Here’s Part II of our preview of the Bills Training Camp: with so many new faces, some players on this list haven’t even worn a Bills uniform yet. Today, we’re looking at individuals who we think could step up offensively or take on bigger roles this season.
This list would not be complete without wide receiver Khalil Shakir. With the departure of wide receivers Stefon Diggs and Gabe Davis in 2024, the third-year wide receiver will have even more opportunity after a stellar sophomore campaign.
Shakir had the best catch percentage (86.7%) of any wide receiver in the league at the conclusion of his second season with the Bills. In the playoffs, he scored two touchdowns as well. Regarding the chance this new season presents, Shakir stated he is prepared to increase his output if that is what is required of him. Shakir declared, “If I have to go in there and block 50 times, then I will go in there and block 50 times.” “I’ll run a go route and run off 50 times if I have to go in there and do a route. I’m going to carry it out. I really believe that everything comes full circle.
In his second NFL season, the former Boise State player caught 39 passes for 611 yards and two scores. By the end of the 2023 season, Josh Allen, Shakir’s quarterback, had established Shakir as a trustworthy weapon. Shakir is the only returning wide receiver that caught a pass from Allen in the previous season, so with that newfound confidence, Allen will turn to him this time around.
Joe Brady, his offensive coordinator, is eager to watch him develop in the third year.
Observing Shakir’s development last year was remarkable, according to Brady. “He’s a really intelligent player. The intelligence I refer to here is that of Khalil Shakir when he is outside, his sense of the zones, his comprehension of the man, his ability to play both inside and outside. He satisfies all of your requirements for a wide receiver. Thus, I believe there’s a lot on Khalil in terms of what comes next, and thanks to his approach and work ethic, there’s no reason he can’t advance.”
tense conclusion As a rookie tight end last season, Dalton Kincaid set records for the Bills. Kincaid hopes to accomplish more for Buffalo this year.
Because he was recuperating from an injury the previous season, the tight end made the most of the offseason training program this year. This offseason, he wanted to improve his strength and speed as well as his ability to outplay more coverages.
Regarding his areas of improvement, Kincaid stated, “Press (coverage) was a big one for me, press and man, getting better in those facets of the game.” “Especially when guys approach you and try to push you, slow you down, or otherwise interfere with your rhythm and routes. That was therefore, aside from training weights and developing my strength, my main focus.”
The most catches ever by a rookie and a Bills tight end in a single season was Kincaid’s 73 from the previous campaign. This year, his teammates are excited to see how he develops as a member of the offense.
Wide receiver Khalil Shakir described his friend as “amazing.” Simply his instincts for the game. And it was simply him making blocks in the run game. Making the switch from college to the NFL can occasionally be a little challenging. He into the fire headfirst, panicked, and handled the situation expertly.”
According to offensive coordinator Joe Brady, the team’s use of 12 players—two of whom are tight ends—will vary depending on their personal abilities and the team they play that week. However, Brady expressed excitement about growing the package this season.
“When you have guys like Dalton Kincaid and Dawson Knox, it gives you a lot,” Brady explained. “It opens up a lot of doors because they can play outside, block in line…we’d love to grow that package and just get them comfortable and putting them in different situations, different spots that they haven’t been in and see how they kind of respond to it.”
At the end of his debut campaign, Kincaid had two touchdowns, 673 receiving yards, and 73 catches. Having played in the NFL for a year and having a greater grasp of Buffalo’s playbook, this playmaker might be a major contributor this season.
Keon Coleman, the newest wide receiver for Buffalo, is too good to leave off this list. Although it seems sense that the coaching staff doesn’t want Coleman’s debut season to be overly anticipated, the wide receiver will undoubtedly play a part in the offense.
During OTAs, the Florida State graduate made an early impression on coaches and players with his work ethic.
Josh Allen, the quarterback, described his newest receiver as “a very smart player.” “He has been using his playbook a lot. For a beginner, he already has a deep understanding of it. He is always researching and posing inquiries. He is a huge football fan. That, in my opinion, is the most important thing you discover about him. This game is his favorite.”
