Coming into the 2024 NFL Draft, the Buffalo Bills had a few clear needs on their roster. Arguably the biggest was on the offensive side of the ball at wide receiver. Throughout the 2023 season, people wondered whether or not the Bills would look to make an addition to their passing-catching group as it was viewed as a need. That need only grew this offseason.
The Bills allowed No. 2 receiver Gabe Davis to hit the open market and watched him depart in free agency, agreeing to a contract with the Jacksonville Jaguars. They also traded No. 1 receiver Stefon Diggs to the Houston Texans.
With their top two options from the last few seasons on the move, a wide receiver became their most pressing need. When Buffalo traded back twice in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft, their fans were probably losing their minds. Especially when one of those trade backs was in a deal with the defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs, who promptly selected a wide receiver.
Buffalo ended up not making a pick in the first round, as they landed the No. 1 pick in the second round, No. 33 overall. That is where they addressed their need for a wide receiver, selecting Keon Coleman out of Florida State.
Coleman’s 40-yard dash time gave pause to some evaluators, but his size and production with the Seminoles speaks for itself. He will be a contested catch monster at the next level, measuring out at 6’3” and 213 pounds.
Shortly after making the selection, Bills general manager Brandon Beane talked about what the plans for Coleman could be early in his career. Beane said that while Coleman possesses the skill to play in the slot, he will start on the perimeter as the team’s X receiver. The update was provided by Jay Skurski of The Buffalo News.
That plan in the early going makes sense for the Bills. They want to get Coleman acclimated and up to speed as fast as possible and don’t want to overwhelm him from the start. Having him focus on playing a position he is used to on the perimeter before learning the intricacies of playing the slot is a good move on Buffalo’s part.
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