The Buffalo Bills aimed to enhance their offense by acquiring wide receiver DJ Moore but failed to secure several other key wide receiver options during the initial day of the NFL free agency tampering period. Focused on improving their receiving corps to support Josh Allen, the Bills faced challenges as potential veteran targets quickly signed with other teams.
Key Wide Receiver Prospects Quickly Taken by Other Teams
On the first day of free agency, the Bills remained notably quiet on offense, opting only to add cornerback Dee Alford to their defense. This reserve approach contrasted with analysts’ expectations that Buffalo would aggressively pursue wide receivers to strengthen their passing attack. Instead, two prominent wide receiver options—Michael Pittman and Mike Evans—were claimed by other franchises.
Michael Pittman was traded from the Indianapolis Colts to the Pittsburgh Steelers, ending speculation about a possible Bills acquisition. Bleacher Report’s Gary Davenport had identified Pittman as a trade candidate who could also facilitate moving on from receiver Keon Coleman.
Pittman hasn’t been as productive the past two seasons as he was earlier in his career, but the seventh-year veteran has a pair of 1,000-yard seasons on his NFL resume,
Davenport wrote.
Even if he’s not the true ‘alpha’ wideout the Buffalo Bills so badly need, he’d be a sizable upgrade to the team’s passing-game weapons. He’d also likely be amenable to an extension that would drop his cap hit in 2026.
– Gary Davenport, Bleacher Report Analyst
Meanwhile, Mike Evans signed a contract with the San Francisco 49ers, another key wide receiving target Buffalo had reportedly been interested in. PFF analyst Mason Cameron described Evans as a natural fit for the Bills’ offense, particularly given their struggles with depth and vertical passing late in the previous season.
The Bills’ lack of quality depth at outside receiver limited their offensive output, particularly when injuries mounted late in the year,
Cameron noted.
Add in their limited capability to stretch the field vertically – recording the sixth fewest receptions on throws of 20 or more yards – and Evans profiles as a strong upgrade to Josh Allen’s core of weapons.
– Mason Cameron, PFF Analyst
Additional Options Remain Through Draft and Free Agency
Despite missing out on these veteran targets, the Bills still have opportunities to bolster their wide receiver room in free agency or via the upcoming NFL draft. Texas A&M wide receiver KC Concepcion is widely projected as a suitable addition for Buffalo in the first round, with CBS Sports’ Mike Renner predicting the Bills will select Concepcion at No. 26 overall.
Renner highlighted Concepcion’s potential to replicate the impact left by Brandin Cooks, who provided a valuable offensive spark late last season.
Concepcion is the separator Buffalo lacks,
Renner explained.
We saw how much an older Brandin Cooks opened up the offense in his limited stint, and Concepcion would bring even more juice. You may have to live with some drops, though, after he posted a drop rate north of 10% last year.
– Mike Renner, CBS Sports Analyst
The Bills continue to navigate a cautious path in their wide receiver upgrade strategy, balancing the urgency to improve Josh Allen’s receiving options with limited immediate success in securing top veterans. How Buffalo approaches remaining free agency days and the draft will be critical as they seek to avoid repeating last season’s offensive struggles.
