Bills Central

Could Bills' Dalton Kincaid bounce back, be a difference-maker for Buffalo?

Buffalo Bills TE Dalton Kincaid had a rough season in 2024. That could be very different in 2025.

Brian Letscher

Jan 26, 2025; Buffalo Bills tight end Dalton Kincaid (86) drops a pass against the Kansas City Chiefs during the AFC Championship game.
Jan 26, 2025; Buffalo Bills tight end Dalton Kincaid (86) drops a pass against the Kansas City Chiefs during the AFC Championship game. / Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
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The Buffalo Bills have sniffed at the Super Bowl for the last seven seasons, making the playoffs each season and reaching the AFC championship game twice, including last season's loss the Kansas City Chiefs.

The internal search and external speculation about what could put them over the top is ongoing. GM Brandon Beane improving the roster through free agency and the draft. Teams also count on leaps in production from their current roster, particularly younger players.

Pro Football Focus' recent breakout candidates for each team pinned Bills' TE Dalton Kincaid, a player that the team and fans alike would love to see explode.

Dalton Kincaid
Oct 26, 2023; Orchard Park, New York, USA; Buffalo Bills tight end Dalton Kincaid (86) celebrates scoring a touchdown. / Mark Konezny-Imagn Images

"Kincaid missed time due to injury in Year 2 and wasn’t able to surpass his rookie receiving numbers, however, his efficiency did improve slightly, including his yards per reception (10.4), yards per route run (1.54) and receiving grade (71.1), " Jonathan Macri wrote, "With the Bills not adding significant target competition to the offense this offseason, Kincaid will have another opportunity to be the team’s top target in the passing game."

RELATED: Bills' Dalton Kincaid shows little offseason progress in alarming OTAs photo

Kincaid had an excellent rookie season, going for 673 yards on 73 catches with two scores. Year 2 did not go as well. While he had an injury that saw him miss almost four games, his game log shows he wasn't on track to hit his rookie numbers anyway with just 32 catches and two touchdowns through the first nine games of the season. Then, there was the heartbreaking fourth down drop on the Bills' last drive against Kansas City, essentially sealing the game for the Chiefs.

RELATED: Kincaid's 4th-down drop another Bills playoff shortcoming in AFC championship

There has been a lot of talk about the Bills' WR corps not being strong enough. The truth is that if Kincaid can rebound, physically and mentally, he could be a huge difference maker for Bills organization that is tired of just sniffing the Super Bowl.

Dalton Kincaid dro
Jan 26, 2025; Kansas City, MO, USA; Buffalo Bills tight end Dalton Kincaid (86) drops a pass in the fourth quarter against the Kansas City Chiefs during the AFC Championship game at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. / Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

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Brian Letscher
BRIAN LETSCHER

A Michigan native, Brian graduated from the University of Michigan in another century, where he earned a degree in economics and a Rose Bowl Championship ring while playing football for the Wolverines under Head Coach Gary Moeller. Brian went on to coach Division 1A football for several years before becoming a full-time writer and actor while maintaining an unhealthy interest in sports. He is currently developing a scripted television series, THOSE WHO STAY, based on a series of historical fiction articles he wrote about Bo Schembechler's Michigan football program as they struggle to unite and win the championship - which requires beating #1 Ohio State - during the tumultuous civil rights and anti-war movements of 1969.

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