Bills Draft Grades: Experts Split on Buffalo Selecting Dalton Kincaid
As the Buffalo Bills attempt to keep pace with the Kansas City Chiefs and Cincinnati Bengals in the AFC, general manager Brandon Beane made a bold pick in Round 1 of the 2023 NFL Draft, trading up two selections to draft Utah tight end Dalton Kincaid with the 25th overall pick.
While there doesn't seem to be much disagreement about Kincaid's talent, not all experts believe he's a good fit for the Bills. With that in mind, Buffalo received varying grades for its first-round selection.
Compared to previous years, 2023 wasn't a great year to be looking for a wide receiver in the NFL Draft. It was even worse if you were the Bills, picking well after Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Quentin Johnson, Zay Flowers and Jordan Addison had come off the board. So, Reuter writes that "Kincaid's superior pass-catching skills came into focus for the Bills, as he moves like a receiver in the open field and contorts his frame to grab high and wide passes."
Prisco believes Kincaid was a first-round talent, he's just surprised with the presence of Dawson Knox -- who has 15 touchdowns over the past two seasons -- that this is the direction Buffalo went. He points out that Knox is signed through 2026, though we would note that Buffalo could get out of his deal after the 2024 season if they were so inclined.
Brent Sobleski of Bleacher Report: A
B/R touted the decision to leapfrog the tight end-needy Dallas Cowboys to land Kincaid, saying he will be a major factor for the Bills out of the slot and in the red zone.
Vinnie Iyer of Sporting News: D
Again, this grade isn't a reflection on Kincaid, but rather his perceived fit -- or lack thereof -- with the Bills. Iyer notes that the Bills typically play 11 personnel, which does create questions for how they'll consistently get Kincaid and Knox on the field. Then again, Ken Dorsey could use 12 personnel more frequently moving forward and/or flex one of the two tight ends out wide.
Joseph Acosta of SB Nation: C+
Acosta doesn't deny that Kincaid's addition will lead to "fireworks" in the passing game, he simply believes that holes on the offensive and defensive line were more pressing.
Thanks for reading our SI-powered coverage of your Buffalo Bills ... Bills Mafia!
You're a member of Bills Mafia hungry for more Buffalo coverage? Read here.
