Do Bills Have One of NFL's Best TE Groups?
The Buffalo Bills may have quietly assembled one of the league's best tight end corps this offseason. There's still tons to prove on the field, but the team has the pieces necessary for this boast to become reality.
Already possessing the reliable and all-around talent of Dawson Knox, the Bills went the slightly unexpected route and took Utah tight end Dalton Kincaid with the No. 25 overall pick in April's draft.
The Bills then signed former third-round pick and Green Bay Packers tight end Jace Sternberger this offseason. He's coming off a successful season in the USFL, which saw him lead the league in receiving touchdowns. This allowed him to revitalize his football career.
Add second-year tight end Quintin Morris to the mix, and quarterback Josh Allen has plenty of safety blankets at his disposal. But what make them so dangerous on paper?
Knox won't usually burn defenses down the field with chunk plays (aside from his 53-yard touchdown in Arrowhead against the Kansas City Chiefs in 2021), but he has a nose for the end zone that rivals that of the league's best tight ends. He's caught 18 touchdowns over the past two seasons (including playoffs), which was highlighted by his 11-touchdown campaign in 2021.
As for Kincaid, he brings nice size at 6-4, 240 pounds, but separates himself from the rest of most guys that play the position due to his receiving skills. In four of his five collegiate seasons, he caught at least eight touchdown passes. During his freshman season as San Diego, 11 of his 24 catches for the season were touchdowns.
Look no further than Allen's praises of the rookie so far in training camp.
“I love the kid. He’s smart, he’s instinctive,” Allen said. “I feel no moment is too big for him. He understands his role in the offense.”
Sternberger was drafted by the Packers in 2019, though he didn't catch a pass in his first season. He appeared in 12 games in his second season and caught his lone NFL touchdown that year, but his production in the USFL is promising moving forward.
After his Packers stint, Sternberger bounced around a few other teams, but didn't compete in another game at the NFL level. Should he make the Bills' 53-man roster, there's no reason to think he won't be a reliable third tight end on Buffalo's offense.
Knox will be able to focus on what he does best in blocking and the short game, while Kincaid will be able to stretch the field. For Allen, the more passing options he has, the better. Stefon Diggs often got covered well with the primary focus being on him in the passing game, and bringing in more weapons completely opens up the offense for the squad.
Are these tight end weapons enough to claim the title of best group for the position? No, at least not yet. But considering what the Bills are projected to do with both Kincaid and Knox along with the depth they should have behind them, there's no reason to think the Bills can't have one of the best tight end rooms in the NFL this season.
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