Heartbreaking playoff exits are all too familiar for the Buffalo Bills. An MVP season from Josh Allen felt like a sign that Buffalo was ready to return to the Super Bowl and write a new legacy. But it wasn’t the defense — despite its struggles — that fell short in the AFC Championship Game.
Instead, the offense was too conservative and predictable at times. Thus, fixing that side of the ball became a priority for the Bills this offseason. After locking in Allen with a record extension, the team shifted focus to the pieces around him, leading to a key addition to his arsenal.
Buffalo Bills Pair Josh Allen With Joshua Palmer
With a lackluster wide receiver class in the 2025 NFL Draft, Buffalo had to turn to free agency to upgrade its receiver room. Most options were on the wrong side of 30, making the search for the right fit a challenge.
The team took an unexpected route, signing former Los Angeles Chargers receiver Joshua Palmer. A third-round pick in 2021, Palmer spent four years in L.A. but never developed into an elite playmaker.
Still, the Bills clearly see something in him. Adam Schefter made the official announcement on X, stating, “Sources: Bills reached an agreement with former Chargers WR Josh Palmer on a 3-year, $36 million deal.”
https://twitter.com/AdamSchefter/status/1899175730627420625
According to PFSN’s list of the top 121 free agents of 2025, Palmer ranked 75th. Ben Rolfe noted, “He wasn’t that much more productive than in 2023, posting a nearly identical receptions-yards-TD line (39-584-1) as he did in 2024 (38-581-2) despite playing 77 more snaps.”
With Ladd McConkey and Quentin Johnston taking on bigger roles in Los Angeles, it became clear Palmer was best suited for a WR3 role. Over the course of the season, though, he established himself as a solid deep threat.
At 6’1″ and still shy of his 26th birthday, it’s easy to see why Buffalo took a chance on him. Rolfe wrote about the move, “The hope is to diversify Josh Allen’s passing portfolio and Palmer is a means to that end.”
Buffalo ranked 17th in deep ball passer rating last season, and Palmer’s 15-plus yards per catch average over the last two years could give the offense a much-needed boost.
Despite totaling just 584 yards in 15 games last season, he still would have ranked second among Buffalo’s wide receiver corps. Palmer isn’t the final piece of the puzzle, but as someone who can develop alongside Allen and bring a new element to the offense, he’s a solid addition.
Now, the Bills need to find a true WR1. But in an aging market, that won’t be easy.