The Buffalo Bills are coming off of another heartbreaking season. Buffalo fell to the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC Championship Game, 32-29. However, as long as Josh Allen is the Bills’ starting quarterback they will always be contenders. Today, it was reported that Buffalo has extended Allen’s top target Khalil Shakir.
Buffalo Bills Extend Wide Receiver Khalil Shakir
Shakir and the Bills have reached an agreement on a contract extension. His new contract is for four years and is worth up to $60.2 million with $32 million guaranteed. The wideout is coming off of a productive season in which he produced 76 receptions, 821 yards and 4 touchdowns. He easily led the Bills in receptions and yards. Now, Allen and Shakir will have the opportunity to build on their success for years to come.
The Future in Buffalo
The Bills have been so close to winning the AFC and making the Super Bowl ever since Josh Allen arrived. The future remains bright in Buffalo and Shakir’s contract extension is further proof of that. Shakir has improved in each of his first three seasons in the league and there is no reason to think he can’t keep getting better.
Josh Allen likes to spread the ball around and get many different players involved in the offense. If Khalil Shakir commanded a bit more of a target share next season, his numbers could really jump. Shakir could see at least 85 receptions and 900 yards next season. Last season was the first season Shakir played without wide receiver Stefon Diggs. Diggs was traded to the Houston Texans which allowed for Shakir to take the wide receiver one role for Buffalo. After one season as the top target under his belt, Shakir could explode next season.
One thing that could hold Shakir’s production back is the Bills commitment to the running game. Last season, Buffalo ran the ball a lot more than in previous years. Josh Allen and running backs James Cook, Ray Davis, and Ty Johnson combined for 463 rushing attempts. Allen had 483 passing attempts on the season. If the Bills want to continue to establish the run, Shakir’s production could take a hit.
Buffalo showed last season that they do not want to ask Josh Allen to win them every game, and that the running game needs to be better to take pressure off of him. Khalil Shakir still produced good numbers last year, but it might be difficult to improve on them if the Bills continue to focus on the running game.
Another Wide Receiver?
Although the Bills were elite last season, they could use more help in the passing game. After Khalil Shakir, tight end Dalton Kincaid was second on the team in receptions with 44, and Keon Coleman was second in yards with 556. If Buffalo were to sign or trade for another receiver it could free up Shakir even more. Defenses would not be able to concentrate on him nearly as much. Not to mention, this would still help take pressure off of Allen. It remains to be seen if Buffalo is interested in acquiring another receiver, but it is worth looking in order to help get this team over the hump.
Main Photo Courtesy of Denny Medley – Imagn Images
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