Keon Coleman's early Buffalo Bills career has been a disappointment thus far, and he knows it. The former second-round draft pick has barely totaled 1,000 receiving yards across his first two seasons and found himself playing second fiddle to veterans like Brandin Cooks in 2025.
Based on Terry Pegula's comments earlier this offseason, the young wideout is clearly on the outs in Buffalo. The upcoming season is as crucial as it gets for Coleman if he wants to keep his spot on the roster moving forward.
Per Matthew Bové, Coleman "said his play last season was 'a**' and that this upcoming season is make or break for him."
Bills' Keon Coleman gets brutally honest about 2025, sets expectations for 2026
He's not far off in his assessment. From dropping over 10% of passes thrown his way to getting benched in the middle of the season, there weren't many bright spots for the young receiver. He came up short in key moments, seemingly losing the trust of his coaching staff.
Instead of rolling forward with Coleman as a top option this offseason, the Bills traded away a second-round pick in exchange for D.J. Moore. The former Florida State star is no longer expected to play a major role in Joe Brady's offense.
But he should still have a chance to regain some of the standing he lost in 2025. Despite the negative comments made earlier in the spring, Buffalo has elected to keep Coleman around for another year. Heading into his third season, the receiver will have opportunities to make an impact.
Behind Moore, Buffalo's wide receiver pecking order is wide open. Khalil Shakir will man the slot, and Coleman will compete with Joshua Palmer for the "X" receiver role. Outside of those four, Mecole Hardman Jr. and Tyrell Shavers should command some snaps.
If Coleman can outperform Palmer, he'll be a consistent starter for Brady. While he won't be Josh Allen's top target, he could find himself on the field more often than not. If he's going to stay in Buffalo past 2026, he'll need to perform at a high level every time he gets a chance. Even if it's as a blocker or a secondary route runner, he must prove his value each time he steps on the field. He's operating with no room for error. This season is truly "make or break" for the former second-round draft pick.
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