Saints should check in on potential Keon Coleman trade

By Ross Jackson

The Buffalo Bills may have alienated one of their young offensive players in wide receiver Keon Coleman. After a highly-criticized press conference in Buffalo, the New Orleans Saints should be checking in on the Louisiana native’s availability for a potential trade in order to continue building out its wideout room.

Wow. #Bills owner Terry Pegula says the coaching staff pushed to draft WR Keon Coleman and that was never GM Brandon Beane’s top choice in that situation.

“That was Brandon being a team player. … He’s taken heat over it. I’m here to tell you the true story.”

Wowza. I’ve never… pic.twitter.com/mimTgT9zc9

— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) January 21, 2026

Coleman, a second-round draft selection in 2024, was effectively criticized by Bills’ owner Terry Pegula during an undisciplined presser held by Pegula and general manager Brandon Beane. The availability followed the sudden firing of former head coach Sean McDermott, so emotions and tension were admittedly high. 

But Pegula’s comments about Coleman not being Beane’s preferred target (though draft room footage and interviews suggests otherwise) and the selection of the 6-foot-4, 215-pound wideout from Opelousas, La. was an example of the general manager “being a team player” isn’t going to inspire much confidence in the partnership moving forward.

With all of the uncharacteristic chaos now hovering over Orchard Park, N.Y., it might be the perfect time for the Saints to swing in.

For the right price, such as a late Day 3 pick in 2026 or a Day 3 selection in 2027, Coleman could make a lot of sense for New Orleans. His big-bodied frame fits a prototype the team could use more of at the position. He’s a solid run blocker (No.4 of 60 qualifying wideouts, per Pro Football Focus) and handles volume in the passing game well, though those opportunities were rarely afforded in Buffalo.

During his time with the Bills, Coleman reeled in 67 receptions for 960 receiving yards and eight touchdown catches. Not a bad collection of stats, but likely not the production expected from a second-round pick. New Orleans, however, could use that very level of contribution.

Aside from star receiver Chris Olave, New Orleans saw only one wideout total more than 300 receiving yards in 2025. That lone receiver was Rashid Shaheed, who was traded away at the midseason trade deadline.

A trade for Coleman would also allow the Saints to inherit the two years left on his rookie deal, putting him on the same timeline as wide receiver Devaughn Vele, who was also acquired via trade ahead of the 2025 season. While Vele will be 30-years-old in the final year of his rookie deal, Coleman will only be 24.

Such a move should not preclude New Orleans from investing in the position again during the 2026 NFL Draft, but would allow them to not treat the position as one of need. Instead, they could continue their preferred best player available approach.

The price has to be right for a trade to make sense. But if it is, there’s little reason not to bring Coleman back to Louisiana should the opportunity present itself.