Bills Predicted to Pull Off ‘A Little Magic’ By Trading $24 Million WR

The Buffalo Bills signed veteran wide receiver Curtis Samuel last year with the hopes of adding some speed and versatility to the offense, but he has struggled with injuries and made only a limited impact on the field.

Samuel could now face a roster crunch, with one insider suggesting he could become trade bait before the end of the summer. Reporter Jay Skurski of the Buffalo News suggested that the Bills will ship Samuel to a new home rather than cut him, paving the way for a longtime practice squad receiver to earn a spot on the 53-man roster.

Bills Need to Pull Off ‘Magic’ With Curtis Samuel

Skurski suggested that the Bills could stick with Khalil Shakir and Keon Coleman at the top of the depth chart, adding veteran receivers Elijah Moore and Joshua Palmer below them on the depth chart. The final spots on the roster go to veteran Lavishka Shenault and preseason standout Tyrell Shavers.

Skurski predicted that the Bills would cut Samuel, though they may need some help in getting the deal finished.

“We’re counting on general manager Brandon Beane to work a little magic here by trading Samuel,” Skurski wrote. “There doesn’t figure to be a robust market for a wide receiver coming off a down season who hasn’t been able to practice much this summer, so perhaps Beane will have to attach a draft-pick sweetener – think something like Samuel and a fifth-round pick in exchange for a sixth-round pick – but freeing up $7.34 million against the cap would be worth it.”

Skurski noted that Samuel has been dealing with injuries through training camp and the first two preseason games and has been surpassed on the depth chart.

“The team should do anything it can to move him,” Skurski wrote. “Shavers and Shenault make the roster for now based on their ability to play special teams, which is a factor for any receiver near the bottom of the depth chart. Shenault is the primary returner in this projection.”

Samuel had a limited impact last season, making just 31 receptions for 253 yards and one touchdown.

Tyrell Shavers Continues to Shine

The Bills could feel more comfortable in moving Samuel thanks to the fast rise of Shavers, who spent most of the last season on the practice squad. He did shine in limited action, catching his only target of the season and racing 69 yards for a touchdown in a blowout Week 17 win over the New York Jets.

Shavers was one of the few bright points in the team’s 38-0 preseason loss to the Chicago Bears on Sunday, with The Athletic’s Joe Buscaglia writing that he had the best night of anyone on the team.

“This time last year, in the second preseason game, Shavers went from having a strong camp and pushing to make the roster to having a disappointing showing in the contest to lose ground in the roster race,” Buscaglia wrote. “This year, the opposite is true, as Shavers has put together his best case to make the team since joining the Bills as an undrafted rookie in 2023.”

Shavers also made some strong plays on special teams, which could add to his value to the final roster.