The Buffalo Bills have had an active offseason, particularly at the wide receiver position, bolstering their roster with veteran depth. However, one standout name, Laviska Shenault, is at risk of being left off the final 53-man roster. This is not mere speculation but a prediction backed by multiple credible sources in the football media.
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The Battle for Receiver Spots
While the Bills didn’t land a true No. 1 receiver this offseason, they brought in three experienced veterans: Laviska Shenault, Joshua Palmer, and Elijah Moore. This trio is expected to compete fiercely for the final two spots on the depth chart. According to Nick Sabato of the Niagara Gazette, Shenault is likely to be the odd man out.
Sabato predicts that the Bills will carry only five receivers on the active roster, fewer than in recent seasons. Players like Khalil Shakir, Curtis Samuel, and Keon Coleman are considered locks. This leaves Shenault, Palmer, and Moore battling for the remaining two spots. Sabato suggests that keeping just five receivers, instead of six, would allow the Bills to allocate an extra roster spot to the cornerback position—a clear area of need following Rasul Douglas’ departure to free agency.
“The Bills taking five receivers without special teams value is unusual, but it makes room for an extra cornerback,” Sabato wrote.
Shenault’s Special Teams Value
Despite being undervalued as a pure receiver, Shenault still has a chance to secure a spot due to his exceptional ability as a returner. Last season with the Seattle Seahawks, Shenault handled 16 kickoff returns, averaging 28.7 yards per return and scoring one touchdown—an impressive stat line. This is particularly relevant given the NFL’s recent rule changes encouraging more kickoff returns.
Sal Capaccio of WGR 550 believes the Bills’ decision to sign Shenault may be directly tied to these rule changes. Head coach Sean McDermott, a member of the NFL’s competition committee, likely anticipated this shift and saw Shenault as a strategic asset.
“My assessment of the Bills’ Laviska Shenault signing: I think it has a lot to do with the possibility of touchbacks on kickoffs being moved to the 35,” Capaccio shared on X. “Sean McDermott is on the competition committee. He knows this could be happening (not a certainty).”
However, Sal Maiorana of the Democrat & Chronicle argues that Shenault’s receiving skills alone may not be enough to secure a roster spot, especially with the addition of Elijah Moore, who is considered a stronger candidate. Maiorana notes that Shenault’s only path to staying with the team may be through dominating the kickoff return role and contributing in other special teams capacities.
“The Moore signing might push Shenault off the roster unless he can definitively win the kickoff return job and contribute elsewhere on special teams,” Maiorana wrote.
Shenault’s Future and Roster Plans
Beyond Shenault, Sabato predicts the Bills will retain two practice squad players from last season, Tyrell Shavers and Jalen Virgil, while adding rookie Kaden Prather to the practice squad. These moves suggest the Bills are building a flexible roster, prioritizing depth at weaker positions like cornerback while maintaining competition among receivers.
Despite being a fan favorite for his hard-nosed playing style and versatility, Laviska Shenault faces a challenging summer. If he fails to showcase his special teams value or outshine Palmer and Moore in training camp, he may need to find a new home.
The question remains: Can Shenault capitalize on the new kickoff rules to prove his worth? Or will he become a casualty of the Bills’ roster cuts? Only time and the upcoming training camp will tell.