The Buffalo Bills are continuing to build out their offseason roster, officially signing wide receiver Jalen Virgil and quarterback Shane Buechele to futures contracts on Tuesday. These deals are essentially invitations to compete-giving players a shot to earn a spot during offseason workouts and training camp. Think of it as the NFL’s version of a long audition, and for guys like Buechele and Virgil, it’s a real opportunity to make some noise.
Let’s start with Buechele, a quarterback who’s been grinding behind the scenes for a few years now. At 28, he’s no stranger to the league’s practice squad circuit.
His college career was a tale of two programs-he spent three seasons at Texas before transferring to SMU, where he really found his rhythm. Across both stops, Buechele put up solid numbers: a 63.1% completion rate, nearly 11,700 passing yards, 87 touchdowns, and 32 interceptions.
He also added eight rushing scores, showing he’s got some mobility when needed.
After going undrafted in 2021, Buechele landed with the Kansas City Chiefs. From there, it’s been a winding road.
He was waived after his first preseason, but Kansas City kept him close, bringing him back on the practice squad. Over time, he earned a few promotions and re-signings, including a stint as an exclusive rights free agent-essentially a low-cost way for the team to keep him in-house.
Still, the breakthrough never came.
Eventually, Buechele made his way to Buffalo’s practice squad, where he continued to develop behind the scenes. He signed a futures deal with the Bills before the 2024 season but was placed on injured reserve that August.
In 2025, Buffalo brought him back to the practice squad, but in December, the Chiefs came calling again, signing him away. Now, he’s back in Buffalo, once again with a chance to prove himself.
What stands out here is that despite bouncing between rosters, Buechele has yet to take a snap in an NFL game. But don’t let that fool you-teams have kept him around for a reason.
He’s a smart, accurate passer with a strong understanding of the game. Futures contracts don’t guarantee anything, but they’re a clear sign that Buffalo sees something worth investing in, even if it’s just the potential to be a reliable backup or developmental piece.
As for Jalen Virgil, while the details of his journey weren’t outlined in this announcement, his inclusion in the futures group signals that the Bills are looking to add speed and depth at wide receiver. Virgil has flashed athleticism in previous stops, and he’ll have a shot to show how he fits into Buffalo’s offensive plans during the offseason.
Bottom line: these aren’t headline-grabbing moves, but they’re the kind of under-the-radar signings that can pay dividends down the line. Whether it’s adding depth, competition, or just keeping the quarterback room sharp, the Bills are doing what smart teams do-building from the bottom up, one futures contract at a time.