One of the most underrated draft picks that the Buffalo Bills have made under the current regime was in 2022 when they got a steal in wide receiver Khalil Shakir out of Boise State. He had solid success in college but being a fifth-round pick, he was facing an uphill battle to become a serious contributor for the Bills.
He was a bit quiet his rookie season (as expected) with only 161 yards and one score. Then in the middle of the 2023 season when Joe Brady was elevated as the interim offensive coordinator, that’s when he had a breakout with the team and now he is arguably the go-to guy for Josh Allen.
He had a successful second-half season in 2023 and it carried into last season where he had a career year with 821 yards and 4 touchdowns off of 76 receptions (being targeted 100 times). He can play outside the numbers and in the middle of the field, making him a versatile playmaker for the offense.
In addition to him being great on the field, Shakir is also a great teammate and is someone that people respect.
Sean McDermott delivers high praise to Khalil Shakir
According to Ajay Cybulski, Sean McDermott talked about Shakir and how much he has grown and how he has become an important player on the roster.
#Bills HC Sean McDermott on WR Khalil Shakir and how he’s grown:
— Ajay Cybulski (@AjayCybulski) July 28, 2025
“He’s one of the guys. He’s one of the main guys that can drive our football team and take it to another level.”#BillsMafia
Going from a fifth-round pick to being one of the key players that can help the Bills go to the next level is quite the accomplishment for Shakir. The Bills rewarded him with a four-year extension worth up to $60 million after his hard work the last two seasons. He has become one of Allen’s favorite weapons and has overall become a great teammate.
Now that Shakir has been paid, the hope is that he can take his game to the next level and become one of the best receivers in the game. Even with the Bills willingness to spread the ball around, Shakir is going to get his targets and do some damage to secondaries this season.