It seems as though wide receiver Keon Coleman may not be the most popular player within the Buffalo Bills organization.
Team owner Terry Pegula, at a press conference with general manager Brandon Beane on Wednesday, told reporters that the decision to draft Coleman shouldn’t fall on the front office’s shoulders, and that the former coaching staff under Sean McDermott should be at fault.
“I’ll address the Keon situation,” Pegula said, interrupting a question asked to Beane about the team’s wide receiver situation. “The coaching staff pushed to draft Keon. I’m not saying Brandon wouldn’t have drafted him, but he wasn’t his next choice. That was Brandon being a team player, taking advice of his coaching staff who felt strongly about the player.
“He’s taken — for some reason — heat over it and not saying a word about it, but I’m here to tell you the true story.”
Coleman, 22, was drafted by the Bills 33rd overall in 2024 as the first pick of Round 2. However, he’s failed to live up to expectations over his two seasons in the NFL, registering only 67 receptions for 960 yards and eight touchdowns in 26 regular-season games.
The hope in drafting Coleman would be that the six-foot-four, 215-pound wideout could establish himself as a much-needed No. 1 option. However, the Bills’ wide receiver room has continued to struggle without a 1,000-yard receiver since Stefon Diggs was dealt away following the 2023 season.
The Bills’ coaching staff was let go following this latest playoff exit, with McDermott getting the axe after nine years on the job and no Super Bowls to show for it.
Pegula mentioned in the presser that superstar quarterback Josh Allen — who was not advised of the decision to fire McDermott — will be part of the team put together in the search for a new head coach.
