The Buffalo Bills made their first major move of the offseason on Tuesday by extending one of their rising young stars on offense.
The team announced that it has signed wide receiver Khalil Shakir to a new four-year extension that could be worth as much as $60M, while also carrying $32M in guarantees.
That contract comes on the heels of a breakout year for Shakir in the Bills offense where he become quarterback Josh Allen’s go-to target in the passing game.
Shakir led the team with 76 receptions and 821 yards, while his four receiving touchdowns were tied for second on the team.
It’s not just that Shakir led the team in catches and in yards. He led the team by a significant margin, especially as it relates to their wide receivers.
After Shakir, nobody on the team caught more than 44 passes, with tight end Dalton Kincaid being the only other player with more than 32 receptions. When it comes to the other wide receivers, Mack Hollins and Curtis Samuel were the only other players at the position with more than 30 receptions (both had 31).
Shakir was a fifth-round pick by the Bills in 2022 and rapidly started to work his way up the team’s depth chart. He has been a great find for the offense, and now he gets a big financial reward for is development.
Now that Shakir is signed, the next priority for the Bills is surrounding him — and Allen — with even more playmakers at the position.
The Bills were one of the NFL’s best teams with a top-tier offense, while Allen was able to put together an MVP campaign. Given those two facts it might seem kind of crazy to suggest they need more help on offense, but another impact player at wide receiver could take Allen and their offense to an even higher level.
