Former Bills receiver trying to help Keon Coleman save career after controversial Terry Pegula comments

One of the more unique stories related to the Buffalo Bills this offseason involved Bills owner Terry Pegula saying in January that former head coach Sean McDermott was responsible for Buffalo selecting wide receiver Keon Coleman with the 33rd overall pick of the 2024 NFL Draft. 

While Bills general manager and president of football operations Brandon Beane later suggested that Coleman will "have every chance" to stay with the club, some continue to assume it's a matter of when and not if the 22-year-old will have a new football home.

During a recent chat with Kyle Odegard of Casino.org, former Bills receiver Stevie Johnson revealed that he has spoken with Coleman during the offseason about improving aspects of the third-year pro's game. 

Will mentorship help game "slow down" for Keon Coleman?

"I hadn’t had a conversation with him his first two seasons, until after last year," Johnson said about reaching out to Coleman. "I get it now. It all makes sense to me. I’d be like, 'If only he would do this on this type of route.' After talking to him, he didn’t know that. Now I feel like it’s all going to slow down for him."

Coleman recorded 67 receptions for 960 yards and eight touchdowns over the first 26 regular-season games of his career. He also caused headaches for the club for reasons related to being disciplined, benched and made a healthy scratch on multiple occasions. 

"I reached out and really picked his mind," Johnson continued. "I realized he was still learning the game. He was only utilizing juke moves to get open, as opposed to understanding what the DBs are seeing when they line up against him. ...We just dove into it, and within his responses, I understood why in goal-line last year they didn’t want to really throw it to [him] as much, because [he was] telegraphing [his] route." 

Is Keon Coleman about to "take off" with Bills?

Per Audacy's Salvatore Capaccio, new Buffalo head coach Joe Brady insisted that he still believes Coleman can be a positive contributor for the Bills. Brady previously was the club's offensive coordinator on McDermott's staff.

"He’s going to be able to soak all this up, and it’s going to come together for him," Johnson added. "Year 3 is usually that time. Andre Reed took off in Year 3. I did. And I feel like it’s going to happen for him." 

If Johnson is right, the Bills will be glad that they didn't trade Coleman for pennies on the dollar following Pegula's controversial comments.