The Buffalo Bills have stood by wide receiver Keon Coleman, quashing the growing trade talk about the embattled third-year player.
One analyst believes the team should change course.
Bills general manager Brandon Beane stood by Coleman after he became a point of contention at the team’s year-end press conference. Speaking to reporters about the firing of head coach Sean McDermott, owner Terry Pegula placed blame on McDermott for Coleman’s draft selection in 2024.
While the Bills have no immediate plans to trade Coleman, SI.com writer Alex Brasky believes they should be willing to entertain offers.
Bills Should Consider Trading Keon Coleman
Coleman’s status was thrown into question after Pegula’s statement and a season in which he saw his production drop, while being benched twice for disciplinary reasons. Brasky pointed out that Beane put an end to the trade speculation by revealing that the team turned down trade offers, which prompted other teams to stop inquiring about his status.
“We had some people connect with us [during the NFL Scouting Combine], at least one team there and a couple between there and the owners meetings, but we shut those down,” Beane said.
“Our intention is for Keon to be here, and so I think the word was kind of out, so no calls this weekend,” the Bills general manager added.
Brasky suggested the team was giving up a potential opportunity to improve over the long-term by shutting down the Coleman trade speculation.
“That seems bogus,” Brasky wrote. “You cannot tell me that if Buffalo received an ample offer for its beleaguered wide receiver, they wouldn’t have taken it and run. And if it turns out they actually did ‘shut down’ reasonable offers for Coleman, that would be a huge mistake.”
Even if the Bills aren’t willing to trade Coleman, they should still be open to listening to offers, Brasky added.
“Instead, the Bills should change course and immediately start entertaining any trade partner interested in his services,” Brasky wrote.
Bills Could Need Keon Coleman’s Production
The Bills may not be in position to lose Coleman’s production, even if they do receive an agreeable trade offer. He still ranked among the team’s most productive receivers in 2025 despite the dip in production, and could be in line to play a bigger role next season after the departure of Curtis Samuel and a long-term injury to Tyrell Shavers.
The Bills have made some additions to their wide receiver room, chiefly a trade that landed DJ Moore, but have added little through free agency and the NFL draft.
Coleman could find himself battling for his spot on the depth chart, however. Reporter Sal Maiorana of the Democrat & Chronicle suggested that rookie Skyler Bell will push for Coleman’s place as No. 4 receiver.
“Unless something changes, Coleman is going to battle for the No. 4 spot in the rotation, and the only real threat right now would seem to be Bell,” Maiorana wrote. “As ESPN’s Mel Kiper said after the pick was made Saturday, ‘Josh Allen is going to love Skyler Bell’ so if he can seamlessly make the transition to the NFL, Coleman could be in trouble no matter how much love Beane and Brady have showered him with.”
Bills Advised to Change Course on Keon Coleman After Trade Statement