The Buffalo Bills' wide receiver depth chart is shaping up with key acquisitions and a focus on Keon Coleman. Competition will intensify as the team approaches final roster decisions in early September.
Final roster decisions expected in early September.
Mentioned in this story
Brandon BeaneKeon ColemanDJ MooreTrent Sherfield
Skyler BellBuffalo Bills
ORCHARD PARK - After what Brandon Beane did in free agency and the draft, and what he didnāt do with the lightning rod that is Keon Coleman, there is no doubt the wide receiver competition will be at the forefront from now until the Buffalo Bills make their final roster decisions in early September.
Colemanās name has come up in just about every press availability Beane and Joe Brady have had over the past three months, and their aligned and steadfast belief is that heās going to turn his career around and become the player they initially envisioned when they picked him No. 33 overall in the 2024 draft.
Beane appeared on WGR-550 Monday morning and revealed that a few teams inquired about Colemanās trade availability at the scouting combine, and there was a little more interest heading into the start of free agency in March, but he chose not to engage, and thus, Coleman never came up during draft weekend.
"We shut those down,ā Beane said. āOur intention is for Keon to be here so the word was out, so no calls this weekend. We've hit the reset button with him and hopefully the fanbase and everyone is behind him. I think his best year is yet to come here in 2026."
Of course, Beane and former coach Sean McDermott were saying the same things last offseason after Colemanās underwhelming rookie year which was plagued by injury and off-field immaturity, and what followed was another season of inconsistency and inability to understand how the alarm on his Apple watch works.
At this point, itās a bit of an eye roll when listening to Beane and Brady repeating that Coleman is getting after it so far in the offseason. Until he proves it when it matters, no one cares about his offseason. This summer at St. John Fisher University heās going to be in a battle to retain his roster spot, especially after Beane picked Bell, a player who many draft analysts think could be a steal.
Q&A
What changes did the Buffalo Bills make to their wide receiver lineup?
The Bills acquired veteran DJ Moore, signed Trent Sherfield, and drafted Skyler Bell, while retaining Keon Coleman.
Why is Keon Coleman significant for the Buffalo Bills this season?
Keon Coleman is viewed as a player with potential for a career turnaround, as the Bills' management believes he can still fulfill expectations after being drafted 33rd overall in 2024.
What did Brandon Beane say about trade inquiries for Keon Coleman?
Brandon Beane mentioned that several teams inquired about Coleman's trade availability, but the Bills chose not to engage in trade discussions.
When will the Buffalo Bills finalize their roster decisions?
The Bills are expected to make their final roster decisions in early September.
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Here are my thoughts on the receiver depth chart now that itās pretty much finalized:
The top three WRs seem firmly established
Keon Coleman is on the Bills' roster for now, but he's going to have a battle on his hands later this summer.
Keon Coleman is on the Bills' roster for now, but he's going to have a battle on his hands later this summer.
The moment Beane made the trade for Moore, the ninth-year veteran with 608 career receptions for 8,213 yards and 41 TDs became WR1 on this team.
āI think we looked at this draft and knew where we would be selecting ā¦ weāre probably not going to get a guy of DJās caliber,ā Beane said of the deal that primarily cost him the Billsā second-round pick.
Heās not wrong. No one at No. 26 in the first round was going to provide the immediate plug-and-play production Moore should give the Bills in a season where Josh Allen turns 30 and the pressure to win a Super Bowl is ratcheting up.
Khalil Shakir, the Billsā best receiver the last two years, will continue to be a reliable slot option, and one can hope that things can only go up for Joshua Palmer, a free agent signing in 2025 who saw his season blown up by injury. If he can stay healthy, Palmer is still only 27 years old in September and his ability to separate - one of the main reasons the Bills signed him - is still there.
