The Buffalo Bills have made it clear through their actions that upgrading the wide receiver room is a priority if they want to seriously chase a Super Bowl. Last season’s group — featuring Khalil Shakir, Keon Coleman, Joshua Palmer, Brandin Cooks, Tyrell Shavers, and Curtis Samuel — managed to hold its own at times, but it lacked the high-end talent needed to consistently win against the AFC’s elite defenses.
General manager Brandon Beane explored bold moves at the trade deadline in November, attempting to acquire Chris Olave from the New Orleans Saints and Jaylen Waddle from the Miami Dolphins. However, neither deal materialized, leaving Buffalo to move forward with the roster it had.
Because of that, many analysts believe the Bills’ best path to landing a true difference-maker is through the draft. ESPN draft expert Mel Kiper Jr. recently suggested Buffalo target Washington wide receiver Denzel Boston in the 2026 NFL Draft. Kiper praised Boston’s physicality and competitiveness, calling him one of the most rugged receivers in the class.
“Boston’s hands, catch radius and vision would quickly make him a go-to option for quarterback Josh Allen,” Kiper wrote. “He finished with 881 yards and 11 scores last season, bullying opposing cornerbacks along the way. Buffalo’s receiver room has a lot of questions and lacks a true WR1, all due respect to Khalil Shakir.”
Kiper also pointed to the uncertainty surrounding the rest of the depth chart. “After being called out by ownership last month, Keon Coleman’s future with the team is murky. Brandin Cooks and Gabe Davis are free agents. Joshua Palmer was injured and limited to 22 catches on the season. And Tyrell Shavers tore an ACL in the playoffs. So, this one seems obvious.”
Boston’s production backs up the hype. He led Washington with 62 receptions for 881 yards and 11 touchdowns last year and won 76.9 percent of his contested catch opportunities, according to Pro Football Focus. That type of reliability in tight coverage is something Buffalo’s offense could desperately use.
Bringing in a young, affordable playmaker like Boston could dramatically reshape the Bills’ passing attack, especially if they also add a veteran free agent such as Mike Evans, Jauan Jennings, Alex Pierce, or Romeo Doubs. While everyone knows Josh Allen is capable of carrying the offense, this offseason represents Beane’s opportunity to prove the quarterback won’t have to do it alone.