Buffalo Bills key wide receiver offered glimpses of star potential during his rookie campaign, but a late-season injury forced him to miss several games and disrupted his rhythm. Upon returning, he struggled to regain his early-season form. As he enters his second NFL season, the pressure is building for him to take a significant step forward. Head coach Sean McDermott has already issued a challenge to the young wideout, and according to a team insider, noticeable progress will be expected in 2025.
Jay Skurski of the Buffalo News pointed out that while the Bills knew he wasn’t known for his speed when they selected him in the second round, his inability to create separation was more concerning than anticipated. “Every scouting report on him that was coming out of Florida State flagged his difficulty in gaining separation,” Skurski noted in an April 12 mailbag. “NFL Next Gen Stats showed Coleman averaged only 2.0 yards of separation — tied for the lowest in the league.”
Skurski emphasized that he must improve his route running to consistently get open, especially since he can’t rely on pure speed. “If he’s going to separate more, it has to come from sharp, precise route-running,” Skurski said. “He’s not going to outrun defenders — he needs to outsmart them.”
Despite the challenges, he still made an impact last season with 29 catches for 556 yards and four touchdowns. But Skurski noted that expectations will be higher in 2025. “It’s far too early to label him a bust, but it’s undeniable that he is near the top of the list of players who need to take a leap forward next season,” Skurski wrote.
Following Buffalo’s loss in the AFC Championship game, Coach Sean McDermott spoke frankly about Coleman’s up-and-down rookie year. He acknowledged the promising start but said the injury derailed his momentum. “He started strong and built some momentum, but after the injury, things got pretty uneven,” McDermott said.
Still, McDermott expressed belief in his potential, saying the offseason would be critical for the young receiver to bounce back. “He needs to use the challenges he faced as fuel and put in a strong offseason,” McDermott said. “This next chapter is about showing Keon Coleman got the determination, the hunger, and the heart to take that next step.”
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