Pros and Cons of Bills Pursuing a Big-Name Receiver in Free Agency

It goes without saying that a No. 1 wide receiver is one of the Buffalo Bills' main offseason priorities, but it won't come without risk.

From free-agent signing Joshua Palmer flopping in his first year as a Bill to the drafting of second-round bust Keon Coleman, everything Brandon Beane and Co. have tried hasn't worked out.

Between potential trade targets A.J. Brown and George Pickens and free agents Alec Pierce and Jauan Jennings, would it benefit Buffalo in the long run to pursue one of them?

Pro — Downfield target for Josh Allen

The Bills have a reliable slot receiver in Khalil Shakir, who's surpassed 70 catches and 700 yards in each of the last two seasons, but he's not a true No. 1 option.

Among receivers targeted at least 70 times in 2025, Pierce led the NFL in average depth of target at 19 yards, while Brown, Pickens and Jennings ranked 25th, 31st and 38th, respectively. However, those three offer other qualities, such as size, that help them in a wider range of situations.

Con — Lackluster rookie group at Buffalo's draft position

If the Bills fail to acquire one of those four players, receiver will likely be a priority in the draft. However, players such as Arizona State's Jordyn Tyson and Ohio State's Carnell Tate will likely be off the board by the time Buffalo picks at No. 26 and other first-round options are less enticing for various reasons.

For example, Louisville's Chris Bell is coming off a torn ACL, Notre Dame's Malachi Fields is a late riser and Texas A&M's KC Concepcion is undersized, lacks high-end speed and struggles with drops.

Pro — Opens up opportunities for others

The presence of a No. 1 receiver won't just benefit Allen. It would help everyone else around him by drawing defenders toward that player, allowing other skill players to touch the ball more.

Perhaps James Cook would see increased involvement in the passing game after his receiving stats stagnated despite a league-leading season on the ground. The same could apply to tight end Dalton Kincaid if he can stay healthy.

Con — Salary constraints

Brandon Beane, general manager of the Buffalo Bills, heads off the field at the end of practice at the Buffalo Bills training camp at St. John Fisher University in Pittsford on July 24, 2025. | Tina MacIntyre-Yee/Democrat and Chronicle / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

As appealing as a go-to target would be for Josh Allen, the Bills may not have the money to make it happen. They're currently about $10 million over the salary cap, the eighth-worst position in the NFL according to Spotrac, and Pickens, Pierce and Jennings are projected to command more than $20 million per year.

Even if the Bills acquire a receiver before the draft, they may not have enough cap space to spend to re-sign key offensive linemen or add defenders to help improve against the run, which was one of Buffalo's biggest weaknesses last season.

Should the Bills pursue No. 1 receiver in free agency?

Oct 19, 2025; Inglewood, California, USA; Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Alec Pierce (14) catches the ball in the first half against the Los Angeles Chargers at SoFi Stadium. | Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images

For better or worse, given the cap situation and the reality that Josh Allen's prime is slowly fading away, the Bills should pursue a big-name receiver in the offseason. Free agency may be more appealing because it features proven commodities.

Even if it's difficult on paper, sacrifices may need to be made. The question becomes what Buffalo is willing to give up to maximize its championship window.