The Buffalo Bills are keeping one of their franchise cornerstones in the building.
Shakir led the team in receiving yards in 2024 and has been a key piece of the Bills’ offense since being drafted in 2022.
“We’re excited to keep Khalil here for an additional four years beyond the one year he had remaining, and I want to give his crew ... all those guys credit, and [Vice President of Football Administration] Kevin Meganck ... did a great job on that,” Beane said.
Beane heaped praise on Shakir for his work ethic and the results it produced on the field.
“You‘d be hard-pressed to find anyone—fans, players, anyone in our building—to say anything negative about Khalil and what he’s brought. The guy is a true ’lunch pail‘ Buffalonian. I mean, I know he’s not from Buffalo, but he doesn’t say anything. He just shows up every single day. He’s ’Mr. Dependable' and when the ball’s thrown his way he usually comes down with it. And, you know, I’m sure everyone on our team that’s coming back will be excited to have Khalil [back], and we’re going to count on him even more, not only on the field, but his leadership going forward.”
Beane said that Shakir did not get many opportunities as a rookie in 2022 but took advantage of the ones he did get. As quarterback Josh Allen and the offensive coaching staff got more comfortable with him and got a feel for his particular skills as a receiver, he started to come into his own late in the season. He began to break out as a legitimate threat in the passing game in year two, then became a cornerstone of the offense in year three.
“[Offensive coordinator] Joe Brady and Josh and those guys get a lot of credit. Khalil himself gets the most, but those guys, [for] using his strengths to this offense and really helping us have the offensive success that we did.”
Shakir was drafted out of Boise State University in the fifth round of the 2022 NFL Draft. He appeared in 14 games, catching 10 passes for 161 yards and a touchdown. He also had four kick and punt returns for 57 total yards. He was third on the team in receiving in the 2022 postseason with five catches for 91 yards.
In the 2023 season, Shakir caught 39 passes for 611 yards and two touchdowns, good for fourth on the team. He also rushed one time for 10 yards and had five returns for 98 yards. He was second on the team in receiving in the postseason with 10 catches for 75 yards and two touchdowns.
Shakir led the Bills in receiving yards in 2024. He caught 76 passes for 821 yards and 4 touchdowns. He had two carries for four yards. He also led the Bills in receiving yards in the playoffs, catching 18 passes for 174 yards.
Shakir’s success came even though he was not the biggest name in the receiver room, though he was the only receiver in the last year who previously caught a pass from Allen. The Bills drafted Keon Coleman with the 33rd overall pick in the 2024 draft. The team also signed Mack Hollins and Curtis Samuel in free agency and traded for Amari Cooper mid-season.
Beane responded to questions about the need to add speed to the receiving corps and defended Coleman from criticism.
“I thought Keon was really trending up, and he got the unfortunate hit on his wrist in the Miami game and probably didn’t reach the peak that he was at pre-injury. But again, Keon Coleman is 21 years old. We shouldn’t expect all these guys—some of these guys playing that were drafted last year were 24 and 25—and so let’s give him a chance. Don’t beat him up. It’s his first season.”
