The Buffalo Bills have made a minor yet strategic roster adjustment at the wide receiver position, signing veteran Kristian Wilkerson to a one-year deal earlier this week. In a corresponding move, the team released undrafted rookie Hal Presley III, who had only recently joined the club following the 2025 NFL Draft.
Wilkerson, 28, originally entered the NFL in 2020 as an undrafted free agent with the Tennessee Titans and has since spent time with several teams, including the New England Patriots and most recently the Las Vegas Raiders. During his stint in the NFL, he has appeared in six games, recording six catches for 60 yards and one touchdown. He played three games last season for the Raiders.
The terms of his contract reflect a low-risk investment by Buffalo. Wilkerson signed for the league minimum salary of $1.1 million with no guaranteed money or signing bonus. As a result, the signing barely nudges the Bills’ cap space, adding roughly $200,000 to their offseason salary commitments and pushing Jordan Hancock out of the top 51 salaries.
Wilkerson brings athletic upside, standing 6-foot-1 and weighing 200 pounds, with a 4.46-second 40-yard dash and a 39.5-inch vertical leap from his pro day. However, despite these measurables, he faces an uphill battle to earn a roster spot, given the depth and competition already present in Buffalo’s wide receiver room.
Buffalo’s current wide receiver group is crowded and competitive. It features names like Khalil Shakir, Keon Coleman, Joshua Palmer, Elijah Moore, Curtis Samuel, Laviska Shenault Jr., KJ Hamler, and several others. Wilkerson will likely need a standout preseason to secure a role, possibly on the practice squad.
Ultimately, the addition of Wilkerson gives the Bills another experienced body for training camp and preseason evaluations. If he can make an impression, he could earn a spot as a depth option or emergency call-up during the regular season, adding to the team’s flexibility at the position.
