No Diggs, No Problem? Predicting Bills Top Receiver for 2024
The Buffalo Bills made the shocking move of the offseason by trading All-Pro Stefon Diggs to the Houston Texans in April. The Bills decided not to add another elite wide receiver to replace him. Instead, the team added many new unproven players to fill the void left by Diggs. Buffalo drafted Keon Coleman as well as signed wide receivers Curtis Samuel, Marquez Valdes-Scantling, and Mack Hollins. It will be worth looking at the top candidates for leading receiver on the Bills this season.
Dalton Kincaid
When the team took Dalton Kincaid with their first-round pick last year, it surprised Bills fans since Dawson Knox signed a four-year extension in 2022. However, Kincaid quickly took over the starting role. Kincaid broke the Bills’ franchise record for receptions among rookies with 73 and tacked on 673 receiving yards, second all-time among tight ends in Bills franchise history. The 24-year-old now enters 2024 with an elevated workload and could become the first Bills tight end to eclipse 1,000 yards in a season.
Khalil Shakir
The 2022 fifth-round pick is going into his third season with aspirations as the leading wide receiver on the team. Since their October 26th game against the Buccaneers last season, Khalil Shakir arguably outperformed Diggs on fewer targets. From Week Eight, Diggs caught 52 balls on 82 targets for 505 yards, an average of 9.71 yards per reception, and two touchdowns. During the same period, Shakir caught 31-of-36 targets for 536 yards, averaging 17.29 yards per reception, and contributed one touchdown. However, Shakir’s late-season production shouldn’t be treated as a guarantee for elite production in 2024 since he’ll now see more targets, but he’ll see better coverage as well. Although, he still has a great chance to be the leading receiver this season.
Keon Coleman
With their first pick in April’s draft, the Bills picked Coleman, a six-foot-four, 215-pound wide receiver from Florida State University. The 21-year-old earned First-team All-ACC honors after making 50 receptions for 658 yards and a conference-leading 11 touchdowns. Coleman also received Third-Team All-Big Ten honors after his sophomore season at Michigan State. The Bills were scrutinized for their decision to trade down from the 28th pick and let the Chiefs select Xavier Worthy. However, the team had their eyes set on Coleman the whole time, a big-bodied, physical receiver, who they hope can turn into a Julio Jones-esque talent.