Skyler Bell is an instant threat to Keon Coleman
Skyler Bell
Skyler Bell (Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images)
Nov 15, 2025; East Hartford, Connecticut, USA; UConn Huskies wide receiver Skyler Bell (1) runs the ball against the Air Force Falcons in the second half at Pratt & Whitney Stadium at Rentschler Field. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-Imagn Images
Sep 20, 2025; East Hartford, Connecticut, USA; Connecticut Huskies wide receiver Skyler Bell (1) runs the ball against et Ball State Cardinals in the second half at Pratt & Whitney Stadium at Rentschler Field. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-Imagn Images
Nov 1, 2025; East Hartford, Connecticut, USA; UConn Huskies wide receiver Skyler Bell (1) reacts after his touchdown against the UAB Blazers in the second quarter at Pratt & Whitney Stadium at Rentschler Field. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-Imagn Images
Nov 8, 2025; East Hartford, Connecticut, USA; UConn Huskies wide receiver Skyler Bell (1) makes the touchdown against Duke Blue Devils cornerback Landan Callahan (21) in the second half at Pratt & Whitney Stadium at Rentschler Field. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-Imagn Images
Nov 1, 2025; East Hartford, Connecticut, USA; UConn Huskies wide receiver Skyler Bell (1) makes the touchdown against UAB Blazers cornerback Tariq Watson (24) in the second quarter at Pratt & Whitney Stadium at Rentschler Field. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-Imagn Images
Feb 28, 2026; Indianapolis, IN, USA; UConn wideout Skyler Bell (WO05) during the NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
Nov 1, 2025; East Hartford, Connecticut, USA; UConn Huskies wide receiver Skyler Bell (1) makes the catch for a touchdown against UAB Blazers safety AJ Brown (20) in the second half at Pratt & Whitney Stadium at Rentschler Field. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-Imagn Images
Nov 1, 2025; East Hartford, Connecticut, USA; UConn Huskies wide receiver Skyler Bell (1) makes the catch for a touchdown against UAB Blazers safety AJ Brown (20) in the second half at Pratt & Whitney Stadium at Rentschler Field. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-Imagn Images
Sep 6, 2025; Syracuse, New York, USA; UConn Huskies wide receiver Skyler Bell (1) runs after making a catch against the Syracuse Orange during overtime at JMA Wireless Dome. Mandatory Credit: Gregory Fisher-Imagn Images
Sep 28, 2024; East Hartford, Connecticut, USA; Connecticut Huskies wide receiver Skyler Bell (1) makes the touchdown catch against the Buffalo Bulls in the second quarter at Rentschler Field at Pratt & Whitney Stadium. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-Imagn Images
Sep 20, 2025; East Hartford, Connecticut, USA; Connecticut Huskies wide receiver Skyler Bell (1) runs the ball against the Ball State Cardinals in the second half at Pratt & Whitney Stadium at Rentschler Field. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-Imagn Images
UConn Huskies wide receiver Skyler Bell (1) reacts after his touchdown against the UAB Blazers at Pratt & Whitney Stadium at Rentschler Field. The Huskies host Duke on Saturday at Rentschler Field.
1 / 14
Meet speedy wide receiver Skyler Bell, drafted by Bills in fourth round
Skyler Bell
1 / 14
Meet speedy wide receiver Skyler Bell, drafted by Bills in fourth round
Skyler Bell
2 / 14
Meet speedy wide receiver Skyler Bell, drafted by Bills in fourth round
Skyler Bell (Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images)
3 / 14
Meet speedy wide receiver Skyler Bell, drafted by Bills in fourth round
Nov 15, 2025; East Hartford, Connecticut, USA; UConn Huskies wide receiver Skyler Bell (1) runs the ball against the Air Force Falcons in the second half at Pratt & Whitney Stadium at Rentschler Field. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-Imagn Images
4 / 14
Meet speedy wide receiver Skyler Bell, drafted by Bills in fourth round
Sep 20, 2025; East Hartford, Connecticut, USA; Connecticut Huskies wide receiver Skyler Bell (1) runs the ball against et Ball State Cardinals in the second half at Pratt & Whitney Stadium at Rentschler Field. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-Imagn Images
5 / 14
Meet speedy wide receiver Skyler Bell, drafted by Bills in fourth round
Nov 1, 2025; East Hartford, Connecticut, USA; UConn Huskies wide receiver Skyler Bell (1) reacts after his touchdown against the UAB Blazers in the second quarter at Pratt & Whitney Stadium at Rentschler Field. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-Imagn Images
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Meet speedy wide receiver Skyler Bell, drafted by Bills in fourth round
Nov 8, 2025; East Hartford, Connecticut, USA; UConn Huskies wide receiver Skyler Bell (1) makes the touchdown against Duke Blue Devils cornerback Landan Callahan (21) in the second half at Pratt & Whitney Stadium at Rentschler Field. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-Imagn Images
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Meet speedy wide receiver Skyler Bell, drafted by Bills in fourth round
Nov 1, 2025; East Hartford, Connecticut, USA; UConn Huskies wide receiver Skyler Bell (1) makes the touchdown against UAB Blazers cornerback Tariq Watson (24) in the second quarter at Pratt & Whitney Stadium at Rentschler Field. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-Imagn Images
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Meet speedy wide receiver Skyler Bell, drafted by Bills in fourth round
Feb 28, 2026; Indianapolis, IN, USA; UConn wideout Skyler Bell (WO05) during the NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
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Meet speedy wide receiver Skyler Bell, drafted by Bills in fourth round
Nov 1, 2025; East Hartford, Connecticut, USA; UConn Huskies wide receiver Skyler Bell (1) makes the catch for a touchdown against UAB Blazers safety AJ Brown (20) in the second half at Pratt & Whitney Stadium at Rentschler Field. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-Imagn Images
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Meet speedy wide receiver Skyler Bell, drafted by Bills in fourth round
Nov 1, 2025; East Hartford, Connecticut, USA; UConn Huskies wide receiver Skyler Bell (1) makes the catch for a touchdown against UAB Blazers safety AJ Brown (20) in the second half at Pratt & Whitney Stadium at Rentschler Field. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-Imagn Images
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Meet speedy wide receiver Skyler Bell, drafted by Bills in fourth round
Sep 6, 2025; Syracuse, New York, USA; UConn Huskies wide receiver Skyler Bell (1) runs after making a catch against the Syracuse Orange during overtime at JMA Wireless Dome. Mandatory Credit: Gregory Fisher-Imagn Images
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Meet speedy wide receiver Skyler Bell, drafted by Bills in fourth round
Sep 28, 2024; East Hartford, Connecticut, USA; Connecticut Huskies wide receiver Skyler Bell (1) makes the touchdown catch against the Buffalo Bulls in the second quarter at Rentschler Field at Pratt & Whitney Stadium. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-Imagn Images
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Meet speedy wide receiver Skyler Bell, drafted by Bills in fourth round
Sep 20, 2025; East Hartford, Connecticut, USA; Connecticut Huskies wide receiver Skyler Bell (1) runs the ball against the Ball State Cardinals in the second half at Pratt & Whitney Stadium at Rentschler Field. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-Imagn Images
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Meet speedy wide receiver Skyler Bell, drafted by Bills in fourth round
UConn Huskies wide receiver Skyler Bell (1) reacts after his touchdown against the UAB Blazers at Pratt & Whitney Stadium at Rentschler Field. The Huskies host Duke on Saturday at Rentschler Field.
