by TYLER HATHAWAY
After making no selections on Thursday after trading down out of the first round, the Buffalo Bills snagged a total of three players in the second and third round of the 2024 NFL Draft. Florida State wide receiver Keon Coleman, Utah defensive back Cole Bishop, and Duke defensive tackle DeWayne Carter all heard their names called Friday night and will be making their way to Orchard Park. Coleman was taken in the second round with pick 33, Bishop in the second round with pick 60, and Carter in the third round with pick 95. Here’s a breakdown on the three newest Bills:
KEON COLEMAN- Wide receiver, Florida State
A 6 foot 3 inch tall wideout, Coleman spent two years of his college career at Michigan State before playing his final year with the Seminoles. After seeing limited action as a freshman with the Spartans, in his second year the 213-pounder led Michigan State in receptions with 58, accrued 798 receiving yards, and found the endzone seven times. He was named as an All-Big Ten honorable mention and started all 12 games.
He transferred to Florida State in 2023 for his junior year and found success, being named to the All-ACC First team as a wide receiver, a special teamer, and as an all-purpose player. Coleman was the first player in Seminole history to be named to three first-team awards in the same season. He finished with 50 receptions, 685 receiving yards, and 11 receiving touchdowns in 12 games as a starter. His 300 punt return yards ranked third in the FBS. Florida State that year finished with a record of 13-1 and an ACC Championship.
After the recent departures of Gabriel Davis and Stefon Diggs, Coleman joins a Buffalo wide receiver core currently featuring Khalil Shakir and free agent additions Curtis Samuel, KJ Hamler, and Mack Hollins. Second-year tight end Dalton Kincaid and veteran tight end Dawson Knox round out quarterback Josh Allen‘s pass-catching crew.
COLE BISHOP- Defensive back, Utah
A starter in 29 games over three seasons for the Utes, Bishop was named an All-Pac 12 honorable mention in both 2021 and 2022 and All-Pac 12 Second-team in 2023. As a freshman, the 6 foot 2 inch 209-pounder recorded 54 tackles, nine tackles for loss with three sacks, five pass break-ups, and a blocked kick over 10 games (six starts). He led the Utah in tackles as a sophomore with 83, while also tallying six tackles for loss with a sack and a half, an interception, and three pass break-ups over 14 games (13 starts). As a team captain in 2023, the junior recorded 60 tackles, six and a half tackles for loss with three sacks, two interceptions, three pass break-ups, and a forced fumble.
Bishop enters the Buffalo secondary looking to fill the void created by defensive backs Jordan Poyer, Micah Hyde, Tre’Davious White, Siran Neal, and Dane Jackson no longer being on the Bills. The Utah product is joined by the likes of Taylor Rapp, Damar Hamlin, Rasul Douglas, and Taron Johnson in the back-half of the defense.
DeWAYNE CARTER- Defensive tackle, Duke
Weighing in at 6 foot 2 inches, 302 pounds, Carter played five seasons for the Blue Devils and was the first three-year team captain in school history. After playing in three games and redshirting as a freshman, Carter accrued 12 tackles, three tackles for loss, and a sack over 11 games in his time as a redshirt freshman (one start). He started all 38 games of his sophomore, junior, and senior years, being named to All-ACC Third-team in 2021, All-ACC Second-team in 2022, and All-ACC First-team in 2023. Over those three seasons Carter produced 113 tackles, 22 tackles for loss, 11 sacks, 11 pass break-ups, seven forced fumbles, and three fumble recoveries. He also took home the ACC Jim Tatum award as the conference’s top scholar-athlete and was a finalist for the William V. Campbell Trophy.
Carter will be the newest addition to a Buffalo defensive front that is made up of players such as Von Miller, Ed Oliver, DaQuan Jones, and Greg Rousseau.
The Bills currently have seven selections left over the final four rounds, with one pick in the fourth round (128), four picks in the fifth round (141, 144, 160, 163, and 204), one pick in the sixth round (204), and one pick in the seventh round (221).
The third and final day of the 2024 NFL Draft kicks off Saturday at noon, and will be televised on ABC, ESPN, and the NFL Network.
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