The wide receiver battle in Buffalo is going to be fun to watch throughout training camp and the preseason. We know that Khalil Shakir, Keon Coleman, and Josh Palmer will likely top the depth chart, but the rest of the unit is a bit of an unknown. And that is by design, as the Bills want to see a combination of veterans and young players battle for the final roster spots.
The expectation is that Laviska Shenault, Elijah Moore, and Curtis Samuel will compete for the No. 4 and No. 5 spots on the roster, and that doesn’t leave much room for anyone else on the depth chart. Buffalo likes to carry at least three tight ends on the roster, so the odds of them carrying more than six receivers are slim.
One player who is already on the outside looking in is K.J. Hamler, who spent the 2024 season on the practice squad. Hamler is a former second-round pick from the 2020 NFL Draft, but has bounced around the league since being drafted by the Broncos.
Hamler was on the active roster at one point last season, but he has not played a snap in the NFL since 2022. In fact, he’s played just over 300 snaps on offense since the 2021 season, according to Pro Football Reference. That is a shockingly low number for a player who was recently selected inside the top 50 picks.
The reason Hamler was a second-round pick back in 2020 was due to his speed, but he’s been unable to contribute much in recent seasons with just 12 total receptions since 2021. And with so many other viable options on the roster, it’s hard to envision a scenario where Hamler makes the team this season.
K.J. Hamler could be on his way out of Buffalo very soon
While Hamler does have some kick return experience, he’s never been a full-time returner and he’s played just 16 total special teams snaps in his NFL career. The receivers on the back end of the roster have to play on special teams in order to be active each week, but unfortunately, Hamler doesn’t have the size to hold up in that phase of the game.
It’s an unfortunate situation for Hamler who was a very productive player at Penn State. But at 26, he’s running out of chances to make an impact in the NFL. And with Buffalo already having so many veteran receivers on the roster, it might be better for both sides to move on early in camp so he can try to catch on elsewhere. Don’t expect Hamler to be a part of the final 53-man roster for the Bills this season.