The New England Patriots may have one less thing on their minds when they face off against the Bills this season.
Last year, the Patriots split the season series with the Bills, but claimed the AFC East division title over them, knocking the New Yorkers off their throne for the first time since 2019.
Last season was so disappointing for the Bills that they fired Sean McDermott, who missed the playoffs only once in his entire tenure with the team. Before his hiring, the Bills hadn't made the playoffs since 1999.
With McDermott gone, the Bills promoted offensive coordinator Joe Brady to head coach and traded for D.J. Moore. While they're relying on their 2025 core to get the job done, some fans pegged one player as a breakout after his first preseason matchup.
Former 33rd overall pick Keon Coleman hauled in three catches for 17 yards and a touchdown after a disappointing 2025 limited him to just 404 yards. The Patriots should be happy to know, however, that one journalist believes the hype around Coleman to be unjustified.
Hype around a Keon Coleman breakout considered overzealous
A Florida State product, Coleman was considered a promising selection after his rookie season. Despite managing only 29 catches, he totaled 559 yards and 4 touchdowns. His 19.2 yards per catch average was especially high considering his lack of top-end speed.
His sophomore campaign started off with a bang, as the Bills made an improbable comeback in Week 1 of last season to beat the Ravens 41-40. Coleman's 8-catch performance was a major reason for the Bills' offensive explosion, as he totaled 112 yards and a touchdown.
After what looked like the start of a new elite QB-WR duo in Buffalo, Coleman would fail to reach the 50-yard mark in any game afterward. Therefore, it shouldn't come as a major surprise that Moe Moton of Bleacher Report mentioned hype around Coleman as the biggest overreaction in Buffalo.
Coleman caught the first touchdown from Allen in the new Highmark Stadium, sparking excitement among Bills fans that it might mark a new chapter for the receiver, though that seems unlikely.
Aside from his on-field play, Coleman had an array of disciplinary issues last season. He was benched for the first quarter of the Bills' Week 5 game against the Patriots for disciplinary reasons and was later a healthy scratch in Weeks 11 and 12 after missing a team meeting.
In Week 16, he was a healthy scratch due to performance.
The team rejected offers for Coleman, as the value they'd receive doesn't likely match the ceiling he has as a former top-35 pick. The Bills roster Moore, Khalil Shakir, Josh Palmer, Skyler Bell, Mecole Hardman, and Tyrell Shavers. Coleman is likely in the WR3/4 range.
One thing to keep in mind is that Coleman doesn't fit the archetype of receivers who have had success with Allen. Rather, Moore, Shakir, and Bell do. Stefon Diggs, John Brown, and Cole Beasley were all players who could get open quickly via speed, rather than offer a threat as a jump-ball man.
Coleman offers something different than other receivers to Buffalo's offense, but that doesn't mean he's primed for a breakout. Another 400-500-yard season feels like an appropriate guess for the ex-Seminole's stat line.
At this point in his career, if he can be so much as a wrinkle in the offense, Bills fans should be pleased.
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