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Buffalo Bills WR Keon Coleman
The Buffalo Bills went into last season hoping wide receiver Keon Coleman would build off the potential he showed in his rookie season, growing into a reliable target for quarterback Josh Allen.
But Coleman went the opposite direction, struggling to bring consistent production on the field while dealing with disciplinary issues related to missed practices and meetings. Coleman is now an even bigger question mark heading into 2026, leading one analyst to predict the team will trade him.
Keon Coleman Heads to Rival in Mock Trade
SI.com’s Ethen Hutton predicted that the new coaching regime in Buffalo, led by head coach Joe Brady, could give up on the Coleman project and trade him. Hutton suggested the Bills could find a partner in the Pittsburgh Steelers, who would give up a 2026 fourth-round pick and 2027 fifth-round pick in exchange for Coleman and a 2026 sixth-round pick.
“Keon Coleman’s time with the Buffalo Bills appears to be coming to a close,” Hutton wrote. “The former second-round pick was a healthy scratch in four games during the regular season despite coming into the year as the team’s WR2 behind veteran wideout Khalil Shakir.”
Hutton added that Coleman could find a much better landing spot with the Steelers, especially after he was a healthy scratch four times for the Bills in the 2025 season.
“In Pittsburgh, Coleman projects to command WR2 volume alongside DK Metcalf, Calvin Austin III and a talented tight end trio of Pat Freirmuth, Jonnu Smith and Darnell Washington,” Hutton wrote. “The Steelers are in dire need of help on the perimeter of their offense as the team awaits a decision regarding Aaron Rodgers’ NFL future. Behind Rodgers, second-year quarterback Will Howard would likely get the nod, leading the Steelers to surround him with as much help as possible during the offseason.”
Bills May Need Wide Receiver Help
The Bills could be reluctant to part ways with Coleman given their struggles in the wide receiving corps. Despite his disciplinary issues in 2025, Coleman remained one of the team’s most productive pass-catchers.
As NFL media’s Matt Okada noted, the Bills struggled to stretch the field last season.
“In 2025, the Bills did not have a single wide receiver log 15+ downfield receptions (10+ air yards), per NFL Pro. They were one of just four teams to have zero wideouts hit that mark, along with the Chiefs, Steelers, and Jets,” Okada wrote.
The Bills tried to find some help for Allen at last season’s trade deadline, but general manager Brandon Beane said they were unable to find a partner willing to help them with a wide receiver. The Bills then made two late-season additions, signing Mecole Hardman and claiming Brandin Cooks off waivers.
Cooks quickly became a top target for Allen, despite having only joined the team in December, but he is now headed to free agency.
Some analysts have suggested the Bills could make a run at receivers like A.J. Brown or George Pickens on the trade market, but parting ways with Coleman could only add another hole in an already struggling unit.
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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