Orchard Park, N.Y. (WGR Sports Radio 550) - Keon Coleman has played two seasons and 26 games since the Buffalo Bills drafted him in the second round (33rd overall) of the 2024 NFL Draft out of Florida State University.
The third-year wide receiver had 29 catches for 556 yards and four touchdowns in his rookie season, and last year had 38 receptions for 404 yards and four scores.
The problem for the 23-year-old has been being late for meetings, and missing games because of it. He also needs to earn the trust of his quarterback Josh Allen. In this training camp, that chemistry is something the two of them work on each and every day.
"It's always improving," said Coleman following Tuesday's practice in Orchard Park. "On a day-to-day basis, working on different things, making sure we're seeing the same things. We get different looks every day, so we're experimenting with things, which is great."
Coleman is trying to get ahead of D.J. Moore, Khalil Shakir and Joshua Palmer on the depth chart to get playing time, and he thinks his camp has gone well.
"Camp has gone pretty good. Pretty consistent on my end, as far as effort and making plays, and doing what they want me to be doing and doing what I'm supposed to be doing on the field," Coleman said.
Moore has probably seen most everything in his NFL career, and he's someone Coleman has been watching forever, starting in his days with the Carolina Panthers. Now, Coleman gets the chance to learn close up.
"It's a lot of things: How to carry yourself, certain things to do, the look of it. Just the whole nine yards about everything about being a professional," Coleman said.
Coleman doesn't have to always hear it from Moore. He's picking things up just by watching.
"Dude's got unbelievable ball skills, ball tracking, the ability to catch the ball, stay in bounds, incredible balance. He can make plays after the catch and be explosive," he said.
"I mean, I already knew who he was. I knew what his game was about. I've watched him on tape since he was in Carolina, so even watching him in Chicago, he still has that juice. He opens things up for everybody else too."
Coleman knows he has to make the catches when Allen throws him the football. Drops have been a problem for him as a pro.
"There's only one ball, so when the ball finds you, make the play, 'cause if you don't, the next person is going to make the play. That's how the room operates. It's a friendly competition," Coleman said.
So how is Coleman going to mature and show his teammates he means business?
"My mindset's the same. The mentality and the why behind it is a little more deeply rooted. It's different vibes, understanding what's at stake," he said.
Bills right tackle Spencer Brown's locker is next to Coleman's in the locker room. Brown sees a big difference in his teammate entering Year 3.
"He went to work this offseason, he's really put in the work," said Brown of Coleman. "I'm in the locker right next to him, there used to be a lot going on over there. But now it's more calm and relaxed, and I think he's definitely focusing more on football. It's good to see.
"I went through two or three years of trying to figure it out, so it's not a shock that he's going through that. He'll figure it out, just like I did."
If you look at the wide receivers room, I'd say the order would be right now:
- D.J. Moore
- Khalil Shakir
- Joshua Palmer
- Keon Coleman
- Skyler Bell
- Dante Pettis
Allen seems to like Pettis, who is 30-years-old with stops in New Orleans, Chicago, New York with the Giants and San Francisco. The thing is he's never had more than 27 catches in a season, and that was his rookie year with the 49ers.
It reminds me of when Mack Hollins showed up with the Bills at age 31, and had over 18 receptions once in his career. In 2024 with the Bills in limited time, Hollins finished with 31 catches for 378 yards and five touchdowns. Allen was able to find Hollins 29 times for first downs.
As for Bell, he was a fourth-round pick in this past April's NFL Draft out of UConn, so there is plenty of competition for Coleman.
