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The Buffalo Bills had a solid NFL Draft, addressing both sides of the ball with their first four picks. Rookie cornerback Kaiir Elam brings some much-needed depth on the outside, suddenly giving an already-strong secondary a chance to be perhaps the league's stingiest in 2022.
Running back James Cook figures to be another weapon for star quarterback Josh Allen, who already fields one of the better arsenals of pass-catchers and playmakers in the NFL. Both Elam and Cook are likely going to play a heavy amount of snaps in year one, making their roles easier to predict.
However, which Bills rookie will unexpectedly make an impact? Could it be punter Matt Araiza, nicknamed the Punt God for his booming kicks that often traveled as far as 70-plus yards? Or what about speedy linebacker Terrel Bernard? While each of those players have promising futures, they're not the Bills' rookie sleeper that will have the biggest impact in the 2022 NFL season.
This late-round pick will surprise some in 2022.
Bills Rookie Sleeper For 2022 NFL Season
The Bills' rookie sleeper in the 2022 NFL season is wide receiver Khalil Shakir. Buffalo traded up for the right to draft Shakir, who was thought to be worthy of a third-round pick by some pundits. The Boise State product played four seasons at the college level, breaking out in 2021 as a senior.
Shakir finished third in the Mountain West Conference with 1,117 receiving yards while placing inside the top-five in receptions and touchdown catches. The 6-foot, 190-pound wideout lined up out wide, in the slot and in the backfield for Boise State, showing some elite quickness at the line of scrimmage and an ability to create separation as a route runner.
Those are qualities that should make him useful for the Bills' passing attack, which ranked ninth in the NFL in yards per game through the air. However, that same offense lost a key contributor in slot receiver Cole Beasley, who was released by the team back in March.
Beasley, who is still a free agent at the time of print, tallied 82 receptions in each of his last two seasons in Buffalo, exceeding the 750-yard mark in two of his three seasons with the team.
While not at the level of Stefon Diggs or Emmanuel Sanders, who enjoyed a solid season in 2021 but also won't be back, it's clear that Beasley was an important piece of the puzzle for Buffalo.
The team signed free agent Jamison Crowder to man the slot- and the likes of playoff hero Gabriel Davis and Isaiah McKenzie should also be involved.
However, there's an opportunity for Shakir to make an immediate impact in year one. The fifth-rounder's shifty route running ability and dependable hands could quickly earn him playing time in the slot, where he projects best because of his size.
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That's an area where the Bills just so happen to have a need. Crowder figures to get the majority of the snaps on the inside, though he's failed to play a full season in each of the last two years. If Crowder falters or is injured, Shakir could immediately step in as a contributor.
While Shakir has admitted that he still has much to learn after rookie minicamp, he also flashed some of the abilities that made the Bills look his way on draft night.
If he can wow at training camp and in the preseason, Shakir could be a big-time playmaker in year one for the Bills.
