The Buffalo Bills face a difficult decision at wide receiver as the NFL’s final roster cutdown deadline draws near.
Competition remains intense for the last few spots in the group’s depth chart. Two experienced players with proven special teams skills appear locked in a head-to-head fight for one of those openings.
An NFL insider has projected that former Kansas City Chiefs standout Mecole Hardman will not make the cut. USA Today reporter Nick Wojton released his forecast for the Bills’ 53-man roster and left Hardman off the list.
Hardman brings an impressive resume that includes three Super Bowl titles earned during his time with the Chiefs. The Bills added him late last season, and he delivered useful contributions before injuries sidelined him for a period.
He managed to appear in just two regular-season contests for Buffalo. Hardman returned in time for the team’s divisional-round playoff matchup against the Denver Broncos and hauled in a four-yard touchdown reception during that contest.
Wojton expects the Bills to carry only six wide receivers into the regular season. That number sits on the lower end of recent history for the franchise, which has sometimes kept as few as five.
His projected group starts with newcomer D.J. Moore at the top. Keon Coleman, Khalil Shakir, Joshua Palmer, Trent Sherfield and rookie Skyler Bell round out the rest of the unit in Wojton’s view.
Palmer improved his standing significantly with a solid performance against the Cleveland Browns in the most recent preseason game. That outing helped push him firmly onto the projected roster side of the bubble.
“In the past, the Bills have taken just five receivers on their roster, but could that change under Brady? Sherfield sneaks on here after a strong game against the Browns,” Wojton wrote.
Sherfield is back with the Bills after previously spending the 2022 campaign in Buffalo. His offensive opportunities that year were limited, and he finished with only one touchdown catch.
This training camp has highlighted his value on special teams coverage units. Sherfield also demonstrated reliable hands on offense by securing all four of his targets for 54 yards against Cleveland.
Quarterback Josh Allen offered strong public support for the veteran receiver.
“Trent’s always been great,” Allen said. “I think everyone in this building has a lot of trust in Trent, and he just gets open, makes contested catches. I feel great throwing him the ball. I know he’s going to protect it, and it’s just hard work, man. So, it’s awesome to see him have success.”
Sherfield has grown to accept the importance of special teams work later in his career. He explained that he did not begin contributing regularly on those units until recent seasons but now understands how the role helps secure a roster spot.
“I think as I gotten older in my career, I realized that you know embracing both will create longevity for me,” Sherfield said. “And so, it wasn’t until even when I was in Minnesota in ’24 where I was really like, ‘You know what? Let me really embrace this. Let me really embrace what it means to be a blocker and receiver, special-teams guy and being able to fill in on all three spots.’”
The Bills must finalize their roster decisions in the coming days. Hardman’s Super Bowl pedigree and late-season contributions last year will make any potential release a notable move for the organization.
Sherfield’s recent production and versatility appear to have given him the edge in the current projection. Both players have shown they can help in multiple phases of the game, which remains a priority for coaches evaluating the final cuts.
Buffalo’s coaching staff will weigh experience, special teams reliability and recent preseason form as they shape the wide receiver group. The final 53-man roster will reveal whether Hardman remains with the team or seeks an opportunity elsewhere.
