Bills position preview: Front office runs it back at tight end
The position is looked at as a strength of the roster heading into the 2024 season, which will be offensive coordinator Joe Brady’s first full season on the job in
This is the fourth in a series looking at the status of each position before the Buffalo Bills report to training camp on July 23. This installment: Tight ends.
In both draft capital and dollars, the Buffalo Bills have invested heavily at tight end.
The team handed incumbent starter Dawson Knox a contract extension potentially worth more than $50 million prior to the start of the 2022 season. The next year, it drafted Dalton Kincaid in the first round.
As a result, the position is looked at as a strength of the roster heading into the 2024 season, which will be offensive coordinator Joe Brady’s first full season on the job in Buffalo.
“When you have guys like Dalton Kincaid and Dawson Knox, it gives you a lot,” Brady said. “It opens up a lot of doors because they can play outside, block in line.”
There is good reason for Brady to be excited about the possibilities presented by having Kincaid and Knox on the field at the same time. Kincaid set a franchise record for tight ends as a rookie with 73 catches, the fourth-most in NFL history. He’s expected to see an increase in targets with No. 1 wide receiver Stefon Diggs traded to Houston. Knox, meanwhile, has proven production in the red zone and is viewed as an accomplished blocker.
Former offensive coordinator Ken Dorsey never fully used both of them at the same time, which was thought to be the plan when General Manager Brandon Beane traded up to draft Kincaid, so Brady will be left to figure out the best possible way of maximizing the ‘12’ formation (one running back and two tight ends on the field at the same time).
Surprisingly enough, the Bills return the exact same depth chart at the position that the team had in 2023. No tight ends left the team in the offseason, and none were acquired. That’s a sign that the front office and coaching staff feels good about what it has on the roster.
Returnees: Knox, Kincaid, Quintin Morris, Zach Davidson, Tre’ McKitty.
Newcomers: None.
Departures: None.
Top battle
As previously mentioned, Knox and Kincaid are the clear top two at the position. That means the only real competition comes down to whether Davidson or McKitty can either push Morris for the No. 3 job on the active roster – or convince the coaching staff that the team should keep four at the position. That’s highly unlikely.Morris has played in 29 regular-season games over the past two years and is a trusted backup who can step in for either Knox or Kincaid. His number of offensive snaps went down last year, but that was to be expected after taking Kincaid in the first round and is not a reflection of the coaching staff’s belief in Morris as a player.
It’s worth noting that Davidson had a great spring in the practices that were open to the media, routinely making big catches. The challenge for him will be to carry over that production into training camp and the preseason. At the very least, he looks to have a good chance at making the practice squad. That’s where McKitty, who has 34 games of NFL experience over the past three seasons with the Los Angeles Chargers, ended last season in Buffalo.
What to expect
Kincaid is in line for a big season. If there is a betting favorite to lead the team in receptions and targets with Diggs gone, he’s it. Brady will want to find ways for Kincaid to make more high-impact plays in his second season. While his production as a rookie was impressive, his yards per catch (9.2 last year) number undoubtedly has room to grow.Tight ends coach Rob Boras said he noticed a physical maturation from Kincaid during spring practices, so that’s a good first step.
Knox missed five games last season because of injury, so the first goal for him in 2024 will be to stay healthy. He’s going into his sixth season and will be counted on to provide leadership, especially with Diggs and fellow team captains Mitch Morse and Gabe Davis no longer with the team.
As long as Knox and Kincaid stay healthy, they will see the bulk of the playing time. The Bills have spent four years developing Morris, and both Davidson and McKitty are familiar with the offensive system, so there is some quality depth behind the established starters
