Latest news with #DawsonKnox
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Bills' Culture Working, But Catches Matter Too
Bills' Culture Working, But Catches Matter Too originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Just ask Bills Mafia and Dawson Knox, sometimes catches are more important than culture. The veteran tight end's acrobatic drop of quarterback Josh Allen's heroic fourth-down pass against the Kansas City Chiefs in the final minute of the AFC Championship Game still resonates with fans as the Bills prepare to open 2025 training camp in three weeks. Advertisement Yahoo Sports, however, just published a piece praising the Bills' "culture" as a reason for the team finally getting over the hump and into the Super Bowl. The story points to a statement by head coach Sean McDermott in 2018 when his team was 1-3 and Allen—then a rookie—was struggling. 'The culture to me trumps strategy," McDermott said. "That's what I believe in whole heartedly. It doesn't mean we have choir boys, it means we have guys that love football and do things the right way for the most part. I understand that. We're trying to build something that does take time, but overall, guys have to be committed to the process." Yahoo expands in its story: "'Culture trumps strategy' was a hotly debated topic and the sound bite du jour after that press conference, but it's McDermott's clear attempt to define culture that likely carried more weight. He rejected the idea that morality is the fundamental building block of culture by overtly saying the team wasn't looking for 'choir boys,' but specifically called out players who 'love football' and 'do things the right way'.' Advertisement McDermott is proud of the Bills' culture. He can only hope this season it produces one more key catch. Related: Bills' Josh Allen Lacks 1 Key Thing To Complete NFL Resume Related: What Does Bills' James Cook Need To Justify New Contract? This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 30, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Bills 'Staple' Tight End Predicted To Have Poor Season
Bills 'Staple' Tight End Predicted To Have Poor Season originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Buffalo Bills tight end Dawson Knox has been a staple of the offense since 2019 and has been a crucial part of how things roll for Josh Allen's unit. Advertisement But over the past couple of seasons, Knox has been pushed to the outer of the offense with the arrival of Dalton Kincaid. And it is here where things might get sticky. Knox had two seasons of 500+ yards and six touchdowns, but in his last two, his stats have fallen off a cliff, and in 2025, it is about to get rather dire for Dawson. The tight end has an out in his contract after this season, which, per will only have the Bills pay $7.4 million in dead cap charges. But if Knox plays well, maybe an extension could be on the way. However, in Mike Clay's 2025 projections for ESPN, Knox is projected to have his worst season statistically ever. Dawson posts just 185 yards and two touchdowns from 17 receptions. Advertisement That isn't ideal. Jan 26, 2025; Kansas City, MO, USA; Buffalo Bills tight end Dawson Knox (88) makes a catch against Kansas City Chiefs safety Jaden Hicks (21) during the second half in the AFC Championship game at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-Imagn Images Denny Medley-Imagn Images With Kincaid's emergence as a genuine pass-catching weapon, that is something Knox has never really been, with Dalton's rookie season better than any Knox has had in six seasons. There is a definite shift in the tight end pecking order, and while Knox as a blocker offers more than Kincaid, if the veteran does have the year Clay projects, we wonder what that might mean for his future in Buffalo. A staple of the offense for years, with a humble and no-fuss attitude that puts the team first, maybe Knox's time in the AFC East might come to an end. Related: Bills 'Shiny New Toys' Noted As ESPN Evaluates Major Moves On Defense Related: ESPN Announces Twisted News Contract Update For Bills and James Cook This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 29, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
7 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Bills Criticism and Rumors Focus On Both of Josh Allen's Tight Ends
Bills Criticism and Rumors Focus On Both of Josh Allen's Tight Ends originally appeared on Athlon Sports. What is the level of public unhappiness with the Buffalo Bills tight end situation? On the one hand, we have Bleacher Report having offered a blockbuster three-team deal that would cause the Bills to get New Orleans Saints safety Tyrann Mathieu while sending tight end Dawson Knox to the Saints while the Atlanta Falcons get Kirk Cousins. Advertisement Their logic? "The Bills can use the three-time first-team All-Pro all over the field as a defensive chess piece,'' they write. "At 33, he's still a better safety than Taylor Rapp and Damar Hamlin. Buffalo needs the type of players who can push the team over the top. Mathieu can be one of those individuals." Our confusion here: Why does this need to be a three-way trade? If the Bills want "Honey Badger,'' can't they just trade for him? And if they want to move on from Knox, can't they do the same? Besides ... There is no indication in the building of dissatisfaction with Knox. Now, what about unhappiness with the other tight end, promising Young Dalton Kincaid? Again, to the public perception ... Advertisement USA Today's Bills Wire has named Kincaid - the team's first-round pick in the 2023 NFL Draft - as the Bills player with the most to prove this season. And truthfully, the team has made some noise there. As a rookie, he totaled 73 receptions for 673 yards. Last year, though, Kincaid made just 44 catches for 448 yards and infamously dropping a late fourth-down pass from quarterback Josh Allen in the AFC Championship Game loss to the Kansas City Chiefs. But none of this should add up to a give-up. We're betting that if you quizzed Allen, he would prefer to keep his tight ends just as they are, with Knox a clutch veteran and with Kincaid, admittedly, needing to continue to work to the goal of being the same. Related: Bills MVP 'Superman' Josh Allen Reveals Brutally Honest Take on Individual Honor This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 25, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
