Buffalo Bills rookie wide receiver Keon Coleman comes to the team with some high expectations, but general manager Brandon Beane warns against putting too much on his shoulders just yet.
The Bills selected Coleman with their top draft pick to address a significant gap in their offense following the departures of key receivers Stefon Diggs and Gabe Davis. Coleman has shown promise during the early stages of practice, and he will have an opportunity to demonstrate his abilities further when training camp commences in July. However, Beane cautioned that the team should manage expectations, acknowledging that there may be both successes and challenges ahead for Coleman as he integrates into the team.
Here’s a paraphrased version of the passage:
“But I see a hardworking, competitive guy. You’ve all seen his true personality—he’s genuine,” Beane told reporters after minicamp, as reported by Dov Kleiman on X. “As with anything, there will be challenges. He’s a rookie, and we all need to keep that in mind. He and Josh are building the rapport crucial between quarterback and receiver.”
Beane commended Coleman’s effort adjusting to the NFL and expressed the team’s desire to involve him beyond just catching passes.
“Keon has put in the work,” Beane stated. “Transitioning from a college to an NFL playbook involves significant differences in terminology, positioning, sight adjustments, and various other responsibilities, especially in our run game requirements, which can vary greatly between schools. Some colleges focus minimally on these aspects outside of passing plays, but that’s not the case here. He needs to contribute in all facets of our offense.”
Bills Want Keon Coleman Involved in All Phases
Interesting answer from #Bills GM Brandon Beane when asked about star rookie WR Keon Coleman 🤔pic.twitter.com/aQn6h7lywG
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) June 14, 2024
The Bills have emphasized the involvement of receivers in their rushing game, highlighting Davis for his blocking skills. In 2023, the team’s rushing attack, led by James Cook, saw its first 1,000-yard season since LeSean McCoy’s tenure.
Despite Beane’s efforts to set realistic expectations for Coleman’s rookie season, some analysts, such as Sam Monson of Pro Football Focus, believe there may be an adjustment period before Coleman can effectively replace the production lost with Diggs and Davis. Monson pointed out pre-draft concerns about Coleman’s skills and cautioned that it might take time before he can significantly impact games for the Bills.
“Coleman is an intriguing prospect, but his profile had a lot of red flags and he would seem to be one of the riskier answers to a team that intends to install him as their X receiver and essentially replace Diggs,” Monson wrote. “Coleman has size and exceptional body control and hands — traits that Diggs possesses — but he doesn’t have the route-running chops or ability to separate against man coverage that Diggs does.”
