One of the more overlooked but impressive draft selections by the current Buffalo Bills front office came in 2022, when they landed wide receiver Khalil Shakir from Boise State in the fifth round. Despite a strong college career, Shakir entered the NFL without much fanfare and had to work his way up in a crowded receiver room.
His rookie season was quiet, as expected, with just 161 receiving yards and one touchdown. But things began to change midway through the 2023 season when Joe Brady took over as interim offensive coordinator. That’s when Shakir started to emerge, eventually becoming one of Josh Allen’s most reliable targets.
His momentum carried into 2024, where he had a breakout campaign posting 821 yards, four touchdowns, and 76 receptions on 100 targets. His ability to line up both outside and in the slot has made him a valuable and flexible piece in the Bills’ offense.
Beyond his impact on the field, Shakir is widely respected in the locker room for his character and team-first attitude, earning praise as not just a playmaker, but a great teammate as well.
Sean McDermott delivers high praise to Khalil Shakir
Ajay Cybulski reported that head coach Sean McDermott praised Khalil Shakir for his development and the impact he’s had on the team, highlighting how far the wide receiver has come.
One of the most underrated draft picks that the Buffalo Bills have made under the current regime was in 2022 when they got a steal in wide receiver Khalil Shakir out of Boise State. He had solid success in college but being a fifth-round pick, he was facing an uphill battle to become a serious contributor for the Bills.
He was a bit quiet his rookie season (as expected) with only 161 yards and one score. Then in the middle of the 2023 season when Joe Brady was elevated as the interim offensive coordinator, that’s when he had a breakout with the team and now he is arguably the go-to guy for Josh Allen.
He had a successful second-half season in 2023 and it carried into last season where he had a career year with 821 yards and 4 touchdowns off of 76 receptions (being targeted 100 times). He can play outside the numbers and in the middle of the field, making him a versatile playmaker for the offense.
In addition to him being great on the field, Shakir is also a great teammate and is someone that people respect.
Sean McDermott delivers high praise to Khalil Shakir
According to Ajay Cybulski, Sean McDermott talked about Shakir and how much he has grown and how he has become an important player on the roster.
From a fifth-round draft pick to a key contributor on a contending team, Shakir’s rise has been impressive. His consistent growth and strong performances over the past two seasons earned him a well-deserved four-year contract extension worth up to $60 million. He’s become one of Josh Allen’s most trusted targets and a respected presence in the locker room.
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With his new deal in place, the expectation is that Shakir will continue to elevate his game and emerge as one of the league’s top wideouts. Even in Buffalo’s balanced passing attack, Shakir is expected to be heavily involved and cause serious problems for opposing defenses this season.