The Buffalo Bills have full confidence in Keon Coleman, and he made an intriguing training decision.
Coleman has struggled to find his role in the Bills’ offense and was a healthy scratch at multiple points last season as he missed some team meetings. After the season, Bills’ owner Terry Pegula called out Coleman, and many wondered if he would be traded.
However, Coleman wasn’t traded at the NFL Draft, and now he’s training with former Bills receiver Stevie Johnson.
Johnson offered to train Coleman, and the former second-round pick appears to have taken up the offer. Johnson is a legend to Bills Mafia and is one of the team’s top receivers in recent years.
He played for Buffalo from 2008 until 2013 and became the team’s No. 1 receiver after being picked in the seventh round of the 2008 NFL Draft. Johnson became a top receiver in 2010 as he had three-straight years of 1000+ yards and had 10 touchdowns in 2010.
Johnson was known for his work ethic, so Coleman learning from him could be great for his development and attitude. If Coleman comes in and works hard and matures, he still could be an impact receiver for the Bills.
Coleman recorded 38 receptions for 404 yards and 4 touchdowns last season with the Bills.
Bills Got Trade Calls on Coleman
After Coleman’s struggles this past season, and Pegula calling him out, many wondered if the Bills would trade him.
However, Bills general manager Brandon Beane said on Monday after the NFL Draft that Buffalo did get trade calls, but he turned them down.
“We shut those down,” Beane said on WGR 550. “Our intention is for Keon to be here, so the word was out, so no calls this weekend. We’ve hit the reset button with him and hopefully the fanbase and everyone is behind him. I think his best year is yet to come here in 2026.”
Beane also said Coleman has been dialed in this offseason, and he’s excited to see how he looks at training camp.
New Bills head coach Joe Brady also told Coleman he pushed to select him and believes him being the head coach is the best thing to happen to the wide receiver.
“Keon Coleman is going to be on our football team, and I have no issues with, if there (are) elements that need to be cleaned up from that, those are conversations that we can have. But Keon knows how I feel about him; how much I love him and the faith that I still have in him,” Brady said.
Coleman was selected 33rd overall in the 2024 NFL Draft.
Buffalo Selected Another WR
The Bills did make an addition to the wide receiver room in the NFL Draft.
Buffalo selected Skyler Bell with the 125th overall pick. The wide receiver was a star at UConn, and he expects to make an impact in Buffalo’s offense.
“I would say I’m dynamic; I’m explosive, versatile,” said Bell. “I could do a lot of different things, inside, outside, deep ball, contested catches, intermediate catches. So, I think I could do a lot of different things.”
Beane and Brady, meanwhile, also like Bell’s versatility.
“We liked him a lot,” said Beane. “He can play inside and outside, he wins on contested catches.”
“He has versatility,” said head coach Joe Brady. “They asked him to do a lot of different things at Connecticut.”
Bell recorded 101 receptions for 1,278 yards and 13 touchdowns last season at UConn.
Keon Coleman Makes Intriguing Training Decision After Bills Turn Down Trade Calls