Though the fan base has been highly critical of the team’s offseason moves, the Buffalo Bills are undoubtedly on the shortlist of contenders in the AFC for 2026. After a disappointing end to 2025, the Bills have made several moves to bolster their roster for another run at a Super Bowl.
One of the hottest areas of debate has been the wide receiver room. The Bills have made plenty of additions to a group that was almost universally felt to be a letdown in 2025. What does the receiver room look like going into 2026? Here’s who we think could make the roster, wind up on the practice squad, or be let go entirely.
How will the Bills' WR room look at the start of 2026 season?
1.) WRs fans expect to see on final 53-man roster
There are two absolute slam dunk guaranteed starters: D.J. Moore and Khalil Shakir. The Bills traded for Moore in March, making him essentially the No.1 receiver. He has statistically been down the last two seasons but had his best seasons with Joe Brady back in their Carolina days. Shakir has been the most dependable receiver on the roster the last few seasons and is one of the premier slot options in the league.
Keon Coleman is likely a Bill this season unless something drastic happens. General manager Brandon Beane has remained publicly supportive of him, but this is likely his last chance to make an impact.
The final “gimme” roster addition is Joshua Palmer. Though he was largely panned for his first season in Buffalo, the hope is that he can stay healthy this season and give quarterback Josh Allen another outside weapon.
Intriguing options
There are a handful of names that could potentially grab a roster spot. The Bills carried six receivers on the roster in 2025, which leaves two slots to claim.
Tyrell Shavers feels like the final name to almost certainly make the roster this fall, though he will more than likely start the season on injured reserve given he tore his ACL in the playoffs. He showed just enough to get more looks when he’s finally healthy.
The real intrigue comes from Skyler Bell. A fourth-round pick in the 2026 draft, Bell had elite production last season at UConn. His level of competition wasn’t the best but Bell could wind up being a steal.
The final option for making the roster is veteran Trent Sherfield. He has already done a stint with the Bills back in 2023, showing value with his blocking and special teams capabilities. It would not be a surprise to see him end up on the practice squad as well.
Practice squad and beyond
The Bills clearly saw something in Jalen Virgil, a 2025 practice squad mainstay. Given the amount of names on this list, he will have to show enough to justify earning a practice squad spot this season.
Mecole Hardman Jr. got signed to the practice squad last season, had an impressive punt return and immediately got hurt. He did show up with a touchdown catch in the AFC divisional round and could land on the practice squad.
The longshots will need to show enough to earn a practice squad spot. Stephen Gosnell got a spot last season thanks to sure hands. He will need to show something more to his game to get back in 2026.
Ja’Mori Maclin, cousin of Jeremy Maclin, was prolific at North Texas and Kentucky but went undrafted in 2026 and signed with the Bills as an undrafted free agent.
Gabriel Benyard is at least intriguing in that he can play running back or receiver but leans toward the latter given his production at Kennesaw State. Another likely cut.
Finally, Max Tomczak had a great career at Youngstown State but feels almost certainly like a cut.
A lot of potential in 2026
Though we don’t quite know how impactful the changes have been, it is clear that the Bills' receiver group is stronger than it was last season. They need to find a way to add a downfield component in order to maximize Josh Allen’s deep-ball potential.
A healthy season from Palmer, a breakout from Bell, and the addition of Moore should be more than enough to make this group vastly more dangerous this season. Time will tell who develops a rapport with Allen and sets themselves apart from the rest.
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