2025 Buffalo Passing Game

[ColoradoBills]

I see a speedy WR drafted with one of the first 4 picks. 

While it's a little too hopeful that Kincaid, Coleman, Samuel, Palmer and Shavers ALL improve a decent amount this year,

I do have faith that some of them do.

 

OC Brady is still young and only has 1 1/2 years under his belt with this team.

His growth and improvement using the weapons he has will need to happen.

[nosejob]

2 hours ago, The Jokeman said:

Samuel had issues with turf toe in the early part of the season, it was easy to see based on lack of production yet once he got healthy again he showed could make a play or two. I can still see his catch and run to score against KC. If he's healthy the full season and Coleman improves think our offense as scary if not scarier than last season as Palmer gives us another true outside WR threat. In terms of the draft, I can see drafting a guy in Rounds 4-6. Dont'e Thornton Jr would be a nice guy to target as has size and some serious wheels and a guy that can develop the next two-three seasons. 

I agree. I would love to see Samuel on some go/fly routes. We only need one WR pick. Hope we get Cook signed, but it looks like one of those August deals. Screw it, he's under contract.

[SirAndrew]

Very weak WR room, and it could potentially slow our offense. There’s a reason we got Cooper last season, even if he didn’t contribute much in terms of big plays. I’m surprised no one is talking about Cook. This receiver room makes James Cook a vital player in the offense. He’s in a position that benefits his ability to negotiate. We can’t afford him not being on this roster with our lack of receivers. Cook has been a big part of the passing game, and this offense can’t afford to lose a weapon. Say what you will about paying running backs, I typically agree, but the loss of Cook would hurt with the way this roster is constructed. 

Edited 18 hours ago by SirAndrew

[oldmanfan]

This seems to be a rehash of posts this time last year.  I don’t know how much more evidence is needed that the Brady offense is not predicated on whatever you want to call a #1 WR.  The offense did quite well last year.  I suspect Palmer is an upgrade over Cooper, and it is not unreasonable to think Coleman improves.  Samuel looked better later in the year when he got healthier.  And for those saying we need to draft a speed guy, we had one on the reserve squad all last year in Hamler.  And Shavers they likely see as the replacement for Hollins.

 

 

[GASabresIUFan]

I posted this list on the Diggs thread, but it also belongs here as the Bills need speed on that outside.  
 

I think all these guys will be available to the Bills during the draft.  Felton and Williams are ranked way too low imho.

 

Isaiah Bond - 4.39  -- ranked 6th, 2024 production 33-532-5,  5'11 180

Tai Felton - 4.37 -- ranked 18th, 2024 production 96-1124-9, 6'1 183

Kyle Williams - 4.40  -- ranked 21st,  2024 production 70-1198-14, 5'11 190

Arian Smith - 4.36  -- ranked 22nd, 2024 production 48-817-4, 6' 179

 

Rankings from WalterFootball.com

[GASabresIUFan]

As to our current WR room, meh is the description but with upside.  
 

I’d like Shakir to run deeper patterns.  His air is about 2 yards per catch and that forces him to pick up 1st downs through YAC only.   
 

I also think Coleman will be better in year 2.  Coleman reminds me of Pittman and he broke out in year 2.

 

I like Palmer and he does get separation.  It will be interesting to watch how Brady utilizes him.

 

The one player that still doesn’t fit is Samuel. He has excellent speed, but has been used primarily as a slot receiver.  I’d like to see Brady try him as a deep threat in bunch formations.  Let’s see if we can something from his contract.

 

Kincaid is much too talented to not have a bounce back year and I expect continued excellent production from the backs.  
 

I’d be surprised if the passing game isn’t better this coming season than last.

[Mat68]

Jaylin Noel is the guy I want day 2.  Can play inside or out.  Shakir with a bit more explosiveness. 

