At the NFL Combine at the end of February, Bills head coach Sean McDermott spoke about adding speed to stretch the field, and adding speed to the wide receiver room.
“I am a believer in that speed, stretching the field not just vertically, but horizontally and vertically, I think it just opens up a defense,” McDermott said.
McDermott went on to say that speed does not always mean throwing the ball down the field. Speed can mean taking a short pass and providing run-after-catch yards. It’s an attribute on his mind as the Bills navigate the offseason and roster building for the 2025 season.
Part of the solution: signing WR Joshua Palmer.
Palmer previously spent the first four years of his career playing for the Los Angeles Chargers and during his time there caught 182 catches for 2,287 yards and 10 touchdowns. The most impressive stat: over the last two seasons, he averaged more than 15 yards per catch.
Now the receiver will enter a wide receiver room with Keon Coleman, Khalil Shakir and Curtis Samuel that will look to make more plays.
“Coach Brady was telling me, in this offense ‘everybody eats,’ and I’m excited to see how that unfolds,” Palmer said. “They say a lot of selflessness on this team so that will be great to be a part of as well.”
A new WR for the MVP.
Welcome to Buffalo, Joshua! #BillsMafia pic.twitter.com/uCZLW7Soke
— Buffalo Bills (@BuffaloBills) March 13, 2025
Palmer grew up in Toronto, Ontario, Canada and said that coming to Buffalo is like a homecoming for him.
“I would like to say it’s like a homecoming,” Palmer said with a smile on his face. “I feel like I just signed with the Canadian team. It’s awesome. A lot closer to home. I feel like everything is just coming full circle.”
He said that the distance to his family made the decision easier and learning about Bills Mafia is something that he is looking forward to.
“It made it very easy,” Palmer said. “I’m extremely thankful for what I’m learning is the Bills Mafia. I’m sure they’re a terrific fan base that I’m glad to be a part of.”
He added that he heard how close this team was and that added to his decision, along with being close to his own family.
“The message I’ve been getting since I’ve been here is how supportive the community is, how supportive the team is, how tight the team is. So, it’s like, I’ll be with two families,” Palmer said.
Palmer said that his strengths as a wide receiver are that he can run the entire route tree and can play both inside and outside.
“I take a lot of pride in being able to run the entire route tree, being able to be outside and inside the ability to stop the ability to go deep, the ability to win in different situations,” he shared.
When asked where he saw his primary position as a receiver his answer was, “I play receiver.”
“I played wherever (The Chargers) needed me to play,” Palmer said.
He said that he still has a lot of room left to grow as a football player and that he may not have even scratched the surface yet.
“I know I haven’t even, maybe I’ve scratched the surface but I think being here, they’ll be able to exploit my strengths and I’ll be able to prove to them and myself that this is the reason you guys want me here and this is the reason I want to be here, with the passion and the dedication and the way I prepare,” Palmer said. “I feel I have a lot more to grow and hopefully I can be here for a long time to do that.”
Palmer said that he envisions an opportunity with this offense and that there are guys on this team that will force him to elevate his game and hopes that he can do the same for them.
“I think if we’re all bought in to wanting to be better and making other people better, then I can only imagine the offense will be better,” Palmer said. “I’m excited to see how it’s going to happen because the biggest thing for me is I wanted to be a part of a team that wanted me. Whoever wants me, I want them back. So that’s how I’m approaching this and I’m ready to get it going.”
Palmer has been known as a game-breaker and has put an emphasis on getting separation at the top of his breaks. He said that he has grown a lot in that area, and that his job is to make plays for QB Josh Allen.
“I want to be the best at it, to make, to make Josh’s life a lot easier,” Palmer said.
almer will be joining former Los Angeles Chargers teammate Joey Bosa with the Bills. Palmer played high school football with Joey’s younger brother Nick and has spent his entire career playing with Joey.
“I played with Nick Bosa my junior year,” Palmer said. “He was a senior. It was funny because I played with Nick and then went to the Chargers and played with Joey. And now we go to different teams, and I’m still with Joey. So, the Bosa’s and the Palmer’s are fairly tight.”
He said after playing with QB Justin Herbert, he is excited to get to work with Allen.
“I’ve been blessed,” Palmer said. “Playing with Herbo has gotten me to this point. And now I’m blessed enough to play with Josh Allen, so I’m excited to get to work… You can imagine the excitement to see what it’s gonna be like to play with Josh and to play with his team, this organization.”