It might take a committee of receivers to make up for the production lost in the Buffalo Bills’ passing game after trading away Stefon Diggs.
Whether rookie Keon Coleman can step into a marquee role or overtake the likes of Marquez Valdes-Scantling or Curtis Samuel in quarterback Josh Allen’s target hierarchy and the Bills’ receiver depth chart remains to be seen.
However, all eyes will be on Khalil Shakir who will likely enter training camp and eventually the 2024 regular season as Buffalo’s new No. 1 wide receiver.
Is Khalil Shakir the Buffalo BIlls’ 2024 Breakout Star?
After catching 39 passes for 611 yards with two touchdowns last season, Shakir’s strong 2023 campaign had to play a role in general manager Brandon Beane’s decision to move off Diggs and move Shakir up the depth chart.
But, Shakir’s best football might be in front of him.
Pro Football Focus NFL analyst Bradley Locker put together a list of the breakout stars for each AFC team, including Shakir as the player to watch in Buffalo.
“The Bills’ receiving corps will look drastically different in 2024,” Locker writes for PFF. “And with no clear WR1, Shakir could become Josh Allen’s top wideout option. Shakir had a strong Year 2, producing a 76.9 receiving grade and a 2% drop rate. Further, Shakir saw jumps in both yards after the catch per reception and yards per route run. The former fifth-round pick should only develop further in his third campaign.”
It would make sense for Shakir to emerge from the fray as Allen’s favorite target, and thus a potential breakout star in the making.
Especially since, as PFF points out, Allen posted a nearly flawless 133.6 passer rating when targeting Shakir, who averaged a whopping 7.3 yards after the catch per reception.
Shakir may be best suited to become the Bills‘ deep threat, and fill the void left behind in that regard by Diggs.
