The Buffalo Bills are heading toward another postseason appearance, but it’s looking more like a Wild Card berth than a division crown - a shift from the top-of-the-AFC-East dominance we've come to expect in recent years. And while there are a few reasons for that dip, one of the clearest issues has been the lack of consistent production from the wide receiver room.
For the second straight season, it looks like no Bills wideout is going to crack the 1,000-yard mark. That’s a tough pill to swallow for a team that’s built its identity around a high-powered offense led by Josh Allen.
Khalil Shakir currently leads the group in receiving, but the numbers just haven’t popped the way Buffalo needs them to. Keon Coleman, who flashed big-time potential in Week 1, has all but vanished from the rotation after spending much of November on the bench.
The front office tried to patch things up by bringing back Gabe Davis and adding veteran Brandin Cooks, but so far, those moves haven’t solved the problem. With the regular season winding down and the playoff picture taking shape, it’s becoming increasingly clear that Buffalo may need to look outside the building - and the NFL Draft could be the place to do it.
One name that’s starting to surface as a potential fit? Louisville’s Chris Bell.
At 6-foot-2 and 220 pounds, Bell brings a blend of size and speed that could add a new dimension to Buffalo’s offense. He’s not a consensus first-rounder just yet, but he’s hovering right on that fringe - exactly the kind of prospect who could be available when the Bills are on the clock late in the first round. His game has drawn comparisons to Carolina Panthers wideout Xavier Legette, who was taken in the second round of the 2024 draft.
This season, Bell has pulled in 72 catches for 917 yards and six touchdowns - strong numbers in a college system that doesn’t always showcase NFL-style route trees or volume. What stands out about Bell, though, is how he wins.
He’s tough over the middle, doesn’t shy away from contact, and has shown he can make contested grabs on the outside. That’s the kind of versatility Buffalo could use - someone who complements Shakir’s work underneath and doesn’t stunt Coleman’s development on the perimeter.
For a team like Buffalo, which will likely be picking toward the back end of the first round, Bell fits the mold of a realistic, value-aligned target. He’s not the flashiest name in the class, but he checks a lot of boxes: physicality, production, and the ability to contribute early without demanding WR1-level volume.
Of course, a lot can change between now and draft night. There’s still the potential for a trade up if the Bills fall in love with another prospect, or they could shift gears entirely and address the position in free agency. But if things stay on their current trajectory, Bell is absolutely a name worth circling.
That said, the best-case scenario for Buffalo might not involve a rookie at all. If Keon Coleman can get back on track down the stretch and start looking like the player we saw in the opener, that could ease the pressure to go receiver in Round 1. It would give the front office more flexibility to address other areas - maybe the offensive line, maybe the secondary - and allow the wideout group to grow organically.
Still, it’s clear: if the Bills want to keep pace with the AFC’s elite, they need more juice at wide receiver. Whether that comes from within or through the draft, the search for answers is officially on.