It started with a yellow jacket and a $48 coat from Macy's. Keon Coleman walked into his first Buffalo Bills press conference and basically won over the entire city of Buffalo in twelve minutes. He was funny. He was authentic. He talked about cookies and bargain shopping. Honestly, it was the kind of introduction that makes a fan base fall in love before a player even catches a single pass.
But we’re in 2026 now. The "vibes" have officially met the reality of the NFL grind.
If you've been following the Keon Coleman Buffalo Bills saga closely, you know it's been a wild ride of massive highlights and frustrating disappearances. People wanted him to be the next Stefon Diggs. Then they wanted him to be the next Gabe Davis. Now? Some are just wondering if he’s going to be on the roster by the time the next training camp rolls around.
The Rookie Flash and the Sophomore Slump
When the Bills traded back twice in the 2024 draft to take Coleman at 33rd overall, it was a statement. Brandon Beane was betting on size. He was betting on a guy who could go up and get the ball when Josh Allen decided to go "backyard football" mode.
And for a minute, it looked like a genius move.
His rookie year had these "wow" moments that made you think he was the truth. He put up 125 yards against the Titans in Week 7 of 2024. He was winning Rookie of the Week awards. He finished that first season with 556 yards and 4 touchdowns despite a wrist injury that cost him a month. Not bad, right?
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But then 2025 happened.
The stats for this past season are... well, they're tough to look at. Coleman finished 2025 with just 404 receiving yards. He caught 38 passes. Most concerningly, he was a healthy scratch six different times. You don't bench a second-round pick in his second year for "disciplinary purposes" or "lack of preparation" unless there’s a real disconnect.
What’s Actually Going Wrong with Keon Coleman in Buffalo?
The scouts told us this might happen. Coleman was never a "burner." He ran a 4.61 at the combine, which is fine if you're a tight end, but it's slow for a guy you want to be your WR1.
Basically, he can’t separate.
If you look at the Next Gen Stats from the 2025 season, Coleman was consistently at the bottom of the league in average separation yards. He relies on his 6-foot-4 frame to "box out" defenders like he’s back playing basketball for Michigan State. That works in college. In the NFL, corners like Sauce Gardner or Jalen Ramsey are going to eat that for breakfast if you don't have the technical route running to back it up.
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There's also the "Josh Allen factor." Josh is a gunslinger. He wants to throw to the guy who is open. Coleman’s whole game is being "open even when he's covered," but that requires a level of trust that just hasn't fully materialized yet.
The Discipline Issues
We have to talk about the meetings. You've probably seen the headlines. He’s been benched for being late to team meetings. He’s been benched for his "approach to preparation."
Sean McDermott isn’t exactly a "vibes" guy when it comes to the locker room. He’s a "process" guy. If you aren't doing the little things, you aren't playing. Coleman himself was brutally honest about it in June 2025, calling his own performance "trash" and saying he needed to be more efficient. You have to respect the self-awareness, but at some point, the talk has to turn into production.
Is 2026 the End of the Road?
Right now, the Bills are in a weird spot. They just brought in Brandin Cooks. Khalil Shakir has clearly ascended to that reliable target role. Dalton Kincaid is essentially the WR2 in this offense.
So where does that leave Keon?
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He’s currently on a four-year, $10.07 million contract. The dead cap hit if they were to trade him before June 1st is over $5 million. That makes a straight-up cut pretty unlikely, but a "change of scenery" trade isn't off the table.
Keon Coleman Buffalo Bills fans are split. Half of the message boards think he’s a bust. The other half thinks he’s one good offseason away from being a red-zone monster.
The reality is probably somewhere in the middle. He’s 22. He’s young. He has elite ball skills. But he’s playing in an offense that demands precision, and right now, he’s a power hitter who keeps striking out.
What to Watch for This Offseason
If you’re a Bills fan or a fantasy manager still holding onto hope, these are the signs of life you need to look for:
- Roster Additions: If the Bills draft another "X" receiver in the first three rounds this April, the Keon Coleman experiment is effectively over.
- Special Teams: Coleman needs to find value elsewhere. If he’s not the primary target, can he become a dominant blocker or a reliable punt returner again?
- The "Playoff Turning Point": He actually had a 36-yard catch-and-run in the Wild Card win against the Jaguars recently. That’s the flash. He needs to turn that flash into a consistent flame.
The talent is clearly there. You don't catch 11 touchdowns at Florida State by accident. But in Buffalo, the weather gets cold fast, and the patience for underperforming draft picks gets even colder. Keon needs to decide if he’s going to be a Buffalo legend for his personality or for his play.
Next Steps for Following the Situation
Keep a close eye on the Bills' pre-draft visits and free agency moves. If the front office targets veteran "contested catch" specialists, it's a direct signal they've lost faith in Coleman's ability to fill that role. Additionally, track his participation in "voluntary" offseason workouts with Josh Allen; if he's not in the photos from those sessions, the chemistry issues are likely still a major hurdle.