Amari Cooper trade brings more opportunity for Bills rookie receiver Keon Coleman
The biggest winner of the Amari Cooper trade might just be Keon Coleman. The Buffalo Bills rookie not only gets to learn from a veteran receiver who has had success in the NFL, he also will have less pressure on him to be a top target for Josh Allen.
Selected with the No. 33 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, the Florida State product was seen as an important piece to the Bills’ offense after the team traded Stefan Diggs and lost Gabriel Davis via free agency. Along with third-year wide receiver Khalil Shakir and tight ends Dalton Kincaid and Dawson Knox, the Bills rookie was seen as a player who needed to step up, even as a rookie.
With less pressure, Keon Coleman has a bigger opportunity
So far, Coleman has been okay for the 4-2 Bills. Through Week 6 of the 2024 NFL season, he has caught 12 receptions for 201 yards and 2 touchdowns. That included a 49-yard touchdown reception in the team’s Week 5 loss to the Houston Texas. That touchdown showcased the upside of the 6-foot-4 rookie and what he can do when featured in the offense. But, as a player still learning, having a veteran like Cooper now as the top receiver will take the pressure off and open opportunities.
At least that is how the rookie is embracing the addition of Cooper.
“Same thing like adding another person with more money in your household,” Coleman told Spectrum writer Andy young. “Help you pay everything, help everything out. Help everybody else get open and just bring more threat to the offense.”
An interesting analogy, but one that makes sense. The consistency Cooper brings to the offense and the type of target he will be for Allen should help Coleman tremendously. It allows him to be a third option target who will now garner favorable matchups that should allow him to utilize his size and talent while learning from a savvy veteran.
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In all, the Cooper trade was a big win for the Bills, who gave up a third-round pick in return. It gives Allen a No. 1 target he can rely on and helps a rookie like Coleman learn on and off the field what it takes to win matchups and find ways to get open for his quarterback.