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The Buffalo Bills have already undergone some significant changes to their wide receiving corps this offseason, and one more big move could be coming for embattled pass-catcher Keon Coleman.
Coleman showed flashes of strong play in his rookie season in 2024, but struggled to maintain that level of production last year and was benched twice for disciplinary reasons. After team owner Terry Pegula took aim at Coleman during a press conference discussing the firing of head coach Sean McDermott, Coleman’s future in Buffalo was thrown into doubt.
Bills Could Dump Keon Coleman Before NFL Draft Ends
Bleacher Report’s Alex Kay believes Coleman’s days in Buffalo are now numbered, predicting he will be traded before the season begins.
Kay speculated that Coleman could draw some significant trade interest around the league, due in part to his status as a second-round pick and the promise he showed throughout his first two seasons in the NFL. He predicted that the San Francisco 49ers could be a good landing spot.
“If Coleman is available, the San Francisco 49ers should come calling,” Kay wrote. “The Niners came into the offseason needing to reload the receiver’s room and largely accomplished that goal with an aggressive approach to free agency. The team plucked both Mike Evans and Christian Kirk off the open market, adding two proven veterans to make up for the departure of Jauan Jennings and near-certain loss of Brandon Aiyuk.”
Kay suggested Coleman would be an insurance policy, especially given the injury-prone nature of San Francisco’s core group of wide receivers.
“While Coleman has been sidelined for stretches with injuries of his own, he’s an ideal buy-low player who head coach Kyle Shanahan can rehabilitate within his high-octane offense,” Kay wrote. “Coleman has a meager 67/960/8 stat line over his first 26 career games, but still has plenty of unrealized potential at the age of 22.”
Kay suggested the Bills could receive a fourth-round pick in return for Coleman, noting that the 49ers already have three of them at their disposal (the Bills have two fourth-round picks of their own).
Bills Could Aim for Another Veteran Receiver
The Bills added a potential new No. 1 receiver this offseason when they traded for DJ Moore, and SI.com’s Ethan Hutton believes they could aim for another two-initial deep threat — DK Metcalf. Hutton predicted the Bills could package their first-round pick along with Coleman and send it to the Pittsburgh Steelers to land Metcalf.
“In the proposed deal, Pittsburgh sends Metcalf to the Bills for a package centered around Buffalo’s upcoming first-round pick,” Hutton wrote. “The Bills own the No. 26 overall pick, which will go to the Steelers as they eye their next franchise wideout. Keon Coleman presents the offense with additional depth at the position and could offer high upside over the long-term with a consistent role.”
The Bills have also given indications that they plan to keep Coleman, with general manager Brandon Beane saying the team has seen growth and expects him to continue maturing. Coleman is still on a cost-controlled rookie contract, which could increase the likelihood that he remains with the cap-strapped Bills.
Nathan Dougherty is a sports reporter covering the NFL for Heavy.com, with a focus on the Buffalo Bills, Detroit Lions and Miami Dolphins. Previously he wrote for the Rochester Business Journal and served as the assistant editor of athletic trade magazines Coaching Management, Athletic Management and Training & Conditioning. He is based out of Rochester, New York, and loves everything football. More about Nathan Dougherty