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The talk of this summer’s training camp for the Buffalo Bills, has been their rookie draft class. Both sides of the ball have had some impressive showings by rookies who are turning heads. Perhaps the most notable rookie of all, especially on offense, has been wide receiver Khalil Shakir. Shakir has been making plays in camp and turning heads since day one. That head turning continued when the Bills played their first preseason game last Saturday and Shakir balled out.
The Bills drafted Shakir in the fifth round, as the 148th overall pick in this year’s draft. Buffalo Bills’ general manager, Brandon Beane, traded up 20 spots to make sure he landed the sliding receiver out of Boise State. To many, it was a bit of a shock that he fell that far. Beane even told the media after the draft, had he still had his fourth-round pick that he traded away earlier, he would have used that pick to take Shakir. Many draft experts had higher round grades on him, like Todd McShay who actually had a third-round grade on him. Since the draft, Shakir has appeared in plenty of articles and conversations as one of the biggest steals of the draft. At the time, it was all based off speculation because of the value of the pick by Beane. Since the cleats came on, Shakir is proving it’s more than that, and that he’s here to make plays.
Shakir is 6’0” 196lbs, with 9 ½” hands and 22 years old. He’s a great athlete with speed who ran a 4.43 40-yard dash and a 34.5” vertical jump. Shakir played four years at Boise State; he ranks fifth all-time in receptions with 208, fourth in receiving yards with 2,878 and sixth in career 100-yard receiving games with 10 such games. In his final season at school (2021), he posted career highs in catches with 77, receiving yards with 1,117 and touchdowns with seven. Shakir was a first-team All-Mountain West player in 2020 and 2021. Also, he has experience returning the ball with 23 career punt returns, and eight career kickoff returns. The Bills are looking at all options for punt returns and Shakir could definitely get the job.
All summer long, Shakir has been making plays at all levels of the field. He’s showing off his versatility, route running, and he even has some nice speed to his game. Shakir quickly built a rapport with star quarterback Josh Allen, who was one of the first to run down and celebrate Shakir’s big touchdown catch in the Bills scrimmage two weekends ago. He continued his impressive summer into the Bills first preseason game. Against mainly Colts’ starters, Shakir had five catches for 92 yards, including a 25-yard reception. Shakir lined up outside mostly, which bodes well for his chance to get on the field in the regular season, because Isaiah McKenzie seems to have the slot role on lock. His route running and concentration with hand catches were on full display. He is oozing with potential in this Bills’ offense as the number four receiver, and Bills Mafia should be excited.