[ProcessTruster]

7 hours ago, Buffalo4Life01 said:

This is a really simple topic and something I just wanted to throw out there to see how everyone is feeling regarding the current crop of weapons Allen has to distribute the ball to this season.  How are we feeling with Shakir, Coleman, Palmer, and Curtis Samuel as Allen's wide receivers heading into the season?  Feesl a tad underwhelming to me even if we also factor in Kincaid and Knox.  Does anyone think Buffalo is planning on drafting a wr early or trading for one or is this group most likely what we have to work with this season?  

this is pretty much it, yes.  Looks good to me.  Next  question? 

[hondo in seattle]

Samuel (turf toe) and Coleman (rookie adjustment?) underperformed last season.  Still, I like our WR room well enough but don't feel it's complete.  I'd love us to draft someone who can both beat man coverage and take the top off of a defense.  

[QLBillsFan]

4 hours ago, NewEra said:

Hopefully we can add a developmental burner on day 3.

 

I think Shakir, Keon, Palmer and Samuel are all viable playmakers if used correctly

💯.. Cooper while playing banged up didn’t move the needle. Palmer is being greatly underrated as he was in the top 5 in the nfl in separation. Coleman has been called out, and Samuel showed flashes in the last quarter of the season. Draft a guy in the 5Th add to others on roster and they will be just fine.

[Bills]

We need someone who can beat man coverage. Hoping that it's Palmer, but if it isn't we we need that addressed. We can't afford to go into another playoff game against KC and not have a guy we can trust on 3rd and 8. 

[mjt328]

What really happened during that stretch Weeks 4-5, where the offense and passing game struggled?

That is where you can find the answer.

 

At the time, the talk was that we lacked an outside WR that could consistently win 1-on-1 coverage. 

Then we traded for Amari Cooper.  The offense immediately exploded and never looked back.

And even though Cooper's stats were almost non-existent, film watchers told me that his value was in drawing away coverage so others could get open.

 

Now I'm being told we don't really need Cooper.  

Or that he will be easily replaced by Josh Palmer (best season was about 70 catches, 750 yards).

 

I guess we'll see.  But I'm certainly not counting on Keon Coleman or Dalton Kincaid making a huge impact.

 

[FireChans]

3 hours ago, oldmanfan said:

This seems to be a rehash of posts this time last year.  I don’t know how much more evidence is needed that the Brady offense is not predicated on whatever you want to call a #1 WR.  The offense did quite well last year.  I suspect Palmer is an upgrade over Cooper, and it is not unreasonable to think Coleman improves.  Samuel looked better later in the year when he got healthier.  And for those saying we need to draft a speed guy, we had one on the reserve squad all last year in Hamler.  And Shavers they likely see as the replacement for Hollins.

 

 

Correct. This is a rehash from last year, and last year we had to trade a 3rd round pick to rent a starting boundary WR in October for 8 games.  
 

No more evidence needed

[Don Otreply]

5 hours ago, ControllerOfPlanetX said:

sounds like his agent is calling around and finding no takers.

 

When a WR is traded with a huge cap hit to his former team it sends a message to every other teams FO, top that off with an ACL injury that will take another year to fully recover from, and that WR will be going on thirty three years old before he is fully healthy, he’s not going to have a lot of options…, jmo.

[BillsVet]

3 hours ago, SirAndrew said:

Very weak WR room, and it could potentially slow our offense. There’s a reason we got Cooper last season, even if he didn’t contribute much in terms of big plays. I’m surprised no one is talking about Cook. This receiver room makes James Cook a vital player in the offense. He’s in a position that benefits his ability to negotiate. We can’t afford him not being on this roster with our lack of receivers. Cook has been a big part of the passing game, and this offense can’t afford to lose a weapon. Say what you will about paying running backs, I typically agree, but the loss of Cook would hurt with the way this roster is constructed. 

 

Cook the liability in pass blocking means he's not getting 3rd down snaps.  Johnson does, but RBs out of the backfield play a complementary role anyway and aren't typically primary options in the passing game.    

