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Laviska Shenault warms up before a game in 2021.

The Buffalo Bills have seen some big changes to their wide receiving corps this offseason, and another one could be on the way.

The team is expected to have a tight competition for the final few spots on the depth chart, including a pair of members of last year’s practice squad making strong bids for a spot on the 53-man roster. That could leave one of this offseason’s biggest additions on the wrong side of the cut line.

Buffalo’s Wide Receiver Room in Flux

In a prediction of the final roster, reporter Ryan Talbot of Syracuse.com noted that there are only three who have solidified their spot on the roster — Khalil Shakir, Keon Coleman, and Joshua Palmer.

Talbot predicted that both Tyrell Shavers and K.J. Hamler — practice squad members last year — would make the final roster while free agency addition Lavishka Shenault would be released. While Shenault has some past experience as a return specialist, Talbot believed that Hamler would beat him out for that role.

The team’s final preseason game could be pivotal for Shenault in his bid to make the final roster. NFL.com’s Eric Edholm suggested that he will be among four wide receivers competing for the last spots on the roster.

Edholm predicted the Bills would give their starters a rest in the final game and allow the fringe players to make their bids for the final roster.

“It would be shocking if any notable players saw action, but there are still jobs to be secured,” Edholm wrote. “Tyrell Shavers, Laviska Shenault Jr. and Kristian Wilkerson could be playing musical chairs for one or two seats at the WR table.”

Shenault was one of three accomplished veteran receivers signed this offseason, along with Palmer and Elijah Moore. The Bills are continuing their approach from the 2024 season, which they termed “everybody eats,” where they spread the targets out to a wider group of pass catchers. The strategy was adopted after the team traded top wide receiver Stefon Diggs and allowed No. 2 Gabe Davis to leave in free agency.

Bills Have Rising Star at Wide Receiver

While many insiders believe Hamler is still on the outside of the roster looking in, Shavers has been the standout star of training camp and preseason and many expect him to find a way onto the final roster.

Shavers saw little action in 2024 but turned in one of the most memorable plays. With the Bills up 33-0 against the New York Jets in Week 17, the team pulled the starters and backup quarterback Mitch Trubisky found Shavers for a wide receiver screen. Shavers — making the first reception of his NFL career — raced 69 yards through the defense for a touchdown.

Shenault has plenty of NFL experience under his belt. He appeared in 68 games since coming into the league in 2020 with 28 starts.

The receiver had a strong start to his career, posting back-to-back seasons with more than 58 receptions and 600 yards with the Jacksonville Jaguars, but saw a sharp downturn since then. Shenault made just five receptions for 36 yards in 2024, though did add 459 kick return yards with a return touchdown.

Nathan Dougherty is a sports reporter covering the NFL for Heavy.com, with a focus on the Buffalo Bills, Detroit Lions and Miami Dolphins. Previously he wrote for the Rochester Business Journal and served as the assistant editor of athletic trade magazines Coaching Management, Athletic Management and Training & Conditioning. He is based out of Rochester, New York, and loves everything football. More about Nathan Dougherty