Bills Bolster WR Depth Chart with Signing of Veteran Kristian Wilkerson Ahead of Minicamp
As the Buffalo Bills prepare to enter the mandatory stage of their offseason program, the front office made another strategic move to enhance competition in a deepening wide receiver room. On May 20, the team announced the signing of 28-year-old veteran Kristian Wilkerson, a move that adds both experience and versatility as preparations ramp up for training camp.
Wilkerson, who began his NFL career as an undrafted free agent with the Tennessee Titans in 2020, brings with him a modest but meaningful level of professional experience. Most recently with the Las Vegas Raiders, Wilkerson saw action in three games during the 2024 season, logging three receptions for 18 yards and a touchdown. Though his stats may not jump off the page, his presence in multiple NFL systems—including a brief standout performance with the New England Patriots in 2021—gives him a leg up in the battle for depth roles in Buffalo’s competitive WR corps.
In his brief tenure with the Patriots, Wilkerson made headlines during a 2021 late-season matchup, hauling in two touchdown receptions from Mac Jones in a lopsided victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars. That outing put him on the radar of several teams as a potential red zone option and special teams contributor.
The Bills, who have undergone a considerable reshaping of their wide receiver group in recent months, continue to test various combinations following the departure of Gabe Davis and the blockbuster trade that sent Stefon Diggs to the Houston Texans. With those significant changes, the Bills have turned to a mix of proven veterans and promising young talent to fill the void.
This offseason alone, Buffalo has acquired a trio of experienced receivers—Joshua Palmer, Elijah Moore, and Laviska Shenault—all of whom are expected to contend for active roster spots. They join returning talent including Khalil Shakir, who emerged as a breakout performer in 2024, and Keon Coleman, a second-year wideout the team hopes will rebound after an inconsistent rookie campaign marred by injury.
To make room for Wilkerson on the 90-man roster, the Bills released undrafted rookie Hal Presley III, who had not yet practiced with the team. The move underlines the team’s desire to prioritize readiness and proven ability over raw potential during this crucial evaluation period.
Beyond the veterans, the Bills have also looked to the draft and undrafted free agency to inject fresh energy into the receiver room. Although the team did not use early draft capital on a wideout, they selected Kaden Prather in the seventh round and added intriguing undrafted rookies Kelly Akharaiyi and Stephen Gosnell.
Prather, a big-bodied target from West Virginia, admitted the long draft wait tested his patience, but landing with the Bills felt like a blessing in disguise.
“By the time the seventh round came, I didn’t know where my head was,” Prather told The Buffalo News. “But once the Bills called me, I was just grateful for the opportunity. Being around Josh Allen and just the whole Bills organization—Buffalo bleeds football. It’s a family environment. This whole process has been nothing but great.”
As mandatory minicamp approaches, competition will intensify, and roster battles—especially at wide receiver—will be closely monitored. For Wilkerson, this signing marks yet another opportunity to prove he belongs on an NFL roster. For the Bills, it’s another low-risk, potentially high-reward signing aimed at fortifying one of the team’s most fluid and pivotal position groups.
With Josh Allen at the helm and a wide-open WR depth chart, the addition of a veteran like Wilkerson reinforces the Bills’ commitment to exploring every avenue in pursuit of offensive consistency and roster versatility.
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