Bills quarterback Josh Allen wanted a big-bodied receiver as he heads into his seventh season in Buffalo.
In the 2024 NFL Draft, Buffalo selected wide receiver Keon Coleman with the No. 33 overall pick to pair the 6-foot-3, 213-pound Florida State prospect with Allen.
Speaking Thursday on NFL Network's The Insiders, Allen said he believes Coleman’s play-making ability is a perfect match with Buffalo's surrounding cast heading into the 2024 season.
“I think his play style (is) what we needed in our offense,” Allen told NFL Network Insiders Mike Garafolo and Tom Pelissero. “Talking with our offensive coordinator (Joe Brady), our quarterbacks coach (Ronald Curry), (general manager) Brandon Beane and, obviously, coach (Sean) McDermott, a guy that’s a big-bodied guy and can go win one a back-shoulder fade and not afraid to be a physical wide receiver.
“I think you pair him with some of the guys we have in our room right now, I think Mack Hollins has been such a great addition so far to that room with his mentality, his mindset is infectious to others. Curtis Samuel, he’s been showing up every single day ready to work. … You start pairing those guys up with and Coleman in this mix now, we’re gonna have a pretty solid group that works together.”
In Coleman’s collegiate career, he spent his first two campaigns at Michigan State. As a Spartan, Coleman caught 65 passes for 848 yards and eight touchdowns. Coleman then entered the transfer portal and spent his junior season with Florida State. He displayed his big-play ability with a career-high 11 touchdowns in 2023.
Coleman’s size and playmaking ability was a need after the Bills traded Stefon Diggs to the Houston Texans in April. Buffalo also saw its No. 2 receiving option Gabe Davis sign with Jacksonville in free agency. As a duo, Diggs and Davis accounted for 241 targets, 152 catches, 1,929 receiving yards and 15 touchdowns last season.
Buffalo revamped its roster as it made salary-cap moves by cutting ties with some key veterans. After seeing Diggs and Davis depart, the Bills spent their offseason beefing up the WR room by adding Marquez Valdes-Scantling and Chase Claypool in addition to Coleman, Hollins and Samuel.
With offseason team activities underway, Allen is already speeding up the chemistry process with his new teammates.
“I think it starts here in OTAs. I’m fortunate enough to have those guys in the building right now,” he said. “We’re throwing throughout practice. We’re taking extra reps after practice. Obviously, this time (of year), you’ve only got a certain amount of time where you can get those reps. So just doing some stuff extra and finding time. We’ll get that month off, if you will, in late June-early July, try to find a window where we can get together and throw again. Just make sure that we’re staying on top of things, and getting as many reps as possible.”