Colts trade: ESPN proposes Indianapolis Colts get wide receiver Keon Coleman from Buffalo Bills

The Indianapolis Colts don't have the NFL's most formidable wide receiver corps.

The Colts traded Michael Pittman Jr. to the Pittsburgh Steelers in the offseason and signed Alec Pierce to a lucrative contract extension . The rest of the expected regulars include Josh Downs , Ashton Dulin , Anthony Gould , Nick Westbrook-Ikhine , Laquon Treadwell , and draft pick Deion Burks .

Downs (58) and Pierce (47) combined for 105 catches in the 2025 season, and the rest 18 (including Westbrook-Ikhine's 11 for Miami).

Should the Colts trade for a speedy receiver? ESPN's Seth Walder believes the Buffalo Bills ' Keon Coleman would fit in Indianapolis and ease an awkward situation in Buffalo. It's one of his five preseason trade proposals .

Coleman, the first pick in the second round of the 2024 NFL Draft, has 67 receptions and eight touchdowns in two seasons. In January, Bills owner Terry Pegula criticized the previous coaching staff for pushing the front office to pick Coleman, who remains on the Buffalo roster.

Under this proposal, the Colts would only have to give up a mid-round draft pick. They don't hold a first-round pick in 2027 as part of acquiring cornerback Sauce Gardner midway through last season.

ESPN proposed trade involving the Indianapolis Colts

Colts receive : WR Keon Coleman, 2028 sixth-round pick

Bills receive : 2027 fourth-round pick

"Coleman was already a potential trade candidate before Bills owner Terry Pegula blamed the team's former coaching staff — as opposed to the current front office — for pushing to draft the wide receiver with the No. 33 pick in 2024. Coleman has struggled in two NFL seasons, but it was a fairly shocking insult toward a player still on the roster.

"Buffalo doesn't have to trade him, but between his on-field struggles and the negative vibes stemming from ownership's comments, it certainly could. And the Colts would be a logical candidate to bet on Coleman at a reduced cost.

"Coleman has recorded 1.65 yards per route run over 583 career routes, along with a 48-51-49 triple-slash of open, catch and YAC scores from ESPN's player-tracking based receiver scores. Those numbers aren't great and aren't what the Bills hoped for when they drafted him, but they're not terrible either. He definitely could still be a contributing player to a winning team with some growth.

"Indianapolis needs receiver help. After being re-signed to a $28.5 million-per-year deal, Alec Pierce underwent ankle surgery and is not yet back on the practice field. The Colts have the promising Josh Downs in the slot, but the depth chart on the outside behind Pierce is rough, with Nick Westbrook-Ikhine and Ashton Dulin the likely next options. The Colts could use another receiver regardless of Pierce's status, so taking a chance on Coleman's upside makes sense.

"The Jahan Dotson trade in 2024, in which the Eagles sent a third-round pick and two seventh-rounders to the Commanders for Dotson and a fifth-rounder, is a useful comp. Like Coleman, Dotson was entering his third year after an uneven first two seasons. But Dotson was a higher draft pick (No. 16 vs. No. 33) and was better regarded than Coleman is now, which is why I think it would cost less to acquire the latter."

Joel A. Erickson  and  Nathan Brown  cover the Colts   all season. Get more coverage on  IndyStarTV  and with the  Colts Insider newsletter .

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Colts trade: ESPN proposes Indianapolis Colts get wide receiver Keon Coleman from Buffalo Bills

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