Who will Bills keep at wide receiver? Offensive coordinator says a depth chart doesn't exist
When Stefon Diggs was traded and Gabe Davis walked in free agency, the Buffalo Bills lost most of their wide receiver production from 2023.
The duo accounted for 70% of the receptions, 70% of the yards and 79% of the touchdowns from the position on the season. Khalil Shakir (39 receptions, 611 yards, 2 touchdowns) is the only remaining Bills player who caught a pass last year from Josh Allen.
There will be five new faces if the Bills keep six wide receivers.
Free agent acquisitions Curtis Samuel and rookie second-round pick Keon Coleman are locks with Shakir. That leaves 10 players fighting for three roster spots. Super Bowl champion Marquez Valdes-Scantling has been unimpressive in training camp, per a report.
Who are the WR1 and WR2 on the Bills depth chart?
"We don't have a depth chart right now," offensive coordinator Joe Brady said Wednesday.
Buffalo figures to spread the ball around with a committee approach without a target monster like Diggs.
Here's how Bills reporter Sal Maiorana thinks the roster and depth chart will shake out:
Buffalo Bills wide receiver depth chart prediction
Starters: Curtis Samuel, Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Khalil Shakir.
Reserves: Keon Coleman, Chase Claypool, Mack Hollins, KJ Hamler, Andy Isabella, Justin Shorter, Tyrell Shavers, Bryan Thompson, Lawrence Keys, Xavier Johnson.
▶ Sal’s take: Obviously, there is concern over losing 152 combined catches in 2023 from Diggs and Davis, and that will put some immediate pressure on second-round pick Coleman who, fairly or not, will be looked upon as the heir to Diggs’ throne as a No. 1 WR. I don’t think he’s ready for that yet, so it will fall to Shakir to take another step forward with increased playing time, and someone from the veteran group of Samuel, Valdes-Scantling and Claypool to replace the bulk of those targets, catches and yards. All have varying skill sets which could prove interesting for Brady as he develops his offense in what could be a diverse passing game.
▶ Sal’s picks for the 53: Samuel, Valdes-Scantling, Shakir, Coleman, Hollins, Claypool.
This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Buffalo Bills wide receiver depth chart is big question mark in 2024
