The narrative surrounding the Buffalo Bills’ 2025 NFL Draft has been dominated by one recurring critique: the team failed to provide quarterback Josh Allen, the 2024 NFL MVP, with a marquee wide receiver to bolster the offense. Fans and analysts alike have pointed to the Bills’ decision to prioritize defense—selecting cornerback Maxwell Hairston in Round 1 and defensive tackle TJ Sanders in Round 2—while waiting until the seventh round to draft a receiver. The departure of Amari Cooper looms large, and the Bills’ receiving corps, led by Khalil Shakir and Curtis Samuel, lacks the star power of other AFC contenders like the Kansas City Chiefs. But is this criticism overblown? Does Josh Allen really need a superstar wide receiver to lead the Bills to a Super Bowl? The evidence suggests otherwise. With Allen’s generational talent and the innovative offensive system under head coach Sean McDermott, the Bills can thrive without a traditional WR1.
Josh Allen: A One-Man Offense
Josh Allen’s 2024 season was nothing short of spectacular. He led the Bills to a 30.9 points-per-game average, ranking third in the NFL behind only the Chiefs and Ravens. Allen threw for 4,306 yards, 34 touchdowns, and just 6 interceptions, while adding 592 rushing yards and 8 rushing touchdowns. His ability to extend plays, make off-platform throws, and turn broken plays into chunk gains is unmatched. Unlike quarterbacks who rely on elite receivers to create separation, Allen elevates those around him. Khalil Shakir, a 2020 fifth-round pick, emerged as a reliable target with 66 receptions for 803 yards in 2024, largely due to Allen’s pinpoint accuracy and trust in his receivers.
Allen’s versatility allows offensive coordinator Joe Brady to scheme around the quarterback’s strengths rather than the personnel at wide receiver. For example, the Bills frequently used 12-personnel sets (two tight ends) in 2024, with Dalton Kincaid and Dawson Knox combining for 92 receptions and 1,104 yards. This approach maximizes Allen’s ability to exploit mismatches, whether through play-action passes or designed runs. Allen’s dual-threat nature forces defenses to account for both his arm and legs, creating opportunities for less heralded receivers like Curtis Samuel, who recorded 45 catches for 620 yards and 4 touchdowns despite being the WR2.
Sean McDermott’s System: Flexibility Over Star Power
Sean McDermott’s offensive philosophy, executed through Joe Brady, emphasizes adaptability and balance. The Bills’ 2024 offensive output—30.9 points per game, 375.2 total yards per game, and a 66.7% red-zone touchdown rate—demonstrates that the system doesn’t require a superstar receiver to succeed. Unlike teams like the Chiefs, who leaned on rookie Xavier Worthy’s speed in 2024, or the Bengals, who rely on Ja’Marr Chase’s dominance, the Bills distribute targets across multiple players. In 2024, five players (Shakir, Kincaid, Knox, Samuel, and RB James Cook) each had at least 40 receptions, ensuring defenses couldn’t key in on one target.
This approach mirrors the New England Patriots’ dynasty under Tom Brady, where role players like Wes Welker and Julian Edelman thrived in a system that prioritized scheme over individual talent. The Bills’ 2024 success against top defenses—scoring 34 points against the Ravens and 27 against the Chiefs in regular-season matchups—shows that McDermott’s system can exploit even the league’s best secondaries without a true WR1. By investing in the offensive line (e.g., sixth-round pick Chase Lundt) and maintaining a strong running game (James Cook’s 1,104 rushing yards in 2024), the Bills create a balanced attack that doesn’t hinge on a single receiver.
The Myth of the Missing WR1
Critics argue that the Bills’ lack of a superstar receiver cost them in the 2024 playoffs, where they fell to the Chiefs for the fourth time in five years. However, a closer look at the game reveals that the loss was due to defensive lapses and special teams miscues, not offensive shortcomings. Allen threw for 287 yards and 2 touchdowns in that 34-27 defeat, with Shakir and Kincaid combining for 11 receptions and 156 yards. The Bills’ offense held its own; it was the defense’s inability to stop Patrick Mahomes that proved decisive.
Historical data further debunks the notion that a WR1 is essential for a Super Bowl run. Since 2000, only 40% of Super Bowl-winning teams had a receiver with 1,000+ yards in the regular season. Teams like the 2015 Denver Broncos (with a declining Peyton Manning) and the 2020 Tampa Bay Buccaneers (with a deep but not dominant receiving corps) won titles by leaning on elite quarterback play and balanced offenses. Allen, at 28 years old and in his prime, is far more dynamic than Manning was in 2015, and the Bills’ offense is more cohesive than Tampa’s was before Tom Brady’s arrival.
The Draft Choices: A Long-Term Vision
The Bills’ 2025 draft choices reflect a belief in Allen’s ability to carry the offense while addressing other roster needs. Selecting Maxwell Hairston in Round 1 strengthens a secondary that allowed 7.1 yards per attempt in 2024, a critical move against pass-heavy AFC rivals like the Chiefs and Bengals. TJ Sanders, despite being seen as a reach at pick 41, adds depth to a defensive line that struggled with injuries last season. These moves suggest GM Brandon Beane is building a roster to win now and in the future, trusting Allen to maximize the offense regardless of who’s catching his passes.
The seventh-round selection of a wide receiver isn’t as damning as critics claim. Late-round receivers like Puka Nacua (Rams, 2023) and Tank Dell (Texans, 2023) have recently emerged as impact players, and the Bills have a history of developing undervalued talent (e.g., Shakir). With Allen’s ability to make any receiver look good, a Day 3 pick could become a contributor by midseason.
The Bigger Picture: Allen’s Legacy
The obsession with giving Josh Allen a superstar receiver overlooks the bigger picture: his legacy as one of the NFL’s greatest quarterbacks. Allen doesn’t need a Tyreek Hill or Justin Jefferson to cement his place in history. His ability to win games with his arm, legs, and football IQ sets him apart. If anything, the lack of a WR1 only enhances his case as a transcendent talent. Imagine the narrative if Allen leads the Bills to a Super Bowl with a receiving corps of Shakir, Samuel, and Kincaid: it would be a testament to his greatness, not a flaw in the roster.
Conclusion
The Buffalo Bills’ 2025 draft may not have delivered the splashy wide receiver fans craved, but that doesn’t mean Josh Allen is set up to fail. His 2024 performance—30.9 points per game, 34 touchdowns, and an MVP award—proves he can dominate without a superstar at wideout. Sean McDermott’s flexible offensive system, combined with a balanced roster, gives the Bills the tools to compete with the AFC’s elite. Rather than fixating on what the Bills don’t have, it’s time to appreciate what they do: a generational quarterback capable of rewriting the franchise’s history, with or without a WR1. The question isn’t whether Allen needs more weapons—it’s whether any defense can stop him.