Buffalo, N.Y. (WGR Sports Radio 550) - My 2025 State of the Buffalo Bills series continues with a look at the tight ends:
Under contract:
- Dalton Kincaid
- Dawson Knox
- Zach Davidson
- Armani Rogers
Pending free agents:
- Quintin Morris (RFA)
State of the position:
The second-year jump many anticipated for Dalton Kincaid just never happened, most likely for several reasons.
The Bills shifted their mentality to an "everybody eats" philosophy, not highlighting any specific receiving target, which worked out fine for the overall offense, scoring 30.9 points per-game. But that mindset did not rely heavily on their first-round pick from just a year earlier.
We also learned after the season that Kincaid had been dealing with a couple of different knee injuries throughout the year, which impacted his time on the field, and his production.
Kincaid finished the regular season with 44 catches for 448 yards, still second-most on the team in both categories.
Following the team’s AFC Championship Game loss in Kansas City to the Chiefs, and after Kincaid was on the back-end of the final fourth down incompletion just after the two-minute warning, both Bills head coach Sean McDermott and general manager Brandon Beane reaffirmed their confidence in Kincaid, while also saying they’d like him add to his size and play strength, in part to help withstand the rigors of a long season.
Year 3 will be huge for Kincaid.
While Dawson Knox had only 22 catches for a second-straight season, and wasn’t asked to be a big contributor in the passing game, he was on the field quite a bit, and was steady and reliable when called upon.
Knox played more snaps than any tight end on the roster, and the second-most of any skill position player outside of Josh Allen. Only Mack Hollins was higher.
At his end-of-season press conference, McDermott raved about what Knox means to the team’s locker room and how important he is.
The issue most fans have had with Knox is his contract.
After already restructuring for cap relief last year, he is scheduled to count over $14 million against the team's salary cap next season, which is currently slated to be the seventh-highest for any tight end in the NFL.
Considering how the organization feels about him, and the massive financial ramifications of moving on from Knox, that’s not going to happen this offseason. However, it would help the team to be able to lower that number.
The 28-year-old has two years remaining on his current deal. The only way to do that might be to give him an extension and push some of the money due this year into future years.
Only two players on the 2024 Bills played over 70% of special teams snaps: Fullback Reggie Gilliam, who will be an unrestricted free agent, and tight end Quintin Morris, who now will be a restricted free agent.
Morris hardly plays on offense, but does get the call to be the second tight end when either Kincaid or Knox are dealing with any injuries. He even contributed with an important touchdown in the team’s Week 9 win over the Miami Dolphins.
The Bills can retain Morris’ rights by offering him a contract that meets the minimum requirement for the right of first refusal. That’s projected to be close to $3.2 million. That would also give them the ability to match any other offer given to him.
But that number is pricey, even for a core special teams player they love having on the roster and in the building.
So the most likely scenario is offering the 26-year-old something less, and seeing if he will re-sign, or allowing him to become an unrestricted free agent, with still the possibility of re-signing him barring another team doesn’t offer him more money for a bigger role.
Coming out of last year‘s training camp, it appeared Zach Davidson had a legitimate shot to make the final 53-man roster. He showed excellent hands and the ability to get down the field.
But any third tight end has to be able to contribute on special teams and as a blocker, and that was always the uphill climb for Davidson, especially with Morris also on the roster.
He stayed on the practice squad the entire year, was elevated for three games, and caught one pass for five yards.
He re-signed a reserve/futures contract to come back and fight for a spot again in 2025.
The Bills also signed former college dual-threat quarterback Armani Rogers, who transitioned to tight end in the NFL after signing as an undrafted free agent with the Washington Commanders in 2022.
Rogers spent two years there, before splitting time in both the Philadelphia Eagles and Atlanta Falcons organizations last year.
With Washington in 2022, Rogers appeared in 11 games, even starting three of them at tight end. He caught five passes for 64 yards.
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