7 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Blockbuster Trade Idea Would Move All-Pro Safety To Bills
Blockbuster Trade Idea Would Move All-Pro Safety To Bills originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The last few years have seen some key investments by the Buffalo Bills into their secondary. Last offseason, Taylor Rapp and Taron Johnson were both locked into three-year deals. Advertisement This time around, the Bills kept Damar Hamlin on a cheap one-year deal and inked Christian Benford to a handsome four-year $76 million deal. They also used their first-round draft pick on cornerback Maxwell Hairston. All these players vary in skill and ability, but represent the Bills' ongoing efforts to maintain a solid secondary in a conference littered with potent passing game threats. This collection of players have mostly been around for the team's recent runs where they have fallen short. Buffalo wants to end that streak and finally break through this coming season. To do so, that may require a little extra aggression on their roster construction. Since free agency has passed, Bleacher Report's Brent Sobleski has offered a blockbuster three-team deal that would help the Bills accomplish that. In this trade, he has the Bills getting New Orleans Saints safety Tyrann Mathieu and sending tight end Dawson Knox to the Saints while the Atlanta Falcons get Kirk Cousins. Advertisement "Tyrann Mathieu is a New Orleans native and wants to play in his hometown. However, a trade to a perennial Super Bowl contender should be enough to get him on board, even if it's in Buffalo. "The Bills can use the three-time first-team All-Pro all over the field as a defensive chess piece. At 33, he's still a better safety than Taylor Rapp and Damar Hamlin. Buffalo needs the type of players who can push the team over the top. Mathieu can be one of those individuals." Mathieu clears those players in front of him and also brings a championship pedigree. Mathieu won Super Bowl LIV with the Kansas City Chiefs but has spent the last three years playing for his hometown team. His talent and championship experience are attributes a team like the Bills are starved for. There's a clear line of reasoning where Mathieu plugs in and immediately upgrades this unit still plenty capable under Sean McDermott. Advertisement Of course this trade would require the sacrifice of Knox though the Bills are equipped to deal with such a loss if it means gaining a player of Mathieu's ilk on the opposite side. General manager Brandon Beane has pulled several daring move in recent seasons and this one would fall into that category. Mathieu may not be the exact target, but do not be surprised if Buffalo goes on the hunt for a veteran player who can enhance their title chances. Related: Josh Allen is Huge Fan of Patriots' Young QB Related: 'Vital' Bills Cash In On Josh Allen's Prime With Super Bowl Triumph This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 25, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
09-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Analyst Breaks Down Positives and Negatives With Bills TE Pick
The Buffalo Bills already have a quality duo of tight ends on their roster. Dalton Kincaid and Dawson Knox are two players who have starred in recent years for the team. So why in the world did the Bills choose to draft Jaxson Hawes at the same position in the later stages of the 2025 draft? Advertisement The answer is simple. What Kincaid and Knox have done as receivers is solid. They clearly lack the strength and ability to be strong run-blocking players, though. Hawes doesn't have that issue. He was drafted by the Bills for that exact role at this point. And while his receiver skills aren't elite, he was the best run-blocking tight end of the 2025 draft. And that made him a commodity for the Bills. 'As a receiver, his profile is severely lacking. He never had more than 200 receiving yards in any of his four years," PFF wrote. "His catch percentages are also lower than ideal, including in contested situations, but they were highest in 2024. He also lacks general coordination and natural feel to be a receiver (which does make sense given that he was a linebacker in high school). Advertisement "He knows what he is on the field for (blocking) and takes a ton of pride in it, consistently blocking his assignments through the whistle.' Buffalo wants to continue to run the ball well, and having a tight end who can block is extremely important. If the Bills are able to play all three tight ends at the same time, it could give the team a new and improved wrinkle to their offense. Related: Elijah Moore Takes Shot At Browns, Needs Bills' Josh Allen To Save Career Related: Bills Josh Allen Stands Alone as Optimism Key
