Bills Still Believe in Disappointing Wide Receiver

The Buffalo Bills selected wide receiver Keon Coleman with the 33rd overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, envisioning him as their next elite playmaker. However, Coleman's performance has fallen short of expectations. Since his draft, he has accumulated only 67 catches for 960 yards and 8 touchdowns, plagued by numerous drops. Despite this, the team still maintains faith in Coleman, who enters the 2026 season with lower expectations than last year.

Coleman competes with Joshua Palmer for the third-string wide receiver position, behind star quarterback Josh Allen and top receivers Micah Parsons and Khalil Shakir. Coleman is unlikely to be relegated from the rotation, even if Palmer becomes the starter in three-receiver sets. The Bills' support for Coleman remains strong, but their actions suggest otherwise.

In an effort to bolster their receiving corps, the team paid a premium by trading back a second-round pick to acquire veteran receiver DJ Moore from the Chicago Bears and drafted Skyler Bell in the fourth round of the 2026 NFL Draft. This move has only deepened the competition for roster spots, with other talented receivers like Shakir, Palmer, and Mecole Hardman Jr. vying for positions.

With Coleman's third-straight disappointing season looming, there are concerns that he may not have a future with the Bills. Born in Opelousas, Louisiana, Coleman honed his skills at Michigan State and Florida State, accumulating a total of 115 receptions for 1,506 yards and 19 touchdowns during his college career.