let's examine what steps the wide receivers must take to improve for 2026.
What the wide receivers can do to grow in 2026
1. Tyrell Shavers
After years of not making the opening-day 53-man roster, the Bills finally named Shavers to the active roster this past season. Considered to be a training camp and preseason favorite for years, the undrafted free agent signed a two-year contract that will run through 2026.
This past year, the big-bodied wideout caught 15 balls for 245 yards and one touchdown. He went from being an unknown, three-time college transfer, to a regular contributor in the Bills' wide receiver room.
2. Khalil Shakir
Shakir continued to be one of the Bills' most consistent receivers since Buffalo traded Stefon Diggs in 2024. Since his rookie season in 2022, Shakir has trained hard in the offseason with former Bills star wide receiver Eric Moulds.
This past season, the former Boise State wideout caught 72 passes for 719 yards and four touchdowns. He continues to improve his game, and that always puts a smile on Allen's face, knowing that he's a dependable target.
Even better news is that Shakir's contract runs through 2029, and if the Bills can find a true No.1 receiver, then Shakir can revert to being a slot option.
3. Keon Coleman
To say that Coleman has been a character these past two seasons is surely an understatement. After a short but promising rookie season in which he was hurt for four games, this season didn't go as planned for the big receiver out of Florida State.
Coleman regressed this year, only managing 38 catches for 404 yards and four touchdowns. Despite not living up to expectations as a second-round pick, he is still a talented player when healthy, and he's big enough to be effective in both pass and run blocking.
If he can mature and focus solely on football, he could be a solid No. 2 receiver to complement whoever they get to fill the No. 1 role. Plus, his contract doesn't expire until 2027.
4. Joshua Palmer
The native Canadian wide receiver had a tough season this year playing for a team he grew up watching, 90 minutes away. Signed to have hopefully become the team's No. 1 wideout, he turned into a non-factor.
Palmer was injured for a good part of the season, and even when healthy, he could never really get the Josh-Josh connection going. Despite this, he still reeled in 22 receptions, 303 yards, and no touchdowns.
Don't give up hope just yet, Bills Mafia. He's still under contract until 2027, and if he can avoid the same injury bug that bit him last year, he still could provide another big target for Allen.
5. Gabe Davis
2025 marked the return of "Big Game" Gabe Davis, and with good reason. After starting the year on the practice squad, Davis was elevated to the active roster and looked like the Davis of old times.
He hauled in 12 catches for 129 yards and one touchdown and was also a monster in run blocking. Allen enjoyed throwing the ball to one of his best friends during this stretch of Bills football excellence.
Davis signed a one-year practice squad deal worth around $1.2 million and is now expected to be an unrestricted free agent in 2026. If the Bills want him back, they can sign him to a long-term deal worth less money than when he agreed to a 3-year, $39 million deal with the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2024.
6. Brandin Cooks
Cooks was a late signing by the Bills, and he, too, performed well given the little time he had to learn the offense. The skilled receiver came over after two seasons with the New Orleans Saints.
Cooks snagged five catches for 144 yards and no touchdowns. With him signing a one-year deal worth around $1.2 million, the Bills may want to keep Cooks, as they could sign him to a cheap, long-term contract similar to Davis.
7. Curtis Samuel
Believe it or not, as unproductive as Palmer was this past season, he hasn't been nearly as woeful as Samuel's been. Since signing his 3-year, $ 24.5 million contract in 2024, Samuel has been absent.
Originally signed to be the Bills' version of the Miami Dolphins' Tyreek Hill, that hasn't panned out. His small, frail build has led to missed time due to injuries, and he hasn't really fit the profile of being big enough to block. He only put up seven catches for 81 yards and one touchdown.
Samuel should be released to save cap money, and he may land on someone else's practice squad and get to play with them.
Free agency
Additionally, the Bills should try to create enough cap space to swing for the fences to add some depth to the receiver core.
The Bills' management could look to acquire a receiver like Justin Jefferson (who already knows Brady) or Marvin Harrison, Jr., (Drew Tyrell was with the Arizona Cardinals), or draft a big-name receiver early in the draft.