BREAKING: Bills $52 Million TE To Take Over Surprising New Position After Worst Seasons of His Career
Buffalo Bills tight end Dawson Knox might take on a dual role in 2024. Typically, Tyler Bass handles kickoffs, but at 5-foot-10 and 183 pounds, he might not be well-suited for the job this season. The NFL’s new kickoff rules emphasize the advantage of having a kicker who can tackle in certain situations. Knox, standing at 6-foot-4 and 254 pounds, could be a viable option.
Jay Skurski of The Buffalo News discussed this potential change in his June 1 mailbag column, noting that a few years ago, Knox, Micah Hyde, and Matt Barkley all tried extra points during a training camp practice, with Knox being the only one still on the team.
Ari Meirov of The 33rd Team highlighted that the NFL’s new kickoff rule places the kicker as the last line of defense on returns, which could be problematic since the kicker is also needed for field goals. This adds an interesting dynamic to the game.
The Kansas City Chiefs are considering using safety Justin Reid or running back Louis Rees-Zammit for kickoffs. Bills special teams coordinator Matthew Smiley might start experimenting with this idea when OTAs resume on June 3.
Knox, who signed a four-year, $52 million extension in 2022, agreed to restructure his deal this offseason. Despite taking a pay cut, the new three-year, $29.5 million deal secures his place on the team through 2026.
Bills TE Dawson Knox Is Coming Off One of the Worst Seasons of His Career
The Buffalo Bills offense looks significantly different in 2024. With Stefon Diggs and Gabe Davis no longer on the team, Dawson Knox has become quarterback Josh Allen’s longest-tenured offensive weapon.
Despite his experience, Knox is coming off one of the least productive seasons of his career. Early in the previous season, the Bills utilized 12 personnel (one running back, two tight ends, two wide receivers) with tight end Dalton Kincaid, but this strategy was abandoned after the mid-season firing of former offensive coordinator Ken Dorsey and Knox’s wrist surgery.
In his 12 games, Knox recorded just 22 receptions for 186 yards and two touchdowns, a sharp decline from his previous two seasons where he surpassed 500 receiving yards each year. His drop rate of 13.2% in 2023 was the worst by any Bills skill position player in the past four seasons, according to Joe Buscaglia of The Athletic.
DAWSON. KNOX.
📺: @SNFonNBC pic.twitter.com/62JNry1at3
— Buffalo Bills (@BuffaloBills) January 8, 2024
Despite these setbacks, Knox, the Bills’ third-round pick in the 2019 NFL draft, remains a valuable asset on and off the field. His veteran presence is crucial in the locker room, and with full health this year, he has the potential to bounce back.
Athlon Sports’ Mike D’Abate observed that “Knox is successful when finding space sitting down in soft zones, as well as utilizing flat combinations. When the ball is not headed his way, Knox has also stepped up his blocking game on the edge, especially improving upon sealing his blocks. In most circumstances, he is well-positioned to be a problematic player to defend for any team.”
As Knox took on a primary role as a blocker, Dalton Kincaid concluded his rookie season with 73 catches for 673 yards and 2 touchdowns.
Bills OC Joe Brady Addressed Using 12-Personnel With Dawson Knox & Dalton Kincaid
Speaking to reporters on May 28, Bills offensive coordinator Joe Brady discussed the potential increase in using 12 personnel in 2024.
DALTON KINCAID SZN 😤 pic.twitter.com/1RmacHDobH
— PFF Fantasy & Betting (@PFF_Fantasy) May 31, 2024
“We’re going to try to put our best 11 on the football field, and week to week that might change, depending on the matchups,” Brady said. “You’re not just necessarily attacking weaknesses in defense. You’re trying to find your strengths and attack their weaknesses. Some weeks that might be 12 personnel, and some weeks it might be 22 personnel.
“But we’d love to grow that package and just get them comfortable, putting them in different situations and different spots that they haven’t been in, and see how they respond to it.”