As training camp approaches, Bills fans are eager to turn the page to the 2025 season with the expectations as high as ever. Despite people like myself being ready for the regular season kickoff, this year’s training camp is very important as usual, but may seem that way to some players more than others.
Coming off another disappointing loss to Kansas City in the playoffs, the question marks remain on how this team will be able to get over the hump. While some positions are set, many of them will be an open competition. Will the young talent step up to the challenge, or will some of the veterans stake their claim?
Let’s take a look at three players who have a lot to prove in Rochester this summer when camp kicks off on July 23rd.
Bills players who have a lot to prove in training camp
WR Keon Coleman
Heading into his second year in Buffalo, no one has been more critical of their play last season than Keon Coleman. While the offense had a tremendous amount of success last year, Coleman feels that he can really bring more to the table.
"You want to know exactly what I see? When that s--- trash, you got to be better, simple as that," Coleman said. "You gotta be more efficient here. You gotta get out of this break. You got to stack your DB. You got to give Josh more room to throw the ball. You gotta catch that. You gotta make that block. You got to get that extra effort on the touchdown block so if Jimbo (James Cook) breaks it, he's up the sideline. Just different things like that. Calling out everything that you're doing wrong to make it right."
Coleman finished his rookie campaign with 29 receptions for 556 yards and four touchdowns in 13 games during the regular season, adding just three catches for 22 yards in the postseason. He also finished the season with a whopping 19.2 yards per reception. They weren’t pop off the page numbers, but he was still a valuable piece of the offense in year one.
Coleman will be under a microscope this year; in the eyes of the fans, the staff and clearly himself. Besides Khalil Shakir, none of the receivers from last year’s core are back. Free agents Josh Palmer, Elijah Moore and Laviska Shenault have since joined the fold, but Coleman has an opportunity to seize that ‘X-receiver’ spot that the Bills desperately need production from this year.
In many people’s minds (including mine), that role and the increased number of snaps are his to lose, and he needs to perform in camp to earn them outright.
CB Maxwell Hairston
It has been said already by both Sean McDermott and Brandon Beane that if the young guys are ready to play, they will play. Step right up, Maxwell Hairston.
The first round pick was not seen by many draft analysts as one of the top corners in the class, but the Bills saw him as a great fit for the defense. Although he picked up an injury to close out camp, the outlook was positive and it did not seem to be long term.
Having moved on from Rasual Douglas, the second boundary corner spot across from Christian Benford is an open competition once again. Hairston will be competing with some familiar faces, as Tre’Davious White and Dane Jackson have made their returns to Buffalo.
The opportunity is there for the rookie; perform in camp and leave no doubt. However, the precedent stands when it comes to underperforming first round picks (think Kaiir Elam). If Hairston doesn’t prove that he can win the job outright, the Bills will have no problem going with one of the veterans or working through a rotation until someone does, just as they did with Elam and Benford.
LB Matt Milano
We’ve talked so far about a second year player and a rookie, but now we shift our focus to an established veteran and core piece of this Bills’ defense. Matt Milano has been a staple of the Bills defense, but his recent run of injuries has cast some doubt on his viability as a full time starter.
We saw Milano come back slowly last season, get back into the lineup and after a couple of shaky games, start to look like his old self in flashes to end the year. Despite that, the truth is that he’s getting older and is clearly not at his All-Pro level anymore.
Dorian Williams was his replacement during his time out and Williams showed an elite level of athleticism and ball-hawking ability, but also showed his youth and inexperience in key situations throughout the year.
The restructuring of Milano’s contract said it all; if he is not performing to the level that the Bills need him, it’s next man up. This camp will go a long way when it comes to making his case to remain as the starter alongside Terrel Bernard come week one against Baltimore.
It happens every year; camp comes and goes and the regular season opener is here before we know it. Along with many others (some trying to just make the roster), these players have a lot riding on their performance this summer. Who will step up?