Bills General Manager Brandon Beane stated that wide receiver Keon Coleman must demonstrate maturity and improve his behavior off the field to regain trust and earn playing time this season. Beane highlighted that past difficulties related to maturity and performance have affected Coleman’s progress with the team.
“Some of the things we’ve talked about are just the maturity. It’s the off-the-field. That can get in the way,”
Beane said, via The Athletic.
“I’ve been in this league 28 — this will be 29 — seasons. I’ve seen that many times get in the way of people’s opportunities to grow, and not only on the field, but to expand their net worth off the field. And so that is kind of the challenge to Keon.”
Plans to Increase Involvement of Khalil Shakir in the Offense
Beane also mentioned that the Bills intend to increase the number of opportunities for wide receiver Khalil Shakir, who recently finished near the bottom of the league in average depth of target. The team sees Shakir as a highly versatile player who can contribute significantly at various positions on offense.
“There’s really not a lot of things Khalil can’t do. As we watch cutups and as we go through things and put it all together, there are definitely ways to get the ball in his hands in different ways. And we have to continue to grow his game because he’s such a huge component to our offense. He’s one of our best football players. When the ball’s in his hands, good things is happening, and it doesn’t necessarily always have to be in a short range.”
Efforts to Retain Tight End Dawson Knox with Adjusted Contract
The Bills are focused on keeping tight end Dawson Knox with the team but acknowledge that an adjustment in his contract will be necessary. Beane acknowledged the realities of the negotiation process, emphasizing that both sides need to find an agreement that benefits them.
“We’ve done pay cuts before with players. With those, you have to keep in mind, they’re going to try and figure out what their market is, and that’s what their agents do a great job of,”
Beane said.
“We’d be crazy not to want a Dawson Knox back. We know we have to make it work for him and work for us.”
New Signing: Sam Franklin’s Contract Details
The Bills have secured linebacker Sam Franklin with a three-year, $7 million contract. This deal includes $4.2 million guaranteed, with $2.53 million fully guaranteed at signing. Franklin also received a $1.25 million signing bonus, and his 2026 salary is fully guaranteed, adding long-term stability for both player and team.
Raheem Mostert’s View on Former Dolphins Coach Mike McDaniel
Former Miami Dolphins running back Raheem Mostert shared his perspective on Mike McDaniel’s coaching style, describing the former head coach as overly focused on being a players’ coach to a fault. Mostert believes that this approach may have negatively impacted team performance.
“He’s a great coach,” Mostert told Colin Cowherd.
“If guys are talking, he’ll listen and give them some advice, but head coach wise — the past couple of years, what they’ve been going through has just been kind of rough. I kind of feel bad for the players. When you have a coach that is so player friendly, it doesn’t really mix all that well. Look at the coaches in history, not just in the NFL, of all of these different sports franchises, they have coaches that implement toughness, resilience and that’s something that he kind of missed the mark on in being a head coach.”
“As a player, I need somebody tough that’s going to lay the hammer down when it needs to be down and tell other players to get in line,”
Mostert added.
“When you don’t have that, that impact can definitely be detrimental.”
Jets’ General Manager on Prospects of Acquiring Top Draft Pick
Jets General Manager Darren Mougey addressed recent speculation about the team acquiring the first overall pick in the NFL Draft from the Las Vegas Raiders. Mougey downplayed the possibility, describing it as unlikely but leaving the door open for talks.
“Absolutely, we’ll talk about all those things, but I don’t think that’s happening,”
Mougey said, as reported by Rich Cimini of ESPN.
Looking Ahead: Challenges and Opportunities for the Bills
With Keon Coleman entering the new season under scrutiny for his maturity issues, the Bills are balancing personnel development and contract negotiations to improve team performance. Increasing involvement of players like Khalil Shakir and securing key contributors such as Dawson Knox and Sam Franklin will be important for Buffalo’s offensive and defensive strategies. The upcoming season will test Coleman’s ability to overcome personal challenges and demonstrate growth, while the team aims to maintain competitiveness through strategic roster management.
