2025 Is Already A Prove-It Year For Keon Coleman
Credit: Gregory Fisher-Imagn Images
Keon Coleman had a decent season in 2024, with 29 catches for 556 yards as a rookie. But even with his moderate success, there is already a boatload of pressure on him for 2025 and beyond. Why is that? Because Coleman is already being haunted by the specter of what could have been.
Remember the 2020 Draft, when the Denver Broncos drafted Jerry Jeudy at 15 overall? In a lot of respects, that’s a solid pick, with Jeudy producing 3,000-plus yards in four seasons with the Broncos. But he wasn’t CeeDee Lamb or Justin Jefferson, who went off the board two and seven picks later, respectively. Instead of a second contract, Jeudy got traded to the Cleveland Browns last offseason. No one wants to be stuck in an Alex Smith situation, where you have a solid player who’s a living reminder of the Aaron Rodgers-type talent you passed on.
Is that on Jeudy? Or Smith? Not necessarily, but when you get tagged as the guy a team shouldn’t have drafted, that reputation can drown out your contributions. And that’s exactly the type of question that Coleman doesn’t want Buffalo Bills fans asking after next season. The Bills selected Coleman with the 33rd pick, one slot ahead of the LA Chargers grabbing Ladd McConkey.
It doesn’t take a long look at the stats to know who had a better rookie season. Coleman was decent enough for the Bills, but he was also plagued by inconsistency. Meanwhile, McConkey made a week-in, week-out impact. Not only did McConkey finish the season with 82 catches, 1,149 yards, and seven touchdowns, but he was extremely consistent, finishing with at least 50 yards in every game from Week 7 to the end of the season.
Ladd McConkey as a ROOKIE:
➖MORE Yards than Garrett Wilson (1,149)
➖MORE Receptions than Tyreek Hill (82)
➖MORE TD’s than CeeDee Lamb (7)His Win Rate Vs. Man Coverage (41.0%) was 7th in the NFL
He set the Record for MOST Receiving Yards (197) by a Rookie in a Playoff Game pic.twitter.com/WcAJG6DCqj
— Austin Abbott (@AustinAbbottFF) February 12, 2025
McConkey emerged as a legitimate No. 1 receiver for the Chargers — boasting the speed to get open downfield along with reliable hands. That type of receiver wasn’t anywhere to be found in Buffalo last season, even after an Amari Cooper trade, and it’s a big question whether they will be able to get one for 2025. Tee Higgins might be nice, but their cap situation puts that in doubt. A trade for Cooper Kupp or Deebo Samuel seems dubious for multiple reasons, but Buffalo may still be tempted to make a move after Coleman didn’t grab the No. 1 opportunity as a rookie.
One of the big reasons that Coleman might have had a down season was a wrist injury that plagued him. Before getting hurt in early November, Coleman registered either a touchdown or 50-plus yards in four of his previous five games. After returning Coleman didn’t play nearly as well, and in the three playoff games he was almost a nonfactor, finishing with only 22 yards total.
“I would say, probably was a little disappointed in the return from the injury. I did not see the same player down the stretch from a physicality, some of the things that he needs to use his size,” Brandon Beane said. “Some of that is youth, some of that is, I’m not sure how many injuries he’s had to overcome in-season and come back. That takes a certain experience level, how to deal with an injury and how to return.”
Beane did say he believes Coleman will be fine going forward, but he may have also raised some eyebrows by possibly hinting at a work ethic issue ahead of the offseason.
“He has a skill set that we think will play well in this offense, but it’s up to him,” Beane said. “He’s going to have to work very hard this offseason, him and Josh [Allen must] continue to work on that rapport together. But I’m optimistic that he’ll do those things, and that we’ll see him continue to improve going into Year 2.”
Keon Coleman's first career TD!
📺: #JAXvsBUF on ESPN
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/bGkVyIIf5i— NFL (@NFL) September 24, 2024
Maybe those comments are a nothingburger, but it certainly feels like Beane is putting Coleman on notice if he doesn’t take that big step forward in 2025. The good news for Coleman is the talent is there, and he proved it in spurts in 2024. As underwhelming as his overall stats might have looked, there are some numbers under the hood that should give Bills fans some hope. 22 of his 29 catches went for first downs. His 19.1 yards per reception finished fourth in the NFL among players with 20-plus targets.
His biggest problem was simply hauling in targets, which he did at a rate of just 50.9% last season. It’s not odd to see a deep threat catch a lower percentage of targets, and the wrist injury couldn’t have helped, but you’d like to see that number go much higher, given that someone as talented as Allen is getting him the ball.
Coleman is under pressure in 2025, and his development — or lack thereof — could determine the Bills’ success or failure. Hopefully, for the Bills’ sake, Coleman will come back strong and after the 2025 season, we won’t be talking about how different the season could have been if they had McConkey instead.
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