For Florida State past season, Coleman had 50 catches for 658 receiving yards and 11 touchdowns. With just five drops during his college career, the wide receiver finished with 19 touchdowns overall.
The offensive coordinator, Joe Brady, stated that the offensive coordinator’s vision for Coleman’s usage inside the offense is the same as his vision for the rest of the wide receiver room. Brady clarified that the Bills desired to have him on the roster due to his skill set.
Brady explained their decision to choose Coleman by saying, “We were sold on the type of person he is.” He has a work ethic, a play style, and a skill set that we believe we lacked in the room that he will continue to develop. He possesses qualities you value and abilities you believe you could learn.”
The rookie, who is 6’3 and 213 pounds in weight, will provide the offense some size. Coleman is a strong player who can push through for extra yards and snag 50/50 balls, so his stature translates to the field. It will be interesting to watch how fast the youngster get accustomed to the offense and feels comfortable.
Josh Allen, the quarterback, needs more weapons, and general manager Brandon Beane and his scouting staff realized this year’s roster was missing a number of former Bills receivers. Curtis Samuel, a wide receiver, was signed by the staff in mid-March.
An intriguing addition to the offense this year will be Samuel. His flexibility and experience with offensive coordinator Joe Brady made him a desirable addition to the Bills. Brady was Carolina’s offensive coordinator for the one season the two were together.
Like he did in Carolina, Brady is excited to use Samuel in novel ways.
Brady remarked, “He can play any position and is very bright.” He is one of the best blockers I have ever seen. He can play in the backfield, on the inside, or outside, depending on what is required of him. Therefore, having more Curtis Samuels on your football squad is a good thing.”
2020 saw Samuel achieve career-high results while Brady served as his coordinator. That season, the wide receiver recorded a career-high 77 grabs, 851 receiving yards, and three touchdowns.
Samuel has participated in 91 games since joining the NFL in 2017 and has amassed 317 catches, 3,383 receiving yards, and 22 touchdowns. I’m sure we’ll be excited to see how Brady uses this chess piece in the offense as training camp gets underway.
Ty Johnson Answers Your Five Questions About the Upcoming Season, His Dogs, and More!
RBs Ty Johnson and Ray Davis
Buffalo had the highest average of 154.9 running yards per game in the league during the last nine weeks of the 2023 season. In his second season, James Cook, a running back, ended up with the fourth-most rushing yards (1,122) in the National Football League.
In addition to seeing what Cook does in his third season, it will be interesting to watch how running backs Ty Johnson and Ray Davis are utilized to support Cook. Buffalo selected Davis in the fourth round of the 2024 NFL Draft, and Johnson participated in ten games for Buffalo in the previous campaign.
Johnson averaged 4.4 yards per rush by the end of 2023. This is the RB’s second season with the Bills.
After a successful final season at Kentucky in 2023, Davis joins the Bills. The running back ranked eleventh on UK’s single-season history with 1,129 rushing yards and 14 rushing touchdowns on 199 carries. Thanks to seven touchdown receptions, he ended with 21 total touchdowns, setting a single-season record at
Regarding Davis, general manager of the Bills Brandon Beane described him as “a tough kid, a dog.” “You watch his movie, he’s tough, he plays the game violently. He will give the group a slight advantage.”
Offensive coordinator Joe Brady described his newest running back as a “football player” after observing him both in protection and with the ball in his hands. “You need more than one of those. And we thought it was a terrific addition because he added a few unique elements to both the run and pass games.”
Brady understands that the Bills must be as one-dimensional as possible when it comes to accumulating wins. It will be fascinating to observe the OC’s strategy for this season given their belief in the run and the statistics from the previous campaign that supported that belief.
“We feel confident in the room that we have that whoever is playing running back and carrying the football, they’re going to do a good job,” Brady said.
I think everyone is anticipating Cook to have another great season, but depending on how Brady sets up the offense, Davis and Johnson might play some sly roles.