Joe Brady’s candid comments at NFL Scouting Combine point to calculated decision on Keon Coleman’s future
Keon Coleman’s future in Buffalo is clear.
The Buffalo Bills have a Keon Coleman problem. The upcoming third-year receiver just hasn’t lived up to the hype that fans had for him when he was drafted, and it’s become a main talking point with the new regime in town, led by head coach Joe Brady.
Even during Brady’s introductory press conference, he shared that Coleman is still an active part of the team’s future, and he has high hopes for the receiver. It might be misguided, but the team believes Coleman has what it takes to get out of the slump and be a contributor.
I had written an article before the playoffs began that discussed that Coleman shouldn’t have even played a single snap in the postseason, and while that may have seemed like a bit much at the time, it was frustrations boiling over for a season that was supposed to be his triumphant rise in the NFL. What transpired was multiple disciplinary actions, and being a healthy scratch on more than one occasion. Coleman was flat-out bad, outside of Week 1, for the Bills in 2025.
Keon Coleman is here to stay, according to Joe Brady
But again, don’t tell Joe Brady that. While speaking at the NFL Combine, Brady made it clear once again that Coleman is part of the team’s long-term plans at receiver, whether we like it or not.
“I stood on the table for Keon Coleman,” Brady said. “I told Keon that as soon as I got hired, when I called him, I said, ‘look man, the best thing that happened to you is me being your head coach. The faith I have in you, we’re going to make it work together.’ I know the quarterback has the confidence in him. When you go through some early in your career, your second year in the league [ . . . ] there’s a lot of pressure that comes with being the top pick, right?”
Oh, how the tables have turned. Remember when former head coach Sean McDermott got fired, and general manager Brandon Beane threw all of the blame at McDermott and the staff for wanting to draft Keon Coleman. Well, Brady may have put his foot in his mouth a little bit with his next comments about the receiver. It’s amazing what comes to light after the smoke settles.
“I’m understanding of that,” Brady said. “But, I’m also understanding that I was the one that wanted him, and I’m not saying it was only me, I wanted him, and I’m going to do everything I can to work with him to make it work because he has all the talent. When you see him out there, and he’s making plays, good things happen. I love him, and I want the best for him.”
Coleman could still be shipped away, despite Brady’s comments
Coleman is here to stay, at least for right now. This could be all postering, and then in a week, Buffalo decides to trade him away in a package deal for some more draft capital. But as of right now, Coleman’s tenure with the Buffalo Bills is clear as day. The organization has faith in the young wide receiver, and apparently so does the quarterback.
If Coleman has another remarkably down year, we can’t be having this same conversation in the 2026 offseason. The project is nearly over before it began, and it just feels like this season is make-or-break for Coleman, if he even makes it on the field.
Brady has tied his name to Coleman. That’s no small thing for a first-year head coach trying to establish credibility in a locker room that expects to compete for a Super Bowl.
This isn’t just about a young receiver developing anymore; it’s about whether Brady’s evaluation was correct. If Coleman turns the corner, Brady looks like a coach who knows how to unlock talent. If he doesn’t, the Bills will have burned another year of Allen’s prime waiting on potential.
The excuses are gone, the leash won’t be long, and for the first time in his career, Coleman won’t be just fighting for targets; he’ll be fighting for his future in Buffalo.
Buffalo Bills News
Latest league development spells bad news for the Bills heading into pivotal 2026 offseason with plenty of roles to fill
Not the best of news for Buffalo heading into 2026.
