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Keon Coleman did not get targeted again Sunday against the Patriots.
Buffalo Bills wide receiver Keon Coleman sparked controversy during the regular season when he was benched for missing a team meeting, then found himself in the middle of more drama after head coach Sean McDermott was fired.
One team insider believes the situation could spell the end of Coleman’s time in Buffalo.
Bills Owner Trade Blame Over Keon Coleman Pick
Coleman struggled in his second NFL season, failing to find a regular role and finding himself benched two separate times for missing team meetings or practices. Bills owner Terry Pegula pointed blame for Coleman’s selection this week, pointing out to reporters that it was the now-former head coach who pushed for his selection in the 2024 NFL Draft.
“I’ll address the Keon situation. The coaching staff pushed to draft Keon,” Pegula said, via ESPN. “I’m not saying Brandon wouldn’t have drafted him, but [Coleman] wasn’t his next choice.”
After the press conference, Bills reporter Matt Parrino of Syracuse.com predicted that the Bills would part ways with Coleman. Parrino noted that the relationship appeared fractured beyond repair.
“One major takeaway today: I don’t see a path forward for Keon Coleman to remain a Buffalo Bill,” Parrino shared in a post on X. “Despite Brandon Beane’s comments on organization’s belief in him, feels like relationship may be fractured beyond repair after Terry Pegula’s revelation on decision to draft Coleman.”
Veteran Bills Receiver Offers to Help Keon Coleman
Coleman does have support within the organization. In an appearance on “Good Morning Football” on Thursday, veteran receiver Brandin Cooks said he believes in Coleman and wants to help the young receiver develop.
“When you hear something like that, you’re like, ‘Well, am I wanted?’ That’s the truth, as a player,” Cooks said. “Because typically you don’t hear those things, but when you hear it, you’re like, ‘Well, am I wanted? And if not, what do I do?’
“But if it’s like, ‘We still want you, but we gotta figure this thing out,’ that’s when you put that chip on your shoulder and you go to work and prove yourself right. I’ve always been a big believer in not proving people wrong but proving yourself right on what you can do.”
Cooks added that he has already been in touch with Coleman, saying he became a mentor to the young receiver soon after joining the Bills late in the season. The Bills picked up Cooks on waivers, where he quickly moved into a significant role amid an otherwise struggling wide receiving corps.
“I’m definitely in touch with Keon,” Cooks said. “When I got to Buffalo, that was a guy I was going to gravitate towards to help out. I think Keon can play this game at a high level, I really do. He’s going to continue to grow.
“I think he’s also misunderstood. He’s a young kid, right? He’s still trying to figure it out. For me, I’ll take that and say, ‘How can I help this kid grow and be the guy they want him to be?’ Because obviously, there’s talent there. The guy can make plays. I think he’ll continue to grow, and I think he has been.”
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
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