Dawson Knox flashed as a rookie, but also struggled. That can really be used as a way to describe the team’s entire tight end room. Some good, some bad.
Which is close to the way Pro Football Focus sees the Bills tight end room heading into the 2020 season. PFF ranked the group the 20th best in the NFL recently.
Here’s the breakdown of Buffalo’s tight ends from the football analytics outlet:
Led by rookie Dawson Knox, who caught 28 passes during the regular season, the Bills got only 46 receptions from their tight ends last season — tied for 26th in the league. Knox is an athletic tight end who can move around the formation. He should have opportunities to shine in 2020 given the attention the Bills’ receivers will be getting from opposing defenses.
Tyler Kroft and Lee Smith round out the group as two of the better run-blocking tight ends in the league. Kroft is more of a receiving threat, while Smith is a glorified offensive lineman who stayed in to pass protect more often than he ran routes last season.
Each of Knox, Kroft and Smith ranked in the top 16 among tight ends in positively graded run blocks last season, making them one of the best run-blocking units in the NFL.
The Bills have never sported a modern day tight end on their roster. Never a Rob Gronkowski, Travis Kelce or George Kittle guy. Those are few and far between, but Buffalo’s hoping that Knox can at least come close to those players.
Again, Knox did show some good signs as a rookie. He was thrust into the No.1 role as a rookie when he wasn’t expected to. Many thought that would have been Kroft, but injury once again crept up on him. But Knox held his own. Now in 2020, the Bills need to see him show he’s fixed the elephant in the room: His drops. Knox led NFL tight ends with 10 last season. If he does that, it’s going to go a long way for the team and himself.
Knox needs to show he’s got true, No.1 potential. If not, could tight end be at the top of the Bills’ list of needs heading into 2021? It’s possible.
But if there’s one reason for not needing to rush it, it’s that the AFC East really doesn’t have a dominant tight end in it on any team. All four units ranked in the bottom half of PFF’s rankings. The Jets led the pack only at 17, while the Dolphins landed at 23 and the Pats are still reeling from the loss of Gronk, slotting in at 30th.
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