The Buffalo Bills' offense last season was a well-oiled machine under coordinator Joe Brady, and that was without tight end Dalton Kincaid improving on his rookie season.
Kincaid, a first-round pick out of Utah, rose to prominence in 2023, posting 673 yards and two touchdowns, with many of the thought that 2024 would see him explode into one of the best tight ends in football ... but it didn't happen.
Injuries contributed to Dalton's so-so form that yielded just 448 yards and two touchdowns, and as he enters his third season, a big improvement is needed.
And A to Z Sports named Dalton as one player who is under pressure to perform in 2025.
"The 2025 season will be Kincaid's last opportunity to improve his standing within the compensation tiers for fifth-year options, but it's also worth noting that Buffalo will need to ask themselves if they're keen on a fully-guaranteed, non-flexible cap commitment for Kincaid if he has a similar season to 2024 once again this season," A to Z Sports writes. "So yes, there's pressure to perform up to his pick status but there's also pressure to clinch in a fifth-year option commitment, too."
Buffalo Bills tight end Dalton Kincaid lines up for a play during the AFC Championship Game.
Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
The thing is, we know what Kincaid is capable of; we've seen it. Now it's about getting him healthy and involved regularly, as Dawson Knox falls down the pecking order.
With two years on his rookie deal before Buffalo can think about his fifth-year option, having a season like he did in 2023, and the franchise's minds could shift to an early extension. But if he continues the slide, things could get messy.
No, he won't be cut or anything like that, but there is a real chance the Bills don't pick up his fifth-year option, and at that point, he'll be a 28-year-old potentially looking for a new team.
Kincaid has played just two NFL seasons, so he is still figuring things out, but he needs to show that last year was an anomaly, not something that will happen regularly. Yes, injuries played a part, but your best ability is availability.
