Bills mishandling of Keon Coleman situation might unexpectedly help them land Josh Allen a high-end new weapon
Keon Coleman could have played his last snap as a member of the Buffalo Bills.
Wide receiver Keon Coleman is not having a good week. Buffalo Bills owner Terry Pegula spoke with the media, and it turned into a disastrous press conference. I will say the general manager, Brandon Beane, did well, but overall, it was an utter disaster.
Why the talk about Coleman, you may ask? Well, surprisingly, his name came up during the press conference with Pegula essentially throwing former Bills head coach Sean McDermott and the rest of the coaching staff under the bus for the decision to draft Coleman. He was selected in the second round of the 2024 NFL Draft and has left much to be desired in his second year in the league.
Coleman has struggled after a promising offseason
Ahead of the season, the talk of the offseason and training camp was how Coleman had improved his game. Even offensive lineman Dion Dawkins said that the league better get ready for the second-year wide receiver. Unfortunately, outside of a strong Week 1 performance, he struggled mightily.
Coleman finished his sophomore campaign with 38 receptions for 404 yards and four touchdowns, a far cry from “the league better get ready,” if you ask me. Coleman himself was to blame for the lack of production on the field, as he was disciplined twice in the year for missing team meetings, along with being a healthy scratch on more than one occasion.
It seems like Coleman’s time in Buffalo may be coming to a close, which is exactly why I connected with A to Z Sports Indianapolis writer Destin Adams. The Colts have a receiver the Bills could be after: Michael Pittman Jr. Let’s see how a deal can get done between the two clubs.
Colts could give the Bills a new top WR for Josh Allen in exchange for Keon Coleman and draft compensation
“Many expect that the Colts will have to make a tough decision between Michael Pittman Jr. and Alec Pierce. Pittman Jr. is owed $29 million if he is on the Colts’ roster next season, which simply can’t happen.
“If he is back with the Colts, it would have to be on a reworked deal. Which is why trading the team’s multi-year leading WR is likely going to be at least entertaining. And the Bills make a lot of sense as a spot where they could move their former second-round pick.
“Coleman’s tenure with the Bills seems to be on borrowed time, and they need to make significant upgrades to their WR room. The Colts should be interested in Coleman’s rookie contract, as it would offer more flexibility to re-sign Alec Pierce. So the Colts should offer Pittman Jr. to the Bills for Coleman and a fourth-round pick.
“That would be a win-win for everyone involved. The Colts would create needed cap space, the Bills would get a new top target for Josh Allen, and Pittman Jr. would land with a contender for the second stage of his career without losing any of his already signed contract.” – Destin Adams, A to Z Sports Indianapolis
Keon Coleman for Michael Pittman Jr. would give the Bills a much-needed weapon
Buffalo would have some work to do if it managed to pull off the trade, though. Pittman Jr. is slated to make $24 million in 2026; the Colts’ cap hit is $29 million. It’s the final year of the deal, so if the Bills acquire him, they’d take a $24 million cap hit. There are a few options to lower it: a backloaded long-term extension or a restructuring that adds void years.
The six-year veteran finished his 2025 campaign with 80 receptions for 784 yards and seven touchdowns — a reliable, big-bodied, deep threat receiver. Pittman Jr.’s best season came in 2023, when he had 109 receptions for 1,152 yards and four touchdowns. While he’s had a decline in production in 2024 and 2025 compared to his 2023 campaign, there’s still a lot in the tank for Pittman Jr.
He would be an immediate upgrade as he uses his size and strength to win at the catch point and fight for contested balls. He’s known for his consistent hands and ability to run clean routes, something that Coleman has struggled with during his time in Buffalo. Much like wide receiver Khalil Shakir, Pittman Jr. is also dangerous with yards after catch, being named a “triple-threat” receiver by Pro Football Focus.
For Buffalo, it wouldn’t be giving up too much draft capital, and Coleman’s time appears to be coming to an end anyway. It’s the lowest his stock may be, though. So Buffalo might have to give away a little bit more than it would initially be willing to in terms of the draft pick. Yes, it’s not a ton of draft capital, but we know how much Beane loves those picks.
This feels less like a splashy blockbuster and more like a necessary course correction. The Bills are firmly in win-now mode with Allen in his prime, and they can’t afford to wait on development, discipline, or potential any longer.
Whether it’s Pittman Jr. or another proven veteran, Buffalo has to prioritize production and reliability over hope. If that means turning the page on Coleman sooner than expected, it may be an uncomfortable move, but it might also be the kind of decisive one this roster desperately needs.
And before you ask, we already tried to get wide receiver Alec Pierce, but he was too expensive. That would be fun, though.
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