Seneca, the ancient Roman philosopher, is credited with the proverb “Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity.” By this standard, wide receiver Khalil Shakir of the Buffalo Bills could be regarded as extremely fortunate.
Throughout his two professional seasons, the 24-year-old has made the most of his understandably few opportunities. He really shone in the latter part of the 2023 campaign, when he caught 39 passes for 611 yards. After Joe Brady took over as play-caller in Week 11, he established himself as an offensive mainstay, winning the confidence of quarterback Josh Allen and hauling in 20 passes for 363 yards over the season’s last seven games. During the playoffs, he caught ten more receptions for 75 yards and two touchdowns.
With Brady taking on a more prominent role as a play-caller, several players, including Shakir, saw their opportunities grow and performance improve during the season. Now entering his third year with the team, Shakir has a potential chance to become the top wide receiver for the Buffalo Bills in the upcoming 2024 NFL season. Although the team has made some changes to their receiving corps, none of the new additions are initially seen as superior to Shakir, giving him a promising opportunity to make a significant impact throughout the upcoming season.
NFL.com writer Bucky Brooks suggested in a recent article about a theoretical “All-Breakout” offensive team for the 2024 NFL season that Shakir is poised for a breakout. With the departure of Stefon Diggs clearing the way for a new WR1, Brooks pointed out that Shakir’s performance in the 2023 season proved his potential as a playmaker. Brooks highlighted Shakir’s chances to surpass 1,000 receiving yards in the upcoming season, given his familiarity with Joe Brady’s system and strong connection with quarterback Allen. It’s likely that a Buffalo wide receiver will achieve 1,000 yards in 2024, especially considering the track record of Bills receivers reaching that milestone with Allen leading the offense.