 

The main effort there has to have Palmer excelling now against better CBs AND Coleman stepping up to be a real WR2.   Not likely.  

 

Going from Cooper to Palmer is a downgrade which places added strain on an offense unless their UFA WR has a career year.  Also, not likely.  

 

 Lot of if's and hopefully's again for this WR group.  Kinda like Beane's UFA strategy.    

 

[Chandler#81]

I don’t understand the grief Amari Cooper is getting. Yes, he was injured, but when on the field he performed. Wonderfully, actually. I haven’t heard of any negotiations with him and maybe we can’t afford his asking price. I just haven’t heard anything from the Bills about interest in retaining him.

[SoCal Deek]

Unless they’re going to use every single one of their picks on defense I find it hard to imagine they wouldn’t draft at least one, maybe two WRs. Look at it this way, they really don’t need to take a QB, OLineman, RB or TE. So what’s left? WR….seems pretty obvious. No? 

[JohnNord]

8 hours ago, Buffalo4Life01 said:

This is a really simple topic and something I just wanted to throw out there to see how everyone is feeling regarding the current crop of weapons Allen has to distribute the ball to this season.  How are we feeling with Shakir, Coleman, Palmer, and Curtis Samuel as Allen's wide receivers heading into the season?  Feesl a tad underwhelming to me even if we also factor in Kincaid and Knox.  Does anyone think Buffalo is planning on drafting a wr early or trading for one or is this group most likely what we have to work with this season?  

I think they are missing a WR with vertical speed which they should address within their first 3 picks in R1/R2.  
 

I like Shakir and Palmer.  I’m not at all sold on Coleman and Samuel.  The fan base is making excuses for these two already and I’m not expecting a similar season from

 both in 2025.

I don’t care if Coleman is only 21, separation is a major problem.  He’s literally the worst WR’s in this metric.  I think he’ll make fewer plays than last season.  
 

Samuel is a mystery.  I think the injury excuse is a bit overstated.  Can’t figure out why - but he just wasn’t used well in the offense.  

[QLBillsFan]

51 minutes ago, BillsVet said:

 

Cook the liability in pass blocking means he's not getting 3rd down snaps.  Johnson does, but RBs out of the backfield play a complementary role anyway and aren't typically primary options in the passing game.    

 

The main effort there has to have Palmer excelling now against better CBs AND Coleman stepping up to be a real WR2.   Not likely.  

 

Going from Cooper to Palmer is a downgrade which places added strain on an offense unless their UFA WR has a career year.  Also, not likely.  

 

 Lot of if's and hopefully's again for this WR group.  Kinda like Beane's UFA strategy.    

 

Cooper is on his arc decline while Palmer is on the decent.. I see Palmer as an upgrade.. CS healthy WR group is solid.

[SirAndrew]

17 minutes ago, JohnNord said:

I think they are missing a WR with vertical speed which they should address within their first 3 picks in R1/R2.  
 

I like Shakir and Palmer.  I’m not at all sold on Coleman and Samuel.  The fan base is making excuses for these two already and I’m not expecting a similar season from

 both in 2025.

I don’t care if Coleman is only 21, separation is a major problem.  He’s literally the worst WR’s in this metric.  I think he’ll make fewer plays than last season.  
 

Samuel is a mystery.  I think the injury excuse is a bit overstated.  Can’t figure out why - but he just wasn’t used well in the offense.  

I agree, I’ve actually given up on Coleman being a number one or even two receiver. If it happens I’ll be very happy, but I don’t expect it. Samuel was strangely ineffective, and it’s changed my perception of any free agent who signs with us. I’m not as hopeful about Palmer, and I think a lot has to do with Samuel.
 

Josh Allen being an all time great wasn’t enough to take Samuel to the next level in this system. I’m not betting on it with Palmer either. Palmer had 39 catches and one touchdown last season, with only two touchdowns the previous season. I’m not very confident with the inevitable number one or two role he’ll play next season.