There will be “bumps in the road”

The anticipation of fans hovering around Buffalo Bills rookie wide receiver Keon Coleman can perhaps best be compared to a boulder rolling down a large hill: it gains momentum as it gets closer to its final destination, and if precautions are not taken now, people could get (metaphorically) hurt.

Hopes have always been high for the former Florida State Seminole; The 6-foot-3 wide receiver caught 50 passes for 658 yards and 11 touchdowns during his lone season in Tallahassee, standing out as one of the “highest ceiling” prospects in a draft class in the NFL 2024 which was by no means devoid of wideout talent. He’s only improved his stock since being selected by the Bills in the second round of the draft, endearing himself to the Buffalo faithful with his genuine personality before earning praise from quarterback Josh Allen during the Optional OTAs.

The fan base – and the team itself – has high expectations for Coleman in his debut campaign, as the 21-year-old projects as the Bills’ wide receiver X given the offseason departure of the perennial Pro Bowler Stefon Diggs. General manager Brandon Beane is putting the brakes on the hype train a bit; he spoke about the receiver after the conclusion of the team’s recent mandatory minicamp, expressing optimism about expanding while simultaneously emphasizing the differences between college and professional games and the overall importance of reality.

“I think Keon worked hard,” Beane said. “As with anything, (a) college playbook versus an NFL playbook, big difference. The verbiage, where he lines up, the aim settings, all the deviations he has to make. Even what we ask of our guys in the running game, I don’t know specifically what was asked of him there. In some schools there are very few, it’s like it’s not a passing play, you have to take a play away. It’s not here. He must be involved in all phases of our attack.

“But I see a guy who works hard, who is competitive. You got to know his personality, he’s genuine, that’s really who he is. Like anything, there are going to be bumps in the road. He’s a rookie, and I think we all need to understand that. I think he and Josh are working on that relationship that will be needed between the quarterback and the receiver.

Related: NFL Writer Thinks This WR Will Make Career Return With Bills

Although Beane’s response sparked his share of eye emojis on social media, he didn’t say anything particularly shocking or alarming. There are obvious, objective differences between the college and professional games: Anyone expecting Coleman to master all the intricacies of a new level in a matter of weeks was simply unrealistic. The executive also addresses the differences between the college wide receiver and NFL playbooks, a contrast that Coleman himself spoke about during last month’s rookie minicamp; the Louisiana native later told reporters there was “a lot of difference” between the offenses committed at Florida State and Buffalo.

Beane’s comments, of course, imply that Coleman doesn’t yet look like a dominant boundary spanner; The executive would probably be the first to tell you he didn’t expect the rookie to look like an elite receiver after a handful of padless practices.

The most encouraging – and potentially important – elements of Beane’s response are his comments on Coleman’s character and work ethic, as well as that will be the determining factor in whether it improves on its current raw state. Beane’s comments are by no means gloomy, despite what social media suggests; sorry, but the sky is not falling in Buffalo.

The rookie may not look like an All-Pro in June. Fortunately, the games are only played in September.