The Buffalo Bills are back on the field for training camp, riding the momentum of a strong 2024 season that saw them finish 13-4, win the AFC East, and notch two home playoff victories. They cruised past the Denver Broncos 31-7 in the Wild Card round and narrowly defeated the Baltimore Ravens 27-25 before falling in a heartbreaker to the Kansas City Chiefs, 32-29, in the AFC Championship Game.
As camp kicked off on Sunday, the energy was high, and quarterback Josh Allen took some time to speak with NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero. One of the hot topics? Second-year wide receiver Keon Coleman, who’s been turning heads with his big-play potential early in camp.
Coleman was the 33rd overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft and showed flashes of promise as a rookie—catching 29 passes for 556 yards and four touchdowns. Despite missing four midseason games with a wrist injury, he made his mark with highlight plays, including a 125-yard performance against the Titans. Still, Coleman was his own toughest critic, recently calling his rookie-year film “trash” and promising to improve this season.
Josh Allen clearly believes in his young receiver. “If teams want to play single safety looks, we’ve got a guy out there who can win those one-on-one matchups,” Allen said. “He’s growing fast. When the ball’s in the air, he usually comes down with it.”
Coleman’s journey started in Opelousas, Louisiana, where his size (6-foot-4) and athleticism drew attention early. He first made a name for himself at Michigan State, tallying 848 receiving yards and eight touchdowns over two seasons before transferring to Florida State for his junior year. There, he led the Seminoles with 11 touchdowns and earned first-team All-ACC honors.
Though Coleman’s rookie season in Buffalo was inconsistent—largely due to that wrist injury—he still managed to average 19.2 yards per catch, ranking fourth in the NFL. However, the coaching staff and fans are looking for more consistency in his route-running and play-to-play performance.
To strengthen the receiver room, the Bills made some moves this offseason, signing Josh Palmer to a three-year, $36 million contract and re-signing Khalil Shakir with a four-year, $60.2 million extension. Even so, there’s a clear hope—and expectation—that Coleman takes a major step forward in 2025.
With the rest of the AFC East projected to hover around or below a .500 record, Buffalo is in a strong position to win its sixth straight division title and contend for a top seed in the playoffs. And if Coleman lives up to his potential, he could be a game-changer for this Bills offense—possibly even their go-to receiver by season’s end.