Cincinnati Speedster Caldwell Meets With Bills, Could Be Developmental Piece

With Keon Coleman's future uncertain, the Bills could target the raw but athletic Caldwell in the middle rounds.

Apr. 17, 2026 at 1:03am

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A cubist-style painting depicting a football player making a catch, with the figure broken down into sharp, overlapping geometric shapes and planes in a range of blues, greens, and browns, conveying the dynamic motion and energy of the play.The Bills' search for wide receiver depth could lead them to target a raw but athletic prospect like Jeff Caldwell in the middle rounds of the 2026 NFL Draft.Buffalo Today

The Buffalo Bills may look to add a wide receiver in the 2026 NFL Draft, and one player they've met with is Cincinnati's Jeff Caldwell. Caldwell, a 6-foot-5, 216-pound receiver, is considered a raw prospect but has impressive athletic traits, including a 4.31 40-yard dash. With uncertainty around 2024 second-round pick Keon Coleman's future in Buffalo, Caldwell could be a developmental piece for the team's new wide receivers coach Drew Terrell.

Why it matters

The Bills' wide receiver depth chart beyond Khalil Shakir and newly acquired DJ Moore is uncertain, making the position a potential draft need. Caldwell's combination of size and speed could intrigue the Bills, who may be looking to move on from Coleman, their previous high draft pick at the position.

The details

Caldwell, who began his college career at Lindenwood before transferring to Cincinnati for his senior season, finished 2025 with 32 receptions for 478 yards and six touchdowns. While his production profile is slim at the Power 5 level, his athletic testing numbers, including a 99 athleticism score at the combine, have caught the attention of NFL teams like the Bills.

  • Caldwell met with the Bills during the pre-draft process in the days leading up to the 2026 NFL Draft.

The players

Jeff Caldwell

A 6-foot-5, 216-pound wide receiver who played his senior season at Cincinnati after starting his college career at Lindenwood.

Keon Coleman

A 2024 second-round pick by the Bills who has struggled in his first two NFL seasons, potentially opening the door for the team to target a new developmental wide receiver.

Drew Terrell

The Bills' new wide receivers coach, who could help mold a raw talent like Caldwell into a contributor.

Joe Brady

The Bills' new head coach, who will oversee the team's efforts to bolster the wide receiver position in the draft.

DJ Moore

A wide receiver acquired by the Bills via trade this offseason, adding a proven commodity to their pass-catching corps.

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What they’re saying

“'You're getting a selfless player who approaches every task with passion and attention to detail. I'm eager to learn and get better. I'm going to buy into the system. I'm going to take full advantage of this opportunity.'”

— Jeff Caldwell, Wide Receiver

What’s next

The Bills will continue to evaluate their options at wide receiver leading up to the 2026 NFL Draft, where they could target Caldwell or another developmental prospect in the middle rounds.

The takeaway

With uncertainty surrounding Keon Coleman's future in Buffalo and a need to add depth at wide receiver, the Bills' meeting with the athletic but raw Jeff Caldwell suggests he could be a mid-round target to develop under the team's new coaching staff.