The Buffalo Bills are signing wide receiver and return specialist Laviska Shenault Jr., according to a report from Tom Pelissero. Many fans may remember Shenault as a popular name linked to the Bills ahead of the 2020 NFL Draft.
Buffalo will be the fifth team to roster Shenault as he enters his sixth NFL season. His career hasn’t unfolded as expected for the former Colorado standout. Selected 42nd overall in the second round by the Jacksonville Jaguars, Shenault initially showed promise, starting 22 of 30 games over two seasons. He recorded 121 catches on 179 targets for 1,219 yards and five touchdowns (all scored in his rookie year), while also adding 29 rushes for 132 yards.
After the 2021 season, the Jaguars traded Shenault to the Carolina Panthers, who were going through significant roster changes at the time. During his two years there, his production dropped to just 37 receptions for 332 yards and one touchdown, along with 21 carries for 120 yards and another touchdown.
In 2024, Shenault had brief stints with the Seahawks and Chargers but was not a major offensive contributor. However, he remained valuable as a return specialist, primarily handling kick returns since his time in Carolina. Across his career, he has accumulated 708 yards on 25 kick returns, including two touchdowns and a career-long 97-yard return. His best season as a returner came in 2024, when he returned 16 kickoffs for 459 yards, including that 97-yard touchdown.
Many Bills fans will be curious about Shenault’s playing style—whether he is a deep-threat speedster or a physical receiver who wins contested catches. His pre-draft measurements suggest the latter: 6’5/8”, 227 pounds, with a 4.58-second 40-yard dash, 1.61-second 10-yard split, and 2.67-second 20-yard split.
So, why did general manager Brandon Beane sign Shenault? With 90 roster spots available (91 with the International Player Pathway Program), the Bills currently have fewer than 70 players under contract. This signing could be a low-risk move to see if Shenault can recapture the form he showed in Jacksonville.
There’s no indication that Buffalo plans to replace Brandon Codrington as its primary return specialist, but Shenault’s experience as both a receiver and returner makes him an intriguing addition. Rather than replacing key players, this move seems to be about providing an opportunity—for both the Bills and Shenault—to see if he can carve out a role on the team.
What do you think about the Bills bringing in Shenault this offseason?
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