Who Should I Start? Tyrell Shavers or Tommy Mellott

Saturday, August 9, 7:15 PM

Buffalo Bills wide receiver Tyrell Shavers totaled a team-high 70 yards on two catches in a 34-25 preseason-opening loss to the New York Giants on Saturday. Shavers finished with four targets and did the majority of his damage on a 58-yard connection with quarterback Mitchell Trubisky near the end of the first half. Now 25 years old, Shavers has been with the Bills since they signed him as an undrafted free agent from San Diego State in 2023. He made the only three regular-season appearances of his career in 2024 and recorded his lone catch, a dump-off from Trubisky that he turned into a 69-yard touchdown in a Week 17 rout of the New York Jets. Shavers is fighting for a roster spot this summer behind Khalil Shakir, Keon Coleman, Joshua Palmer, Curtis Samuel, and Elijah Moore. While Saturday's performance should help his cause, his ability to play special teams may be what earns him a job.

Friday, May 23, 12:19 PM

The Athletic's Tashan Reed reports that Las Vegas Raiders rookie sixth-rounder Tommy Mellott got significant action at slot receiver during an OTA practice this week. The quarterback-turned-receiver made cornerback Darnay Holmes fall on an in-and-out route on one rep before catching a pass from quarterback Geno Smith and turning upfield. Receiver Tre Tucker made the most impressive play of the day on a deep route where he got open over the top of the safety for a diving catch. Tucker started most of last year, but his role could be in jeopardy in 2025 after the Raiders drafted Dont'e Thornton and Jack Bech. Mellott is fast and athletic at 6-foot, 208 pounds but will most likely serve in a depth role at wideout in his first year in the NFL while also contributing as a return option on special teams.