The vibe around Western New York during the 2024 spring was, honestly, kinda frantic. If you hopped on any Bills Mafia message board or listened to WGR 550 for more than five minutes, you’d hear the same thing: "How is Josh Allen going to survive without Stefon Diggs?"
When Brandon Beane traded Diggs to the Texans and let Gabe Davis walk to Jacksonville, he wasn't just changing the roster; he was nuking the entire offensive identity. For years, the Bills were a "force-feed the alpha" team. In 2024, they pivoted to something the locker room called "Everybody Eats."
Basically, it meant that instead of one guy getting 160 targets, ten different guys might get forty. It was risky. It was weird. And for a team that finished 13-4 and made another deep run, it worked way better than the national media predicted.
The Khalil Shakir Breakout was Real
If you look at the raw box scores from 2024, you might not be blown away. But if you actually watched the games, Khalil Shakir was the heartbeat of that passing attack. He finished the regular season with 76 catches for 821 yards.
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Those aren't Diggs-prime numbers, sure. But look at the efficiency. Shakir had a catch rate that hovered around 76%, which is basically unheard of for a guy who isn't a tight end.
He became the ultimate safety net. Third-and-seven? Allen's looking for number 10. The chemistry between those two grew into something special. There’s a reason he signed that four-year extension worth $60 million. He isn't just a "slot guy" anymore; he’s the guy who keeps the chains moving when the defense brackets everyone else.
The Rookie Factor: Keon Coleman
Then there was the rookie, Keon Coleman.
The Bills caught a lot of flak for passing on Xavier Worthy and trading back, but Coleman brought something the room was missing: pure size. He’s 6’4”, 215 pounds, and plays even bigger.
His stats—29 catches for 556 yards and 4 touchdowns—don’t tell the whole story. He missed some time with injury and had the usual rookie growing pains, but his Week 7 performance against the Titans (125 yards) showed the ceiling. He’s the "matchup beater." When the "Everybody Eats" system stalls because nobody can win a one-on-one, Coleman is the guy Josh throws the ball "up" to.
The Mid-Season Amari Cooper Gamble
By October, even with the offense clicking, Beane knew they needed a veteran who could command respect. Enter Amari Cooper.
The trade with the Cleveland Browns was a classic "all-in" move. Cooper didn’t come in and light the world on fire immediately—he actually struggled a bit with some drops and learning the playbook on the fly. He finished his Bills tenure with 20 catches for 297 yards and a couple of scores across eight games.
But honestly? His impact was mostly gravity.
When Cooper was on the field, safeties couldn't just sit on Shakir’s intermediate routes. He opened up the field. Even if he wasn't the 1,200-yard receiver he was in Dallas or Cleveland, his presence allowed the "Everybody Eats" philosophy to actually function in the playoffs.
Why the "No WR1" Narrative is Kinda Wrong
Most analysts spent the whole season saying the Bills didn't have a WR1. Technically, by the stats, they were right. No Bill hit 1,000 yards.
But they broke an NFL record.
Thirteen different players caught a touchdown in 2024. Think about that. Most teams have three or four reliable scoring threats. The Bills had over a dozen.
- Mack Hollins was the surprise "glue guy," leading the team with 5 receiving touchdowns.
- Curtis Samuel was... well, let's be real, he was a bit of a disappointment given the $24 million contract, but he provided some gadget versatility.
- Tyrell Shavers and Quintin Morris even chipped in.
It made the Bills impossible to game-plan for. In the past, if you doubled Diggs, the Bills offense would sometimes just... stop. In 2024, if you doubled one guy, Allen just found the open man. It’s why he was an MVP finalist again.
The Supporting Cast
You can't talk about the Bills wide receivers 2024 group without mentioning the tight ends and backs. Dalton Kincaid (44 catches) and James Cook (32 catches) functioned as de facto wideouts.
When the WR room was thin or facing elite corners, Joe Brady just shifted the target share to the big bodies. It wasn't always pretty, but it was effective.
What’s Next for the Room?
The 2024 season proved that the Bills can win without a superstar receiver, but it also showed they were one "alpha" away from being truly unstoppable. Moving into the 2026 offseason, the focus has shifted.
We’ve seen veteran turnover already. Mack Hollins moved on to the Patriots. Amari Cooper’s short-lived stint is over. The Bills are doubling down on the youth movement.
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If you're looking to track the progress of this group, keep an eye on three things:
- Shakir’s Volume: Can he handle 110+ targets without his efficiency dropping?
- Coleman’s Route Running: He has the size, but he needs to create more consistent separation to be a true #1.
- The New Additions: Beane is never done. Whether it’s through the draft or another trade, the "Everybody Eats" era is evolving into something a bit more structured.
The days of Stefon Diggs are long gone, and honestly, the Bills look more dangerous because of it. They traded a superstar for a system, and in 2024, the system proved it could eat.
Actionable Next Steps:
To see how this transition affected the bottom line, compare the Bills' 2023 "Success Rate" on third downs versus 2024. You'll find that while the "explosive" plays slightly dipped, the "consistency" metrics surged, proving that the move toward a diverse receiver room was a strategic success rather than a talent loss. Keep a close watch on the 2026 training camp reports to see if Keon Coleman takes the projected "Year 2 Leap" that usually defines a franchise receiver.