The horrendous wide receiver play has been a topic in Buffalo over the last few years, and nothing that happened in Week 17 is going to change that. Brandin Cooks was the most reliable receiver in the offense, and he just joined the team a few weeks ago. Cooks is overmatched as a No. 2 WR at this stage of his career, let alone as a WR1. But that’s the situation the Bills find themselves in going into the postseason.
The expectation going into the 2025 season was that Keon Coleman, an early second-round pick in the 2024 draft, could help fill that role. Even if he wasn’t a “true” No. 1 receiver, he, along with Khalil Shakir and the rest of the receivers, would be enough to round out the unit. But Coleman found himself as a healthy scratch once again this week, and now all options are on the table moving forward.
Coleman might not make the roster in 2026
It’s hard to believe that we are at this stage with Coleman, especially after his rookie season. While there were some rough patches, Coleman did rack up over 550 yards in 2024, averaging a whopping 19.2 yards per reception. The hope was that he would become more consistent in Year 2, but the opposite has been true.
Coleman has played just 12 games this season and has been a healthy scratch six different times. He has not played in each of the last two weeks and has not recorded 20 or more receiving yards in a game since Week 12.
The Bills have opted to play washed-up veterans ahead of him, including Cooks and Gabe Davis, which isn’t a great sign for his long-term outlook. While Coleman is still incredibly young (22), it’s clear that he no longer has the trust of the front office, coaching staff, and/or quarterback. The expectation is that the Bills will revamp their wide receiver corps in 2026, and the only player who is a lock to make the roster is Khalil Shakir.
So if Coleman can’t get onto the field this year despite their massive need, what are the chances that will change in 2026 with new talent? It’s unlikely that he is going to be one of the top-three receivers on the roster, and with no special teams value to add, that means he won’t be part of the gameday roster.
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The Bills could try to trade Coleman, but the best they could do is a late-round pick swap. No one is going to give up a top-150 selection for a player who is a healthy scratch for multiple weeks, even if he is young. But the Bills have reached a tipping point when it comes to Coleman. Roster spots are too valuable, and there doesn’t appear to be any light at the end of the tunnel.
Maybe something changes during the 2026 offseason, and he takes a big leap forward. But that’s all just hope based on nothing but fandom. It would be a minor surprise if he were on the Week 1 roster in 2026, as he’s not a fit with Josh Allen or the coaching staff. And it’s a shame that it’s going to this point. But here we are.