The Buffalo Bills secured a 31-19 victory against the winless New Orleans Saints on Sunday. One of the most significant takeaways from the game occurred at the tight end position.
Tight ends Dalton Kincaid and Dawson Knox were considered the top two tight ends on the team, but tight end Jackson Hawes recorded the highest snap count on Sunday.
Hawes recorded 31 out of the Bills‘ 59 offensive snaps, while Knox recorded 24 and Kincaid recorded 22.
With Hawes playing more than Knox and Kincaid, Bill’s On SI writer Colin Richey thinks Hawes may be the new No. 1 tight end.
The rookie tight end (53% of snaps) outsnapped Dalton Kincaid (37%) and Dawson Knox (41%) in Sunday’s contest,” Richey wrote Monday. After playing just 19% of snaps in Week 1, the Georgia Tech product has been at 43% or higher in each of the last three games, reaching a career-high percentage against the Saints. While he’ll never take over Kincaid’s receiving role in the offense, the fact that he’s already pushing Knox for snaps indicates how strong of a blocker he’s been, while possessing the versatility to also produce in the passing game when necessary.”
Hawes Could Be The Bills’ New No. 1 Tight End
The Bills drafted Hawes with the No. 173 pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. He played at Yale for four seasons before heading to Georgia Tech for one year in 2024.
Hawes recorded the highest offensive grade among the Bills‘ tight ends on Sunday, according to Pro Football Focus.
Head coach Sean McDermott praised Hawes ahead of Week 4, so it may not be surprising that he received a lot of playing time.
“He’s made the most of the opportunities,” McDermott said Wednesday, via Alex Brasky. “I think he’s got great leadership at that position. That helps. It appears to me that he has a great amount of respect for those guys and they are teaching him the way.”
If the Buffalo can have three tight ends who are capable of being top options, the offense can create numerous mismatches for the opposing defense. It’s difficult for a defense to prepare to face one tight end, but throwing three at them could cause panic.
There Shouldn’t Be Panic in Buffalo
The Bills have struggled the last two weeks to pull away from below-average teams, starting with the Miami Dolphins in Week 3 and then with the Saints on Sunday. However, there shouldn’t be any panic in Buffalo.
Buffalo still has the best quarterback in the NFL in Josh Allen, along with a defense that is finding its form. The team should continue winning games in the coming weeks, which will help them climb toward securing the No. 1 seed in the AFC.
The Bills will take on the New England Patriots in Week 5 on Sunday Night Football, which could be a pivotal game considering the Patriots‘ strong start to the season.
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