Keon Coleman’s future in Buffalo could hinge on what happens in 2026, and the Bills may soon face a real contract dilemma if he finally puts it together.
Coleman’s first two seasons haven’t come close to matching the expectations many had for him. Over that span, he has topped 100 receiving yards only twice, once in each season. One of those games came in last season’s home opener against the Baltimore Ravens, when he finished with 8 catches for 112 yards and a touchdown.
For a while, some Bills fans believed Coleman was lined up to become Josh Allen’s new top target. That never materialized. His issues weren’t limited to production, either, as he also found himself as a healthy scratch because of maturity problems inside the building.
There was even a point when it seemed like Coleman might be headed out of Buffalo in some form once Sean McDermott was fired. Instead, he remains on the roster and has received public backing from Joe Brady. Even with that support, Buffalo has clearly not stood still at the position, trading for DJ Moore and using a fourth-round pick on Skyler Bell in this year’s NFL Draft to add more help for Allen.
Still, ESPN’s Seth Walder sees a path to a major step forward. His projection has Coleman reaching at least 750 receiving yards and five touchdowns in 2026, both of which would be career highs.
" Wide receiver Keon Coleman will record 750 or more receiving yards and at least five touchdowns -- both career highs. Earlier this offseason I thought there was a decent chance he'd be on a different team by now. But Coleman also hasn't been that bad in his first two years, posting a 49 overall score in ESPN's receiver score (just below average) and 1.6 yards per route run." said Walder, ESPN.
That kind of season would be exactly what Bills fans want to see from Coleman. But if he does break out, Buffalo could be staring at a tricky decision not long after.
Because 2026 would be Coleman’s third NFL season, he could be entering 2027 on the final year of his rookie contract. And since he was not a first-round pick in 2024, the Bills do not have a fifth-year option to lean on. That means they would have to decide after the 2026 season what comes next.
For now, Coleman’s last two years have left plenty of doubt about his long-term place with the team. But if he turns in the kind of season ESPN is predicting, the Bills might not just get the production they’ve been waiting for - they may also have to make a difficult call on his future.
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