JUNE 13: Providing details on the Coleman accord, Aaron Wilson of KPRC2 notes his salaries are fully guaranteed for the first three years. $1.74MM is guaranteed for injury in 2027; that year also has a $75K workout bonus. Coleman will receive a $4.15MM signing bonus.
JUNE 12: The makeup of the Bills’ rebuilt wide receiver room suggests Keon Coleman will need to hit the ground running. Buffalo passed on multiple wideouts late in the first round before identifying Coleman as their centerpiece fix post-Stefon Diggs.
This year’s first player chosen in the second round, Coleman is now under contract. The Bills inked the Florida State wideout to his four-year rookie contract Wednesday; this agreement concludes the draft signing portion of Buffalo’s offseason.
Last year’s first player off the Round 2 board, Steelers cornerback Joey Porter Jr., did not receive a fully guaranteed contract. Neither did Titans QB Will Levis (No. 33). Coleman’s Bills pact could set a precedent, and with second-rounders making notable guarantee gains during this signing period, Coleman’s Year 4 salary guarantee will be a number to watch. The Steelers guaranteed $1.4MM of Porter’s $2MM final-year salary; the Bills will be expected to move beyond that point for Coleman.
Buffalo traded Diggs to Houston, with the Texans’ offer of a 2025 second-rounder changing the perennial AFC East champions’ plans with their previous WR1. The team also let Gabe Davis walk in free agency. While the Bills signed slot/gadget performer Curtis Samuel and signed some midlevel veterans — including ex-Chief Marquez Valdes-Scantling — Coleman seems likely to contribute regularly this season.
The Bills seem likely to be counting on a player who did not eclipse 800 receiving yards in a season with Michigan State or Florida State. After a 798-yard showing with the Spartans in 2022, he totaled 658 in 12 Seminoles contests last year. Coleman, 21, also lumbered to a 4.61-second 40-yard dash at the Combine. The 6-foot-3 weapon’s top speed of 20.36 mph in the Combine gauntlet drill was the fastest measured over the past two years, however.
With the Bills giving Josh Allen some input on this year’s receiver class, the superstar QB endorsed Coleman. The Bills passed on the likes of Xavier Worthy, Ricky Pearsall and Xavier Legette at the end of the first round, picking up additional draft capital by trading down twice. The team faced criticism for allowing the Chiefs to climb up to No. 28 for Worthy, with the Patriots believed to have made an offer for the pick as well. After Buffalo traded out of Round 1 (via Carolina), it will not have a fifth-year option on Coleman.
Moving toward training camp, here are the Bills draftees set to vie for jobs:
- Round 2, No. 33 (from Panthers): Keon Coleman (WR, Florida State) (signed)
- Round 2, No. 60: Cole Bishop (S, Utah) (signed)
- Round 3, No. 95 (from Chiefs): DeWayne Carter, DT (Duke) (signed)
- Round 4, No. 128: Ray Davis (RB, Kentucky) (signed)
- Round 5, No. 141 (from Giants through Panthers): Sedrick Van Pran-Granger (C, Georgia) (signed)
- Round 5, No. 160 (from Packers): Edefuan Ulofoshio (LB, Washington) (signed)
- Round 5, No. 168 (from Saints): Javon Solomon (EDGE, Troy) (signed)
- Round 6, No. 204: Tylan Grable (T, Central Florida) (signed)
- Round 6, No. 219 (from Packers): Daequan Hardy (CB, Penn State) (signed)
- Round 7, No. 221 (from Panthers through Titans and Chiefs): Travis Clayton (T, England) (signed)
Are the Bills really SB contenders? The sportbooks seem to think so but I’m having trouble understanding some of these strategic moves they are making. The team looked mediocre through the first 12 games last season. Perhaps the championship window is closing faster on Buffalo that most fans want to admit.
To your point, they looked better when Diggs stopped getting the ball in the latter half of the season and the people still on the team stepped up. Other than center, none of the losses have been concerning and the additions look very promising. As long as Allen is healthy they’ll be fine.
Dane Jackson and Poyer are huge losses. Along with Tyrrell Dodson. All starters=huge loss.
You don’t know ball dawg
Dane was a backup and Poyer is a loss, but nowhere near the player he was 2 years ago. You might need to watch a few more games rather than listen to the hacks on ESPN
Dane wasn’t a backup bills play Nickle D. Played over 80% of thier snaps. Maybe watch a few games rather than pretend to know what your talking about.
Taron Johnson is, and was, the team’s Nickleback.
Neither Jackson nor Dodson are huge loses. Yes they started and yes they played well, but they were next men up. Dodson began the year behind Milano and Bernand on the depth chart for a reason, and they are both returning. Jackson was behind White and Benford. Beane brought in Douglass and now it’s Douglass and Benford.
Poyer would be a huge loss either way, because he’s becoming less and less Poyer each year. If he remained he’d have been a drop off at the position from himself. There’s a reason he didn’t get much action in free agency. This team needed some youth at that position.
This team is a super bowl contender, and not just because of its elite QB. It’s still an elite team on defense and in the trenches.
Tldr: you still don’t know what your saying. Dane played in more games than Benford and more snaps. 80% beacuse buffalo plays a Nickle D
You’re confusing Dane Jackson, reserve CB, who Pro Football Reference has at 43% snap count, with Taron Johnson the teams Nickleback who had a snap count of 89%. If you’re gonna tell people to watch the games before they talk, maybe watch the games before you talk?
Nope, I don’t watch football. I just talk
You post the same comment on every Bills story. Every team that has an elite quarterback is a Super Bowl contender. Every year.
So that brings us to the question of what defines a QB as being “elite”. I imagine Drew Brees and Philip Rivers qualify but there were certainly years when neither the Saints or Chargers could be considered legitimate SB contenders.
Hopefully I’m wrong but something tells me Keon Coleman will be a bust for the Bills
Totally get that feeling as well. Never passes 800 yards in college