{"id":20074,"date":"2025-05-03T07:56:15","date_gmt":"2025-05-03T07:56:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/20074\/"},"modified":"2025-05-03T07:56:15","modified_gmt":"2025-05-03T07:56:15","slug":"ranking-buffalo-bills-wide-receivers-after-elijah-moore-signing","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/20074\/","title":{"rendered":"Ranking Buffalo Bills Wide Receivers After Elijah Moore Signing"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Buffalo Bills signed free agent Elijah Moore to a one-year contract this week following the conclusion of the 2025 NFL draft. Moore\u2019s arrival after prior stints with the New York Jets<\/a> and Cleveland Browns<\/a> creates an overcrowded group of wide receivers heading toward training camp.<\/p>\n

ESPN\u2019s Adam Schefter<\/a> reported Moore\u2019s deal features a maximum value of $5 million. It\u2019s a high-upside signing that carries minimal risk since the Bills could release the 25-year-old wideout before the start of the regular season without much financial penalty should he fail to impress.<\/p>\n

Buffalo typically carries five receivers on its final roster<\/a>. That number could increase to six this year because of the positional depth. Either way, the battle for the last few spots will be intense. A few high-profile cuts will be necessary, barring a rash of injuries.<\/p>\n

Power Ranking Bills Wide Receivers For 2025 NFL Season
\n1. Khalil Shakir<\/p>\n

Shakir<\/a> isn\u2019t a prototypical No. 1 receiver. He doesn\u2019t have the size of Ja\u2019Marr Chase<\/a>, the speed of Tyreek Hill,<\/a> or the catch radius of Justin Jefferson<\/a>. Yet, he\u2019s steadily improved across three NFL seasons to emerge as a reliable go-to target for MVP quarterback Josh Allen<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The Boise State product is coming off a 2024 campaign where he tallied 76 catches for 821 yards and four touchdowns in 15 games. His 79.3 percent catch percentage since the start of the 2023 season ranks among the NFL\u2019s elite.<\/p>\n

Khalil Shakir pic.twitter.com\/XKK6SRwbD6<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Ian Hartitz (@Ihartitz) March 23, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n

Buffalo\u2019s search for a true No. 1 target will continue in the coming years. Shakir is holding down the fort just fine for now, though.<\/p>\n

2. Joshua Palmer<\/p>\n

Palmer showed the ability to consistently create separation against man coverage during his four years with the Los Angeles Chargers<\/a>. That\u2019s an area Bills wide receivers have struggled in recent seasons. So, it was a match made in free-agent heaven.<\/p>\n

His overall target share won\u2019t see a major jump in Buffalo\u2014it may even decrease from last year\u2019s 65 targets in L.A.\u2014because of the team\u2019s \u201ceverybody eats\u201d approach<\/a>. His importance in terms of per-snap production will be far higher, however.<\/p>\n

3. Keon Coleman<\/p>\n

Coleman<\/a> is entering a critical year in his development. The 2024 second-round pick was just starting to find his stride as a rookie when he suffered a wrist injury. The setback came on the heels of a two-game stretch where he recorded nine catches for 195 yards and a touchdown.<\/p>\n

The Louisiana native wasn\u2019t the same after returning from the injury. He failed to record more than three catches in any of his final seven appearances. That includes just one reception in each of Buffalo\u2019s three playoff games as he struggled to get open with any regularity.<\/p>\n

Coleman still has plenty of upside, but the Bills are in win-now mode. He could fall down the depth chart quickly if he struggles in training camp.<\/p>\n

4. Elijah Moore<\/p>\n

Moore opens his Buffalo tenure as a strong bet to make the 53-man roster. Although his NFL numbers haven\u2019t lived up to expectations since being selected in the second round of the 2021 draft, it\u2019s important to note he\u2019s yet to play alongside a top-tier quarterback like Allen.<\/p>\n

QBs to start more than 3 games during Elijah Moore’s career so far:<\/p>\n

* Zach Wilson
* Mike White
* Deshaun Watson
* Joe Flacco
* Dorian Thompson Robinson
* PJ Walker
* Jameis Winston<\/p>\n

You know what I’m going to say next, right? pic.twitter.com\/YAmpP1Pqff<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Patrick Moran (Talking Buffalo) (@PatrickMoranTB) April 28, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n

Like Palmer, the former Ole Miss standout is adept at getting open against man coverage. That was clearly an emphasis for general manager Brandon Beane<\/a> this offseason. It brings some much-needed balance to the receiver corps, and makes the group more dangerous as a whole.<\/p>\n

5. Tyrell Shavers<\/p>\n

This is where things get interesting. As mentioned, the Bills could keep an extra wide receiver this season because of their depth. Nevertheless, the players lower on the depth chart will likely need to contribute at least a little bit on special teams.<\/p>\n

Not only is Shavers capable of filling that role, but he\u2019s also a strong candidate to take over some of the blocking responsibilities that opened up when Mack Hollins left in free agency to sign with the New England Patriots<\/a>. Those factors put him inside the cut line for now.<\/p>\n

6. Laviska Shenault Jr.<\/p>\n

Shenault\u2019s fate is tied heavily to whether he beats out cornerback Brandon Codrington to serve as the Bills\u2019 chief kick and punt returner. If he does, Buffalo\u2019s chances of carrying six wideouts increase greatly. The 2020 second-round pick would also see some occasional snaps on offense as a niche vertical threat.<\/p>\n

7. Curtis Samuel<\/p>\n

Samuel is in trouble when it comes to making the Bills roster. The Palmer and Moore signings put him third in the pecking order for that man-separator role, and the 28-year-old veteran is not a factor on special teams at this point in his career. He\u2019ll need a standout camp to survive the cuts.<\/p>\n

Let’s combine MVS & Cooper into one player. Here are the 2024 #Bills<\/a> WR snap counts
\u25fe\ufe0f721 \u2013 Mack Hollins
\u25fe\ufe0f598 \u2013 Keon Coleman
\u25fe\ufe0f586 \u2013 Khalil Shakir
\u25fe\ufe0f380 \u2013 MVS & Cooper
\u25fe\ufe0f378 \u2013 Curtis Samuel
\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014
\u25fe\ufe0f37 \u2013 Jalen Virgil
\u25fe\ufe0f32 \u2013 Tyrell Shavers<\/p>\n

\u2014 H\u00e4nsel (@UberHansen) May 1, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n

8. Kaden Prather<\/p>\n

The Bills selected Prather in the seventh round of this year\u2019s draft. He\u2019s got an impressive combination of size (6\u20194\u201d, 204 pounds) and athleticism, but it never translated into high-end production during college stops at West Virginia and Maryland. He\u2019s a developmental project likely destined for the practice squad.<\/p>\n

Others: KJ Hamler, Jalen Virgil, Hal Presley, Kelly Akharaiyi, Stephen Gosnell<\/p>\n

Hamler and Virgil are returnees. The other three Bills wide receivers listed were undrafted free-agent signings. Two of the players from this group will probably join Prather on the practice squad. None of them are serious 53-man roster candidates, barring serious injury issues in Buffalo.<\/p>\n

Main Photo: [Andrew Nelles\/The Tennessean] \u2013 USA Today Sports<\/p>\n

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