The Buffalo Bills head into the 2026 offseason with a familiar question hanging over them: when are they finally going to get Josh Allen the top-tier receiving help he deserves?
Yes, Khalil Shakir stepped up admirably last season, but let’s be honest-asking him to carry the load as WR1 in a high-powered offense is a tall order. Allen still found ways to move the ball and make plays, because that’s what elite quarterbacks do. But the margin for error shrinks fast in the playoffs, and without a true No. 1 wideout, the Bills’ offense lacked the kind of punch that can tilt a game in January.
So, where do the Bills turn?
A.J. Brown’s name has been floated as a possible trade target, but stylistically, that pairing feels off.
Buffalo’s offense has long embraced a “spread the wealth” approach, and Brown thrives when he’s the focal point, demanding a high volume of targets. That’s not a knock-it’s just a mismatch in philosophy.
So if not Brown, who?
Enter Brandon Aiyuk.
According to Bleacher Report’s Alex Ballentine, the 49ers receiver could be a more natural fit in Buffalo, and it’s not hard to see why. Aiyuk brings the kind of route-running precision and one-on-one separation ability that would immediately elevate the Bills’ passing attack. He’s not just a complementary piece-when healthy, he’s fully capable of being a No. 1 target.
Now, yes-health is a factor. Aiyuk missed the entire 2025 season with an ACL injury, and anytime you’re talking about a player coming off a major knee issue, there’s risk involved.
But that risk could also mean opportunity. If the price tag is lower due to the injury, Brandon Beane might be able to land a high-upside receiver without mortgaging the team’s future in draft capital.
And let’s not forget: time is ticking.
Josh Allen is in his prime. The Bills have been a playoff mainstay, but they’ve yet to get over the hump.
Giving Allen a true No. 1 receiver-someone who can win off the line, stretch the field, and demand defensive attention-could be the missing piece. Aiyuk, if healthy, checks all those boxes.
Keon Coleman still has time to develop, and the Bills haven’t given up on him. But development takes time, and Buffalo’s window is now.
Aiyuk wouldn’t just be a stopgap-he’d be a statement. A signal that the Bills are done waiting and ready to go all-in on maximizing Allen’s prime.
So, is Brandon Aiyuk the answer? That’s for Beane and the front office to decide. But if the goal is to give Josh Allen every chance to bring a Lombardi to Buffalo, adding a legit WR1 like Aiyuk feels like a move worth making.