The Buffalo Bills addressed their wide receiver need when they selected Keon Coleman with the 33rd pick of the 2024 NFL Draft, though he wasn't the pick many Bills fans were hoping for. They also expected Brandon Beane to take a second receiver at some point in the draft, but that didn't happen. Beane said in a post-draft press conference they would have taken another, but the board just never fell in a way that matched the value and there were bigger needs than a receiver.
Lucky for some fans, that doesn't mean Buffalo won't still add another receiver, even though they signed Quintez Cephus shortly after the draft. They also signed Xavier Johnson Jr, a wide receiver out of Ohio State. There are several other free agent wide receivers, but there is the trade route as an option. I doubt this would happen though given the cost. Buffalo will have roughly $10 million after June 1st; however, it doesn't seem likely that Breane would take that road.
The Bills' top receivers are Khalil Shakir, Curtis Samuel, and Keon "Cookie" Coleman. Buffalo currently has ten receivers on the roster, and last season they began the season with six on the 53-man roster. If my math is any good, some guys won't make the team or wind up on the practice squad. Let's look at some free agents options if the Bills choose to add more receivers.
5 remaining free agent WRs the Bills could still sign
Hunter Renfrow
Hunter Renfrow has proven to be a productive receiver in this league and would make a nice addition to the Bills team. In 2021 he had 103 receptions, 1,038 yards, and nine touchdowns. During the last two seasons, he has managed only 61 receptions 585 yards, and two touchdowns; however, in one of those seasons, he played only ten games, and last season was with rookie Aiden O'Connell at the helm.
Could Renfrow experience a career resurrection in Buffalo with Josh Allen? He's proven he can play in this league and at a high level. He could be an asset for the Bills, giving them multiple options in the passing game. He's a slot receiver and I wouldn't want him to take away snaps from Khalil Shakir, but it's possible that Shakir could move to the boundary. This offseason will be interesting to see how the positions play out.
Michael Thomas
I'm not sure what to think about Michael Thomas, but if the Bills could sign him to a one-year, prove-it deal, why not take the chance and see what he has to offer? Bring him to camp and let him earn a roster spot. He's 31 but hasn't played much in the last few years. Thomas played in only ten games from 2020 to 2022. During that span, he recorded 56 receptions and 609 yards.
Thomas played ten games last season, starting seven of them. He had 39 receptions, 448 yards, and one touchdown. Similar to Renfrow, could Thomas have a career resurrection in Buffalo? For Thomas, 2019 was one of the greatest performances by a receiver in league history. He had 149 receptions, 1,725 yards, and nine touchdowns. As I said, I'd welcome Thomas to town on a vet-minimum, prove-it deal.
Marquez Valdes-Scantling
If you're looking for a field stretcher, Marquez Valdes-Scantling is your guy, plus he's 6'4". Adding a combination of speed and size is always a good thing. The problem with Valdes=Scantling is he's never really lived up to his potential, despite playing with two of the league's best quarterbacks in Aaron Rodgers and Patrick Mahomes.
In six career seasons, Valdes-Scantling has never recorded more than 42 receptions. In 2020, he had six touchdowns, but other than that, he's never had more than three in a given season. Last year, was his worst, with 21 receptions, 315 yards, and only one touchdown. But, Josh Allen made Robert Foster a household name and helped him get paid after his time with Allen. Can he do something similar with Valdes-Scantling? He might be useful for stretching the field and drawing coverage, but that's not a skillset I'm willing to spend a lot on.
Mecole Hardman
Mecole Hardman is another receiver who has blazing speed, with an official time of 4.33, but that speed hasn't translated into success at the NFL level. His best season was with Patrick Mahomes in 2021, when he made 59 receptions, 693 yards, and three touchdowns. If the Bills could get that from him on a free agent deal, I would consider that a win. But I have my doubts about Hardman too. Even after Tyreek Hill left Kansas City, Hardman couldn't solidify himself as a consistent weapon in the Chiefs offense.
While Buffalo might not be his ideal fit, adding a player with his speed is always valuable. He has limitations, but he could fill that old role that Isaiah McKenzie once occupied with gadget plays, quick screens, slants, and end-around. Maybe he could be the team's return guy, or help provide insight into the Chiefs offense. This might sound crazy, but he could have some thoughts on some of the plays that Andy Reid has used in years past.
D.J. Chark
D.J. Chark might be the best option of this bunch. He's not the youngest on this list, but at 27 years old, he's still in his prime years. Chark is 6'3" and recorded a 40-time of 4.34 seconds. He has size and speed, and could be a legitimate asset in the Bills offense. He's performed well at this level with mediocre QB play in Jacksonville early in his career, but things have gone south the last few years for one reason or another.
Between 2019 and 2020, he recorded 126 receptions 1,714 yards, and 13 touchdowns. 2021 was cut short due to injury and he played in only four games; however, in the last two years, he's played in 26 games, starting 20 of them, but managed only a combined 65 receptions, 1,027 yards, and eight touchdowns. The numbers aren't overly impressive, but if he can stay healthy, he could be a big-play threat in the Bills offense. According to Spotrac.com, his average market value is projected around $9.7 million per year. I think the Bills could get him for much less, mostly likely another one-year, prove-it deal.
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