The Buffalo Bills have spent all of the offseason putting a premium on revamping their receiving corps. It consists of D.J. Moore, Keon Coleman, Skyler Bell, and Khalil Shakir. One name, though, has stuck out and he will need to be available all 17 games this year, but also be more than just a once-in-awhile breakout player.
Joshua Palmer arrived on the Bills team last year, signing a lofty three-year, $ 30 million contract and was brought in with the objective of competing for the No. 1 receiver slot. Khalil Shakir led the team in receiving yards despite playing only 16 games, underscoring the need for Palmer's contributions.
At least Shakir was consistently available during the season, whereas Palmer broke out in Week 1, was hurt in Week 6 (missing 4 games), and was never the same productive player after the injury.
Let's take a look at why Joshua Palmer may be the odd player out this year in the Bills' intensive wide receiver competition at mandatory minicamp.
Competition heats up at Bills minicamp especially for one main wide receiver
1.) D.J. Moore
While this may be stating the obvious, the Bills had to make the trade acquisition for a No. 1 wide receiver, and the front office looked no further than a familiar face in former Chicago Bears wideout D.J. Moore.
Moore knew Joe Brady from their days in Carolina, and Moore produced with Brady as the offensive coordinator with Sam Darnold and Baker Mayfield throwing him the ball.
He also has a clutch gene that Palmer doesn't really have, which may give Moore additional reps in training camp that Palmer could really use.
2.) Khalil Shakir
Besides Moore, Khalil Shakir is the lone returning wideout with any display of consistency and availability on the Bills' roster. He only missed one game last year and led the team with 719 receiving yards.
The hope with Moore and Shakir together is that they could finally be the first Bills receiving tandem to both pass 1,000 yards on the season since Eric Moulds and Peerless Price in 2002.
Which, in this case, would spell even more danger of Palmer not making the roster.
3.) Bills' WR 3/4
The Bills' third and fourth wide receivers may look different this year under new head coach Joe Brady's offensive-minded scheme. Last season, Palmer was the team's third-most productive WR with 22 catches for 303 yards, while Tyrell Shavers tallied 15 receptions for 245 yards as the fourth-most productive WR.
Bell was newly added to the wide receiver corps. It will add some welcome competition to the receiver room.
4.) Starting the season sidelined from an injury-riddled 2025
It's obviously no excuse, but much like most of the key players throughout the 2025 season were missing key games due to the injury bug biting the hardest in the Brandon Beane era. The 26-year-old started the offseason on the sideline due to previous symptoms from his knee and ankle injuries in Week 6 against the Atlanta Falcons.
It was a good sign to see him on Tuesday when everybody on the team, including Palmer, showed up to the first day of minicamp ready to battle and compete for a spot in the revamped receiver room.
Even in shorts with no pads, Palmer showed he was ready to work out with the team again, which puts him in a strong position to fight for a wide receiver spot heading into training camp.
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