Yo, you gotta hear about this move Buffalo just pulled off with their tight end Dawson Knox. The dude's 2026 cap hit, which was a wild $17.1 million on his old deal, just got slashed to a much more palatable $8.55 million! They inked him to a renegotiated three-year deal worth $20 million total this offseason. That's a massive win for the Bills and tells you everything about how much they want to keep this tight end room together.
The Financial Play That Keeps the TE Room Rocking
Buffalo's tight ends were straight up crushing it last year, man. The four TEs they had on the field combined for a seriously impressive 95 receptions, 1,210 receiving yards, and 12 touchdowns. And get this, out of 121 total passes thrown to their tight ends, the top two guys snagged 98 of 'em. So, it's no shocker they wanted to run it back with nearly the same crew. But there was one huge hurdle: Knox's massive $17.1 million cap hit. That's a ton of money to carry for a tight end, even a good one. This new deal, which lowered his 2026 cap hit by over half, was a genius move. If they had cut him, they would've been on the hook for a brutal $17.404 million dead cap charge, so this renegotiation was totally the play.Knox Went OFF in 2025 and Earned That New Deal
Knox, rocking the #88 jersey, played a full slate for the first time in his entire NFL career last season, showing up for all 17 regular season games and both of Buffalo's postseason contests. He stepped up big time when Dalton Kincaid was hurt, reminding everyone why he's such a key piece of that offense. He saw 49 targets in the regular season, hauling in 36 catches for 417 yards and four touchdowns. Dude, those numbers were his season-highs since his Pro Bowl 2022 season, which was even before Kincaid joined the team! He was also super reliable, only dropping two passes all year. Sure, one of those was a guaranteed touchdown against the Cleveland Browns in the fourth quarter that would have given Buffalo a 29-20 lead in a game they barely won 23-20, but for the most part, his hands were money. In the postseason, he kept that momentum going, catching six of eight targets for 62 yards. He tied for third on the team in targets, tied for second in receiving touchdowns, was third in receiving yards, and fourth in catches. That's a player you keep around. Knox is one of five tight ends on Buffalo's roster, and he's clearly set to reprise his role as the primary backup to Kincaid. The other guys, Jackson Hawes, Shane Zylstra, and Keleki Latu, round out the depth chart. What's next for Knox and the Bills? Expect him to be ready to make plays whenever his number is called, ensuring this tight end room continues to be a major threat for Buffalo all season long.This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.