Joshua Palmer, #5 for the Buffalo Bills, is living squarely in “Bust” territory right now. His $11.75 million cap hit for the 2026 season is a monster problem for the team, especially after he barely made a ripple in 2025, which was supposed to be a fresh start for the veteran wideout. The Bills tried to revamp their receiving corps, but if Palmer’s 2025 performance is any indication, they might have swung and missed big time.
From Charger Hope to Bills Bust
The Bills brought Palmer over from the Los Angeles Chargers on March 13, 2025, signing him to a three-year, $36 million deal. He was immediately tabbed to be the second or third receiver behind Khalil Shakir, a role where he absolutely had to contribute. His initial returns looked solid, ripping off five catches for 61 yards on nine targets in Buffalo’s 41-40 season-opening win against the Baltimore Ravens. That game, though, was the high-water mark for his entire season. After that, he didn’t catch more than two passes in a single game for the rest of the year. This isn’t the kind of output you want from a player carrying the fifth-highest cap hit on your roster for 2026.
Injury Woes and a Hefty Price Tag
Just when it seemed like Palmer might finally break out, disaster struck. In the first quarter of Buffalo’s Week Six matchup against the Atlanta Falcons, he hauled in two passes for 60 yards, showing a flash of what he could be. But on that same play, he injured both his knee and his ankle, sidelining him for the next three games. He returned, but the injuries clearly hampered him, leading to him missing two more games. Facing mounting injuries at the receiver position and tough roster decisions, Buffalo ultimately placed Palmer on injured reserve before the postseason, cutting his disappointing 2025 campaign short. He finished with a paltry 22 receptions for 303 yards on 37 targets. Now, Palmer enters the second year of his contract, and his $9.66 million base salary for 2026 becomes fully guaranteed if he’s on the roster Week One. That’s a huge commitment for a player who was a nonfactor. If Buffalo releases him, they’ll eat a $14.24 million dead cap charge. If they trade him, it’s a $1.6 million dead cap hit this year and another $4.8 million in 2027. Either way, the Bills are stuck with a massive financial hangover from a player who just hasn’t delivered. What’s Palmer going to show in 2026 to make that money worthwhile? He’s got everything to prove.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Buffalo Rumblings.
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