Bills enter training camp with question marks at receiver

BUFFALO, N.Y. — Several minutes after the Buffalo Bills’ second mandatory minicamp ended, Josh Allen and the rest of the team’s quarterbacks — Mitch Trubisky and Shane Buechele — were still on the practice field, talking and working with some of the team’s receivers and running backs, as well as other small groups of players who were practicing more. They spent the extra time timing routes, communicating and generally getting comfortable.

The next day, coach Sean McDermott did something he hadn’t done in several years by holding a practice on the third day of minicamp, albeit a more relaxed version with several starters not participating in team drills.

“Well, not necessarily (any specific changes from previous years), other than, obviously, a high percentage of new players, new faces,” McDermott said. “So the more reps we can get, the better, and listen … I would add that I appreciate the willingness of the players and their attitude when they got on the field. Not every team practices on the third day of minicamp, and I appreciate their attitude.”

Perhaps no position group on the roster better demonstrates the new faces than the Bills’ receivers room, which has undergone a near-complete overhaul since the end of the 2023 season. It also remains one of the biggest question marks heading into training camp — with practices beginning July 24 at St. John Fisher University — and the regular season.

How will Allen fare with a new group of receivers that doesn’t include Stefon Diggs, the receiver he’s targeted the most in his career? Tight ends and running backs will also play a role in the receiving game, but with so much change at receiver, what will the Bills’ offense look like and how will it structure itself?

“Every team is new, but this one has new faces,” general manager Brandon Beane said at the end of minicamp. “Some players come from other teams that have had success or maybe haven’t done as well, and we’re giving them another opportunity to get back on their feet.”

Mack Hollins has been one of the loudest voices during offseason workouts. Chase Claypool has shown signs that he could be a target to watch and potentially make the roster. Curtis Samuel and Marquez Valdes-Scantling have solidified their comfort with quarterback Josh Allen, while rookie Keon Coleman has spent some one-on-one time with receivers coach Adam Henry during rookie minicamp.

With Diggs traded to the Houston Texans and Gabe Davis signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars in free agency, the team’s top two receivers from the past two seasons are gone. The only receiver on the roster Allen has targeted in his career is Khalil Shakir — he was injured during mandatory minicamp, though Beane said he thinks Shakir will recover — who is coming off a promising sophomore season but accounts for 2 percent of Allen’s career pass attempts. Diggs is responsible for 21 percent of Allen’s career pass attempts, 11 percentage points more than the next player (Cole Beasley, 10 percent).

To replace that, the room was rebuilt in the offseason via the draft and free agency by taking risks on a variety of veterans who showed potential in a variety of offenses.

Offensive coordinator Joe Brady, who was promoted from his interim title this offseason, made it clear that the Bills’ offense would continue to revolve around Allen when he spoke to the media for the first time in his new role in May.

“Only time will tell. At the end of the day, it’s Josh Allen’s offense, right?” Brady said. “You’re going to build the offense around the guys you have.”

The rest of the starting offensive staff has remained largely the same, with the exception of Connor McGovern, who moved from left guard to center with the departure of Mitch Morse. The mentality they’re taking this year, as taught by Brady, is “everybody eats.” That philosophy, with just a few months to go, may also in some ways represent the contrast to the 150-plus targets Diggs has had in each of his four seasons in Buffalo.

“That’s the mentality that Brady tells us all the time: ‘Everybody eats,’” Shakir said. “And that goes for any route, whether you’re running a certain route, whether you’re having to clear for your buddy coming on an out route or whatever. But like I said before, you reap what you sow. If you have to sit down and run an out route 50 times, full speed 50 times, then the 51st time, maybe you’re running that route and somebody else is going to clear the ball for you.”

The first step in answering some of those questions will come at the start of training camp with the competition to make the 53-man roster. Some players are guaranteed to be selected, including Samuel, Shakir and Coleman. Hollins has emerged quickly, with Shakir and others noting the presence he brings on and off the court.

“The atmosphere is really good (in the receivers room), because I think the receivers all play a certain role, and they’re not all the same, and that’s what makes it great,” wide receivers coach Adam Henry said. “And so there’s a lot of experience in there, just to draw them in. … The room really comes together and just creates a culture.”

Several players in the receivers room are in situations where they have to prove themselves, taking one-year deals with one of the league’s top quarterbacks to show what they’re capable of. Claypool is a perfect example of a player who had success early in his career — back-to-back seasons with 100-plus targets and 850 yards receiving each time — but has since struggled to find his footing, playing on three different teams since 2022.

“If it’s frustrating to the outside world (to not live up to your potential), it’s even more frustrating to me,” Claypool said. “I understand where I should be. And I understand that I haven’t met those expectations. And that’s why I work harder and harder and harder every year. To be able to meet those expectations and even exceed them.”

Claypool is among the players who worked late after offseason workouts and had some standout performances throughout OTAs, but landing one of the 53 roster spots isn’t a guarantee. Heading into camp, it seems likely that one of them will go to Valdes-Scantling, who shined during his time with the Kansas City Chiefs, particularly in the playoffs, but has been inconsistent at times (dropping 5.5% in 2022 and 9.1% in 2023).

“Obviously, I’ve been one of the best deep threats in the league for most of my career, so I’m going to get a lot of attention every time I’m on the field,” Valdes-Scantling said. “And so just being able to go out there and do whatever it takes to help the team win, I’m all for that, man. I’ve had to do it before, and sometimes those balls get thrown at you.”

A clear theme for some of the Bills’ additions this year was size to help Allen — six receivers on the current roster are 6’4″. Two of those players, Claypool and Hollins, can contribute on special teams, which will help both of them close out roster spots, and will be a must for whoever takes that final receiver spot with the new kickoff rules also adding a problem.

The room also includes another receiver looking for another chance in KJ Hamler, a second-round pick of the Denver Broncos in 2020. He has played just 10 games over the past two seasons due to injury. Justin Shorter, Andy Isabella, Tyrell Shavers, Bryan Thompson and undrafted free agents Xavier Johnson and Lawrence Keys round out the room.

The continued rise of second-year tight end Dalton Kincaid will also be a big focus for the offense, along with whether running back James Cook can improve his receiving skills and what rookie back Ray Davis can bring as a pass catcher.

Continuing to add players to the roster isn’t out of the question, however, with the limited resources the Bills came into the offseason with, these receivers have a chance to prove what they can do.

“The guys are definitely learning, too, and we’re always competing,” Henry said. “But for us right now, it’s about competing against ourselves and becoming the best version of ourselves.”