Last year counting the postseason, Colemanās 378 pass play snaps trailed only Shakir (519) and tight end Dawson Knox (392), but unless Coleman beats out Palmer for the No. 3 spot, his playing time is likely to decrease in 2026. Palmer had 256 snaps despite missing seven games and being limited in several others, and what was telling is that there were four games after Palmer returned from his Week 6 ankle injury where even though he still wasnāt 100%, he was active and Coleman was a healthy scratch.
Unless something changes, Coleman is going to battle for the No. 4 spot in the rotation, and the only real threat right now would seem to be Bell. As ESPNās Mel Kiper said after the pick was made Saturday, āJosh Allen is going to love Skyler Bellā so if he can seamlessly make the transition to the NFL, Coleman could be in trouble no matter how much love Beane and Brady have showered him with.
āReally like Bell a lot,ā Beane said Saturday night at the end of the draft. āJoe and I sat down with Pete (Carmichael) and (receivers coach) Drew Terrell a few days before the draft and just looked at certain players, talked about their fit. He was one that we kind of extensively looked at as a group and made sure we were all on the same page.
āHeās a guy that we think can play inside, can play outside, has enough speed, good with contested catches, you saw some run after catch with him. If you just want to watch his highlight tape, go watch the Syracuse game; they just kept throwing him the ball. Itās competition.ā
Bell had seven 100-yard games last year, and four games where he caught at least 10 passes including 14 for 113 yards against Ball State and the Syracuse game where he had 11 for 107. For the season he totaled 101 receptions for 1,278 yards and 13 TDs, then went to the combine and the 5-foot-11, 192-pounder ran a 4.4 in the 40 and his 41-inch vertical leap was fifth-best among all the receivers who worked out in Indianapolis.
āCouldn't love the value or the fit much better,ā NFL. com analyst Eric Edholm said. āBell was a top-100 prospect for me, and I think he can play both inside and out in Buffalo. Bell's hands improved significantly over his college career, and he's a YAC stud who should thrive with Josh Allen as his QB.ā
Will Trent Sherfield make the team?
Trent Sherfield is back with the Bills and he'll get a chance to win the No. 5 wide receiver position based on his blocking ability.
Trent Sherfield is back with the Bills and he'll get a chance to win the No. 5 wide receiver position based on his blocking ability.
The only reason the Bills signed Sherfield is because Tyrell Shavers most likely wonāt be available when the season starts as heās coming off ACL surgery. Shavers was Buffaloās main blocking receiver, and thatās the exact skill that Sherfield brings to the table, something he proved when he played for Buffalo in 2023.
Sherfield also can be a core special teamer like Shavers which is why he has the inside track for the No. 5 job. Is it possible that Coleman can become a more useful special teams player and bumps Sherfield off the roster? Sure, and that would be a nice development because heās a much more viable receiving option than Sherfield (89 career catches in 124 games) who would make defenses think a bit more when heās on the field.
The only attribute Hardman brings to the offense is straight line speed and punt return potential, but is it impressive enough to warrant a game-day jersey? Probably not.
The Bills donāt have a clear-cut punt returner and havenāt for several years, but that isnāt nearly as important as having a good kickoff returner given the new kickoff rules and alignment which has brought that play back into the game.
Is running back Ray Davis, who earned All-Pro recognition last year in that role, an option to return punts? Maybe, but there will be a few players they can mix into a competition who would make keeping Hardman difficult.
Sal Maiorana has covered the Buffalo Bills for more than four decades including 37 years as the full-time beat writer/columnist for the D&C. He has written numerous books about the history of the team, and he is also co-host of the BLEAV in Bills podcast/YouTube show. He can be reached at maiorana@gannett.com, and you can follow him on X @salmaiorana and on Bluesky @salmaiorana.bsky.social.
