Buffalo Rumblings
The UDFA had his most productive college season in 2024 — just six months removed from major knee surgery
The Buffalo Bills enter the 2025 NFL season with an offensive unit that returns most of its principal players from the 2024 campaign. In fact, 20 of the team’s 25 snap-count leaders from that squad return this year. Only offensive lineman Will Clapp, wideout Marquez Valdes-Scantling, tight end Quintin Morris, and wide receivers Amari Cooper and Mack Hollins are not with the club this season.
That level of continuity coupled with the fact that the Bills were second in the league in scoring, 10th in total yards, and ninth in both passing yards and rushing yards suggests that it will be difficult for newcomers to break into the rotation this season. Unless the team paid money in free agency or spent a priority draft choice on a player, it’s unlikely that we see too many new faces on offense this year.
In today’s installment of our “90 players in 90 days” series, we discuss an undrafted rookie wideout looking to prove his mettle this summer.
Name: Stephen Gosnell
Number: 89
Position: WR
Height/Weight: 6’2”, 198 pounds
Age: 23 (24 on 10/22/2025)
Experience/Draft: R; signed with Bills following the 2025 NFL Draft
College: Virginia Tech
Acquired: UDFA Signing
Financial situation (per Spotrac): Gosnell signed a three-year deal worth $2.98 million overall. For the 2025 season, he carries a cap hit of $845,000 if he makes the 53-man roster. If he is released, the Bills will be on the hook for a $40,000 dead-cap charge, which represents the entire signing bonus on the contract.
2024 Recap: After suffering a significant injury to his left knee in the 2023 Military Bowl, it was a slight surprise that Gosnell was cleared to play from the start of the 2024 NCAA season. He did not miss a game for the Hokies, and he was their team leader in receiving yards while finishing fourth in receptions. He caught 28 passes for 506 yards, both career-highs, and one touchdown.
He wasn’t invited to the Senior Bowl or the NFL Scouting Combine, something that he said did not sit well with him. At Virginia Tech’s Pro Day, he ran the 40-yard dash in 4.56 seconds, ran the three-cone drill in 6.96 seconds, leap 34” in the vertical jump and 10 feet in the broad jump, and ran the 20-yard shuttle in 4.15 seconds. He did not bench press at the Pro Day.
Positional outlook: Gosnell is joined on the 90-man roster by Khalil Shakir, Joshua Palmer, Curtis Samuel, Keon Coleman, Laviska Shenault Jr., KJ Hamler, Kelly Akharaiyi, Kaden Prather, Tyrell Shavers, Jalen Virgil, and Khristian Wilkerson.
2025 Offseason: Gosnell has attended all offseason activities to date.
2025 Season outlook: Barring a catastrophe, Gosnell is looking like a practice squad player at best on Buffalo’s 2025 roster. Given his short-area quickness and agility combined with his size and blocking ability, he profiles as the kind of receiver the Bills...
