A year after restructuring the veteran foundation of his team, Buffalo Bills General Manager Brandon Beane has begun paving the way for the future by signing receiver Khalil Shakir to a four-year contract extension on Tuesday. This new agreement ensures the third-year player will remain with the team through the 2029 season.
The financial terms of the deal remain undisclosed by the team, yet a source familiar with the matter revealed the contract could reach a value of up to $60.2 million, including $32 million guaranteed. The source spoke anonymously as the Bills did not publicly release these figures.
Shakir, who still has a year left on his initial rookie contract, represents the first of several promising young players the Bills aim to secure with extensions before their contracts conclude post-2025 season. This group also includes linebacker Terrel Bernard, cornerback Christian Benford, running back James Cook, and edge rusher Greg Rousseau.
Beane faces a significant challenge in juggling the limited salary cap space available to the Bills. He must cater to both immediate offseason needs and ensure there is ample room to retain critical players for the next season.
Despite their status as five-time AFC East champions, the Bills continue to struggle with salary cap constraints this offseason. This comes even after last year’s significant roster overhaul, which included parting with six of their eight team captains. The NFL projects a salary cap range of $277.5 million to $281.5 million for the 2025 season, adding to these constraints.
During the NFL combine in Indianapolis, Beane commented on the ongoing discussions: “We’re balancing all of that while having conversations, and some of the conversations haven’t started yet.”
Prioritizing Shakir’s contract marks the importance Beane places on securing a budding team leader who has become a favorite target for quarterback Josh Allen. “You’d be hard-pressed to find anyone, fans, players, anyone in our building to say anything negative about Khalil and what he’s brought,” Beane stated.
He continued, “The guy is a true lunch pail Buffalonian. He just shows up every single day, he’s Mr. Dependable, and when the ball’s thrown his way, he usually comes down with it.”
During the last season, the 25-year-old Shakir achieved career highs with 76 receptions and 821 yards, along with four touchdowns, stepping up after the team traded Stefon Diggs to Houston. Throughout his career, Shakir has accumulated 125 catches for 1,593 yards and seven touchdowns over 46 games, which includes 21 starts.
As a fifth-round pick from Boise State, Shakir took on a leadership role among a diverse receiving group consisting of several new faces and experienced players like Curtis Samuel, Mack Hollins, Amari Cooper, and rookie Keon Coleman. The offense’s inclusive approach helped the Bills reach the AFC Championship game, though they ultimately fell to Kansas City.
Beane noted it was too early to predict steps for creating cap space before the league year starts next month. This includes decisions surrounding veteran edge rusher Von Miller, whose release could free up nearly $18 million in cap space.
Beane mentioned that Miller previously accepted a substantial pay cut to restructure his contract last year and didn’t rule out such a move happening again.
An alternative could involve extending Allen’s contract to spread his cap hit over a longer period, given that the quarterback’s current deal still has four years remaining, counting for nearly $48 million against the salary cap in 2025.
Beane specifically addressed running back James Cook, mentioning his recent public demands for a “$15 mill year” via social media, stating, “I love James. James is a beautiful man,” adding that contract talks are kept out of the public eye. “Just because we’re not on the same page today doesn’t mean we wouldn’t be tomorrow, in two weeks, two months, two years.”
