In the 2024 free agency period, the Buffalo Bills lost their two key wide receivers – Stefon Diggs and Gabe Davis – both of whom were undeniably important in helping Josh Allen take a major step forward and become one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL.
Despite losing those two stars and not signing any top-tier receivers, Josh Allen proved he’s still one of the league’s elite. He threw 28 touchdown passes and totaled 40 touchdowns overall to earn the NFL MVP award. Now, the former Wyoming quarterback will have to aim for a repeat of that success – even though the team didn’t bring in any big-name receivers for 2025.
One of the reasons for that is Allen’s new contract. With the massive extension he signed – 6 years, $330 million, $250 million guaranteed, the highest guaranteed money in NFL history – it became impossible to afford a top-tier wide receiver.
It seems Khalil Shakir is stepping up as the WR1
Allen might not have star receivers, but he does have dependable ones who, with his talent, can become just as dangerous. One of them is Khalil Shakir, who hasn’t surpassed 1,000 yards in any of his NFL seasons but led the Bills in receiving in 2024.
“What is a number one receiver? Is it the style of defense? Is it production? Is it how they’re used? There aren’t many, quote-unquote, true, no-doubt number one receivers in the NFL,” said Joe Brady, the Bills’ offensive coordinator. “Just because a player isn’t a number one on one team doesn’t mean he wouldn’t be on another. But I think Khalil fully embodies the attitude of ‘whatever I have to do, I’ll do it.'”
So if Khalil Shakir keeps producing and Keon Coleman has a strong second NFL season, Josh Allen will have more than enough weapons to make a legitimate Super Bowl run – which is the only goal for the Buffalo Bills in 2025. Anything short of that would be considered a failure.
Read the full article here
