Last week, the Buffalo Bills suffered an injury to wide receiver Khalil Shakir. The 25-year-old playmaker has been listed week-to-week with an ankle sprain. It does feel like Shakir will be back for the Week 1 game against the Baltimore Ravens, but the team could hold him out if he’s not ready.
Buffalo Should Look For A WR
With all the injuries going on with the Bills, they could add a few more players to the roster. Buffalo is looking to reach the Super Bowl, and adding another playmaker could put them over the top.
There aren’t many free-agent receivers available, with Amari Cooper being the best on the open market. Cooper was traded to the Bills last October by the Cleveland Browns and failed to produce, failing to gain 300 receiving yards.
If the Bills were going to bring Cooper back, they would have done so by now. So Buffalo might have to look into the trade market. Kristopher Knox from Bleacher Report published one player every team should put on a trade block, and has the Carolina Panthers putting wide receiver Adam Thielen on it.
“With quarterback Bryce Young entering a pivotal third season, the idea of the Carolina Panthers trading top wide receiver Adam Thielen might seem unwise. However, there are a few reasons why they should consider doing it. Yes, Thielen led all Panthers pass-catchers in receiving yards last season, logging 615 in 10 games. However, he’ll also turn 35 later this month and will be a free agent in 2026. His experience and talent can help Young’s development, but he has little long-term value for Carolina.
The Panthers should have themselves a new No. 1 receiver in rookie first-round pick Tetairoa McMillan,” Knox wrote. “While trading Thielen might immediately hurt the offense, it would also open up opportunities for young pass-catchers like McMillan, fellow rookie Jimmy Horn Jr., and Xavier Legette. Thielen can still produce at a high level, and he might net Carolina a fairly valuable return from a playoff hopeful in need of receiver depth.”
Bills Could Trade For Thielen
The Bills could be in any possible trade for Thielen, and David Latham from Last Word On Sports lists Buffalo as the top trade destination.
“The Buffalo Bills have arguably the game’s best quarterback in Josh Allen, and his presence alone ensures this team will have an elite offense. However, they could use more security at the wide receiver position. The jury is still out on second-round pick Keon Coleman, and while slot receiver Khalil Shakir is a solid player, he shouldn’t be the only proven threat on the roster,” Latham wrote. “Adam Thielen may not be a 1,300-yard player at this stage in his career, but he’s more reliable than free agent journeyman Joshua Palmer.”
Thielen has been a two-time Pro Bowler in his 11-year career, but his latest appearance came back in 2018. In 162 games, Thielen has recorded 8,311 receiving yards and 64 scores. Thielen will turn 35 in the next two weeks, so this could be one of his last NFL seasons.
With the Panthers going nowhere this year, the team should trade Thielen to a contender. The Bills should be all over him if the team decides to move him.
Bills Could Trade For 8,311-Yard WR to Help The Offense