In nine days, the Buffalo Bills will open their 2025 preseason at home against the New York Giants. Many Bills starters won’t see much action throughout the preseason, but a few of them should be getting a handful of reps.
Bills Tight End Dalton Kincaid Entering a Big Season
It’s a make-or-break year for a few Bills players, with one being tight end Dalton Kincaid. The 25-year-old tight end was Buffalo’s first-round pick in 2023. A year before Kincaid was drafted, the Bills took Florida cornerback Kaiir Elam in Round 1. Elam didn’t produce in three seasons and was traded to the Dallas Cowboys this offseason.
Kincaid’s 2024 season was underwhelming, only recording 448 receiving yards and two touchdowns in 13 games. If the former Utah star wants to ensure he’ll be a Bill for years, he needs to have a good season.
After this upcoming season, Buffalo will have a decision to make on Kincaid’s fifth-year option. Since Kincaid was a first-round pick, the team has an option to pick up a fifth year on his contract. Kincaid’s fifth-year option will not be picked up unless his performance changes quickly.
With only a week into training camp, Kincaid has suffered a few minor injuries. But when he’s been on the field, there have been some doubts about his game.
Kincaid Is Struggling At Camp
According to RB Hayek from ClutchPoints, Kincaid has been “struggling” through the first few days of camp.
“Dalton Kincaid struggled in 2024, and it drew a lot of criticism from fans and football experts. Ultimately, there were higher expectations for the 2023 first-round draft pick. Kincaid shone in 2023, with 73 receptions for 673 yards and two touchdowns. Naturally, many assumed he would take the next step and do even more damage in 2024. Instead, Kincaid’s numbers dipped,” Hayek wrote. “Kincaid had just 44 receptions for 448 yards and two touchdowns. Additionally, he dropped a critical pass in the AFC Championship Game loss to the Kansas City Chiefs. Kincaid has struggled to bounce back, and the trend has continued in the Bills’ training camp.”
“Now, there are some concerns that the injury might cause a ripple effect for him. This is more pressing for the team, considering that they need more receivers than ever as Josh Allen leads the charge.
Kincaid did not perform well after returning to the Bills’ practice on Tuesday. It was apparent that he was being more cautious than ever. Significantly, Kincaid missed Monday’s practice with a knee injury, and that may be limiting what he can do. For now, it seems like the knee injury is not serious enough to keep him out for an extended time, but it is something that bears monitoring over the next few days,” Hayek added.
If the Bills are serious about winning the Super Bowl this season, Kincaid has to be better. Having little production from first-round picks is not a good sign since those players were supposed to be the best players in the draft.
Buffalo has shown it will move off a first-round pick that isn’t producing by getting rid of Elam. So if Kincaid wants to stay with the Bills, 2025 better be a breakout season for him.
Bills’ 1st-Round Pick Is ‘Struggling’ Through First Few Days Of Camp