Bills wide receiver Keon Coleman is shaking off some shocking comments made by his team owner about his draft process.
Buffalo owner Terry Pegula, while speaking to the media about the decision to fire head coach Sean McDermott, said that it was the coaching staff — not the front office — that made the decision to draft Coleman.
“The coaching staff pushed to draft Keon,” Pegula said. “I’m not saying Brandon [Beane] wouldn’t have drafted him, but [Coleman] wasn’t his next choice. It was Brandon being a team player and taking advice of his coaching staff, who felt strongly about the player.
“He’s taken, for some reason, heat over it and not said a word about it. But I’m here to tell you the true story.”
It appears that Coleman is letting the comment roll off his back. According to The Athletic, he is not requesting a trade.
“He was taken aback at first,” a source told The Athletic, “but he just went and worked out, getting ready for year three.”
The Bills selected Coleman in the second round of the 2024 draft, trading back in a deal with the Chiefs that allowed Kansas City to pick receiver Xavier Worthy. He was the 33rd overall pick, taken one spot before Chargers wideout Ladd McConkey.
Coleman’s development since being drafted has been underwhelming. In his rookie year, he recorded 29 catches for 556 yards and four touchdowns. In Year 2, he had 38 receptions for 404 yards and four touchdowns.