Bills Central

Buffalo Bills may regret missing on massive 17-TD target snagged by Chiefs

The Kansas City Chiefs signed an undrafted free agent tight end with traits similar to a young Travis Kelce. Did the Bills miss the boat?
Brian Letscher|
Nov 9, 2024; Blacksburg, Virginia, USA; Clemson Tigers tight end Jake Briningstool (9) catches a pass.
Nov 9, 2024; Blacksburg, Virginia, USA; Clemson Tigers tight end Jake Briningstool (9) catches a pass. | Brian Bishop-Imagn Images

In this story:

Buffalo Bills | News, Scores, Schedules & Standings

Super Bowl winner, and Hall of Fame QB, Kurt Warner. Nine-time Pro-Bowl QB Warren Moon. Two-time All-Pro OLB James Harrison. Recent HOF enshrinee Antonio Gates.

All went undrafted.

The Kansas City Chiefs recently signed a UDFA whose traits are similar to future Hall-of-Famer Travis Kelce — a player that the Buffalo Bills may regret losing out on to their AFC rivals. At 6'6", 241 pounds, the Clemson tight end Jake Briningstool, was projected as a 5th-6th round draft pick in 2025.

Jake Briningstool
Sep 16, 2023; Clemson, South Carolina; Clemson tight end Jake Briningstool (9) catches a pass for a touchdown. | Gannett-USA TODAY NETWORK

Briningstool finished his four-year career at Clemson with 127 catches for 1380 yards and 17 scores, good enough for 3rd-Team All-ACC in both 2023 and 2024. His draft projection profile mimics Chiefs All-Pro superstar TE Travis Kelce in size (Briningstool is an inch taller) as well as the traits of toughness, good route-running ability, decent top-end speed yet not incredibly explosive out of breaks and certainly versatile at either the 'F' or 'Y' position.

Buffalo has Dalton Kincaid and Dawson Knox, they don't appear to be in dire need of a TE, yet they drafted "run-blocking" Jackson Hawes in the 5th round. Yes, Hawes is a beast of a blocker and perhaps OC Joe Brady feels that ability could give him some personnel and scheme advantages. But why use a 5th rounder? Bringingstool is noted for his toughness and seems to have room to grow physically and as a blocker while being an excellent pass catcher. The Bills also signed UDFA TE Keleki Latu, Washington, a player not ranked as highly as Briningstool.

RELATED: Buffalo Bills' fifth-round pick is a great blocking TE — who can't rush the passer

It's entirely possible the Bills made a play for Briningstool and he chose the Chiefs instead. Time will tell whether he becomes the next Kelce -- or Gates. These are the small moves that can make a massive difference for any organization.

—  Enjoy free coverage of the Bills from Buffalo Bills on SI  —

More Buffalo Bills News:

Published
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.

Home/News