Way-too-early Bills WR room projections entering training camp

Of all the changes this offseason, the Buffalo Bills certainly put work in at wide receiver. The team spent two picks on receivers- A 2nd rounder trading for D.J. Moore and a 4th rounder drafting for Skyler Bell. Combined with the team's refusal to trade Keon Coleman, shutting down calls about him, the roster is set going into camp.

The group made some improvements on their 2025 core, certainly, with a number of familiar faces in the mix too. Barring something remarkable, these players are passing catches from Josh Allen in training camp, not the backups.

The question is: Which ones? In what roles? The Bills initially carried 6 WRs into 2025, and we can expect much of the same for 2026.

Which Bills wide receivers should be on the final 53-man roster?

D.J. Moore

The most obvious choice is the correct one. When the Bills gave up a second-round pick to acquire D.J. Moore from the Chicago Bears, it was to make him their #1 receiver. He is, despite falling to WR2 on the Bears, the absolute far-and-away best WR in Buffalo. Any questions about his role on offense this camp can be answered easily: X receiver.

D.J. Moore adds a high level of competence in playing WR1. He will be on the field every snap, with short, intermediate, and long routes. His technical prowess is the best on the team, and there isn't a situation where the Bills need to take him out except in jumbo packages. He will also play decoy to create space.

Having Moore opens up the Bills offense substantially; It takes the current WR core and lets them just be who they are. Skyler Bell doesn't need to be a year-one hit. Khalil Shakir doesn't need to take a 5-yard curl route for 18 yards all the time. These players do not have to pretend to be WR1 on offense this season, they can simply do the task they're best at.

Khalil Shakir

For that reason, Khalil Shakir is suddenly a monster again. No longer will he be the lone receiver to draw focus in short-yardage situations. His impact on the field has always been greatest when there's someone else to cover. Shakir is set up for a career renaissance, just a year removed from his 100-catch season in 2024.

The job will be similar, Shakir remains the starting slot receiver. With that, expect some lower stats and much greater efficiency in 2026. The difference between then and now is that they will not need to script targets for him every play to manufacture yards. In Khalil Shakir's first two seasons, he averaged 15.8 yards per catch- That mark dropped to 10 or since the departure of Stefon Diggs.

With Moore to worry about, Shakir can return to what he does best. There's a little competition for camp, but nothing unseats Shakir.

Keon Coleman

In December, the Bills keeping Keon Coleman on the roster would have been unthinkable. His disciplinary issues and ultimately uninspiring play led to a fracture. Now, at Joe Brady's insistence, Keon Coleman will be a Buffalo Bill in 2026. The team has reportedly been turning down calls and intends to play him in a not-insignificant role. Entering training camp, that makes him a plausible starter.

Though it's not the path fans initially expected, Keon will likely be a 'Y' receiver as training camp begins. His place when drafted was not just to start, but star as the 'X'; It isn't in the cards right now. Still, his physical build and ability to win some tough grabs makes him an early favourite, despite his history. There's plenty of time before the season, but he's in the mix now.

Skyler Bell

If the Bills hadn't traded for D.J. Moore, Skyler Bell would be facing as much pressure as any rookie WR in the NFL. Instead, he gets the opportunity to figure himself out. For that reason, Bell enters camp as a diverse and free-spirited #4. He's not locked into a physical archetype, defined by his body, instead getting to feel out the pros and find his fit.

It isn't a surprise, though some may find it underwhelming. When the Bills draft Skyler Bell, it was as much for the future as it was for this season. Fans expecting him to explode onto the scene will find much of what 2024 Keon Coleman offered- A few splash plays and many quiet nights. Bell enters training camp as a roster lock with the long leash to figure things out.

Joshua Palmer

For Joshua Palmer, watching Curtis Samuel get cut after two disappointing seasons is a threat. Palmer battled injuries last season, but still didn't do much with the time he had on the field. As a player whose contract makes him hard to cut right now, he has some leeway- It's not enough to take it easy. He falls to the #5 spot because of his proven track record and physical imposition on opposing defenses.

As training camp kicks off for the Buffalo Bills, Palmer has to re-establish his role in a new offense. He's got the inside track, but it's no sure thing.

Mecole Hardman Jr.

As the last man on the active roster in this projection, Mecole Hardman Jr. has to offer something extra. His kick return abilities were on display briefly last season- Hardman's gadgetry makes his a versatile and speedy depth player- Something the Bills can use, at least. He'll have to show everyone what he can do again, with younger and cheaper players sitting behind him on the camp depth chart.

Injured Reserve: Tyrell Shavers

Tyrell Shavers was a rags to riches story by UDFA standards. He finally got onto the main roster, and proved why he should be there, but his injury with his ACL will stop him getting on the field for Week 1. Though he may be almost completely recovered by then, the Bills can stash him there for this season or until needed.

Cut: Stephen Gosnell, Trent Sherfield, Jalen Virgil

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