Free agency preview: Wide receivers could keep teams busy
For the Buffalo Bills, the position is always in the conversation. While the team already made headway this offseason by trading with the Chicago Bears for DJ Moore, unsettled fans still will clamor for more.
Editor's note: This is the sixth of 11 stories previewing the start of NFL free agency on March 11.
The wide receiver landscape has changed a bit leading up to free agency.
For the Buffalo Bills, the position is always in the conversation. While the team already made headway this offseason by trading with the Chicago Bears for DJ Moore, unsettled fans still will clamor for more.
After all, the Bills have Josh Allen, and they should do anything and everything they can (within the constraints of the NFL) to bolster their star quarterback.
Of course, that’s where reality sets in. Premier wide receivers don’t just hit free agency without a hefty price tag. Bills general manager Brandon Beane often talks about the finances behind bringing in stars and how not everyone can get paid. While there are ways to manipulate the salary cap, some players have simply outpriced themselves.
Around the league, there are some intriguing options for teams looking to build up their receiver room, and it could be an active free agency for the position.
Colts receiver Alec Pierce is likely to lead the way after Indianapolis did not use the franchise tag on him. Veterans like Mike Evans, DeAndre Hopkins, and Keenan Allen represent more experienced options, where teams know what to expect, even if that’s a slight dip in production with age. On the younger side, Romeo Doubs and Wan’Dale Robinson are looking for new contracts.
Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Alec Pierce, right, catches a touchdown pass against San Francisco 49ers safety Ji'Ayir Brown on Dec. 22, 2025, in Indianapolis.
Carolyn Kaster, Associated Press
Former Bills wide receiver Stefon Diggs is a free agent again after he was released by the Patriots earlier this week. Diggs will be looking for his fourth team in four years after finishing runner-up in the Super Bowl. While a reunion in Buffalo doesn’t seem likely, Diggs showed this past season that he can still make an impact on the field.
In-house: Brandin Cooks is the leading name of in-house options to bring back. While the veteran receiver joined midway through last season, he quickly built a relationship with Allen and a reputation as a leader, even in a short amount of time in the locker room. Drops were an issue, but Cooks is ready to avenge how the season ended. Gabe Davis’ ill-timed knee injury means he likely won’t land with a team until midseason. How will he look coming off a second major injury? Kristian Wilkerson is the remaining free agent for the Bills, and he could return to the practice squad again.
Top of the heap: Pierce, Evans, Jauan Jennings. Pierce’s deep threat will be coveted around the league. His 21.3 yards per reception led the NFL last season. Evans had the first season of his career where he did not reach 1,000 receiving yards due to an injury. He’s eager for a comeback, and while Tampa Bay could get nostalgic, there has yet to be a move. Jennings’ physicality helps him in the red zone as a pass catcher and as a blocker all over the field. Seven of his nine touchdowns last season came inside the 20-yard line.
Names to know: Doubs, Rashid Shaheed, Christian Kirk. Doubs is a reliable route runner who saw an expanded role in Green Bay last year. Doubs turns 26 in April, and he had been linked to the Bills in various reports prior to the Moore trade. Shaheed is coming off a Super Bowl after joining the Seahawks at the trade deadline. He had punt and kick-return touchdowns for the Seahawks after arriving, on top of being an explosive receiver. Kirk, who once set the free agent market for wide receivers, gets a nod for his close relationship with Allen. He’s coming off an injury-marred few years, but he can still get separation.
Under the radar: Hollywood Brown. He’s well removed from his lone 1,000-yard receiving season, his last year with Baltimore in 2021. Injuries have been an issue for Brown, and he’s not intended to be a top receiver, but he stretches the field in a way worth considering for a team that already has No. 1 and No. 2 receivers.