Buffalo Bills general manager and president of football operations Brandon Beane has insisted on multiple occasions this offseason that wide receiver Keon Coleman still has a future with the organization after Bills owner Terry Pegula said in January that former head coach Sean McDermott was responsible for Buffalo selecting Coleman with the 33rd overall pick of the 2024 NFL Draft.
During a recent conversation with Joe Buscaglia of The Athletic, Beane once again addressed Coleman’s future.
Keon Coleman has the ability to help Bills win games
“It’s not all talk,” Beane said about publicly supporting Coleman. “I think Keon understands what he can control and what he can’t, and we all mature at different times. It’s not an ability thing with him. I think he’s shown plenty when he’s been dialed in and connected with the quarterback and the play call and everyone, all is one.”
Beane previously acknowledged that “maturity issues” resulted in Coleman being disciplined, benched and made a healthy scratch multiple times across the past two seasons. Over that time, Coleman also recorded 67 receptions for 960 yards and eight touchdowns in 26 games.
Add in that Coleman likely has little value as a tradable asset this spring, and it makes sense that Beane isn’t in a rush to get rid of the 22-year-old.
“I think we feel confident that the maturity level is heading where it needs to,” Beane continued while speaking about Coleman. “Again, he’s got to go do it. We believe in the skill set, and that’s part of what your culture is. We all grow at different times; none of us were a made product at 21, 22. Do you wish you had to go through that with him? No, you don’t. But you hope for us, and for him, he looks back and says, ‘That was the best thing that happened to me.’ That’s what you hope. And we’re putting all our eggs in his basket to come back for year three and be a part of this group, however that is.”
Brandon Beane shares challenge for Keon Coleman after DJ Moore trade
The Bills made a big splash in March when they acquired wide receiver DJ Moore from the Chicago Bears. During his chat with Buscaglia, Beane said that landing Moore “brings competition in” regarding Coleman.
“I think [Coleman] knows he’s got to come in and earn every single thing he’s gonna get,” Beane added. “He’s got to fight to see if he can start. And if he doesn’t, then he’s going to have to still prove that he’s the next guy off the bench if he’s not a starter.”
How Coleman responds to such a challenge may determine whether or not he’s still with the Bills this coming September.
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