Bills select Florida State wide receiver Keon Coleman with No. 33 overall pick in 2024 NFL Draft 

The Buffalo Bills traded down twice on the opening night of the 2024 NFL Draft, eschewing opportunities to select a wide receiver in the first round. General manager Brandon Beane sat tight at the top of Round 2 and nabbed his pass catcher.

The Bills selected Florida State wideout Keon Coleman at No. 33 overall on Friday night.

At the tail end of the second round, they went defensive by selecting Utah’s Cole Bishop with the 60th pick, one of the first safeties off the board in this year’s draft.

Buffalo traded Stefon Diggs to Houston and watched Gabe Davis sign in Jacksonville this offseason, opening a massive hole in the receiver corps. In steps Coleman to a wideout room headlined by Khalil Shakir, Justin Shorter, Curtis Samuel, Mack Hollins and K.J. Hamler.

At 6-foot-3 and 213 pounds, Coleman brings needed size to the Bills receiver unit. His high-upside ball skills should pair well with Josh Allen off the bat. Coleman aggressively attacks the pigskin, using size to his advantage, particularly when matched against smaller corners.

Coleman transferred to FSU in 2023 after playing his initial two seasons of college football at Michigan State. He established himself as a standout player, earning first-team All-ACC honors and recording 11 touchdowns and 658 yards on 50 receptions. In his debut game with the Seminoles, Coleman demonstrated his prowess, snagging nine catches for 122 yards and scoring three touchdowns, contributing significantly to a victory over LSU.

The massive season that the opener seemed to portend never really materialized. In 12 games, he broke the 70-yard mark three times and fell under the 25-yard mark five times. His sputtering down the stretch might have given some evaluators pause when it comes to his transition to the pros.

Coleman possesses a physical dominance and athletic agility, making him a favored target. However, his mediocre speed and lack of subtlety in his routes often result in him being heavily guarded for extended periods. Despite this, he showcases the capacity to execute spectacular catches that leave spectators in awe.

Fortunately, Coleman is teaming up with a quarterback who doesn’t require much space to execute a perfect pass. The newcomer needs to demonstrate to Allen from the outset that he can be relied upon to catch the ball. If he manages this, he can expect to be the recipient of numerous passes from the powerfully-armed quarterback.

Joe Brady’s offense, which increasingly relied on the ground attack towards the end of 2023, should also profit from Coleman’s physical ability as a blocker.

Entering the draft, the Bills were in desperate need of a receiver. They strategically traded down on the first day to enhance their drafting position in other areas before securing a physical pass catcher to start off the second day. It is very likely that Beane would include at least one more wide receiver before the draft process concludes.