In January, the Buffalo Bills made a smart move by signing a former second-round draft pick to a futures contract. This addition to their receiving corps, KJ Hamler, comes with low risk and high potential. Hamler, who was selected as the No. 46 overall pick in the 2020 draft by the Denver Broncos, brings top-level speed to the team, which may be in need of a deep threat if Gabe Davis departs in free agency. Despite three injury-plagued seasons with the Broncos, Hamler was released during training camp last summer due to a non-football illness designation. He was diagnosed with pericarditis and took a brief leave of absence before returning to football. Hamler officially joined the Indianapolis Colts’ Practice Squad on September 30 and remained there for the rest of the 2023 regular season.
Since his two-catch, 52-yard performance in the Broncos’ 21-17 victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars on October 30, 2022, Hamler has yet to play in a regular season game due to a nagging hamstring injury that limited him to only seven appearances that year. Additionally, he tore his ACL in 2021 after playing only three games.
As a rookie in 2020, Hamler showcased his game-breaking speed and made a couple of notable plays. His first career touchdown reception helped Denver secure a 31-30 win over the Chargers on the final play of the game. Later that year, he caught two second-half touchdowns (37, 49 yards) that stretched the field and helped the Broncos to a 32-27 road victory over Carolina.
Throughout his 23 career NFL games, Hamler has amassed 620 receiving yards and three touchdowns on 42 catches. Penn State’s sports-science staff once clocked him at 21.76 mph during game action.
