What to do with Dawson Knox

[Rochesterfan]

9 minutes ago, bobobonators said:

Outside of Knox, none of the TE on the roster could be considered a viable pass-catching threat. 
 

TE is a top 5 need for this team. What happens to this offense if Diggs gets injured? We already cant run the ball effectively. This is an aerial attack offense, which I love. As such, we need a reliable threat at TE. Im not saying that’s our biggest need, but certainly top 5 on the team and arguably our biggest need on offense. 
 

I agree about adding to the oline. At this point, you go all in on Allen and this offense for the next couple of seasons in my opinion. Try to keep the defense respectable, but not at the expense of the offense. 

 

Depends on what you are looking for.  I think you have Sweeney and Knox as your all around TEs and you have Becker and Lee Smith as blocking guys, you have Gilliam as your special team/FB guy for next year.
 

If you are looking for their version of Kelce - they already have that in Beasley.  I do not see the Bills drafting for a Kelce/Gesicki - WR type because they have that with their WRs.  If someone fell in the draft - it is an option, but I don’t see them making that a big part of their plan.  I don’t see the Bills wanting to switch the 80 throws to Beasley to a TE and cutting Beasley to the 30/40 targets.  Look at the KC attempts (2 guys Kelce/Hill) get the majority of throws and everyone else is 30 -40 targets.  The Bills have that with Diggs and Beasley and several others at 30-40.  If you target a TE - you are pulling throws from Beasley.

 

If Diggs is hurt a TE is not the answer - they have 4 other WRs to play and will attack with the WRs.

 

TE might be the 5th option as a need:  it would be after DE/DL, OL, CB, and LB and it is much more likely that those needs will have a BPA over TE that has maybe 1 or 2 guys and one like Pitts is going top 10 - the other is projected late round pick - so not a BPA in 1st round.

[ALLEN1QB]

26 minutes ago, ALLEN1QB said:

Is he in this draft? Someone comparable to him I mean. 

 

[BigPappy]

56 minutes ago, MarkyMannn said:

Yeah the TD drop was disappointing, but he made at least two very tough catches later in the game

 

 Exactly! Yes, he dropped a sure thing TD pass. All of them do at times through out their career. He more than made up for it the rest of the game with some clutch catches that were pretty nice. Especially the sideline catch where he dragged his feet to stay inbounds. 

[Playoffs?]

He’s an enigma. He drops balls that are right on the number... and then he makes ridiculous low probability catches.  I’m on board for keeping him, but I’d be on the lookout for an upgrade...

[balln]

that drop video. I see him get off the line and out of his break impressively well. Hes a great athlete. Coach em up. I think week to week its a gameplan type thing (based on defense style and LB ability) so this game I think Daboll thought Knox was a mismatch. I thought the 5-6 DBs pats played out of their minds / very subtle grabbing and holding. The guy #31 on beasley was fantastic - think they mentioned he ran a 4.3. 

[Hapless Bills Fan]

32 minutes ago, JoPoy88 said:

seems like he does this every game though. Keep him around until you can upgrade the position then cut him loose. I’m tired of the knox rollercoaster at this point.

 

Josh says he's getting better. 

 

I think the reason he says this, and an overlooked factor, is the reason that was an easy gimme ball.  Knox is figuring out his route options and his "body language" to let Josh know what he's going to do.

 

Earlier in the season, I think that would have looked like a missed throw by Allen or a high-degree-of-difficulty circus catch because he and Allen weren't on the same page so the ball and Knox wouldn't have been in the same place at the same time.  Yeah, I'm saying that drop represents progress.

 

Statistically, his catch % is better, his drop % is down.  Competition is good, and it won't be 100% that Sweeney can come back and pick up where he left off.  I think we see the Bills make a couple of moves at TE.  I think it's not going to be the 1st or 2nd round pick a lot of guys here hope for.

[benderbender]

He drops the TD, but then makes two incredible catches including this one that cost the Pats a challenge and a sideline phone

[balln]

Just now, Hapless Bills Fan said:

 

Josh says he's getting better. 

 

I think the reason he says this, and an overlooked factor, is the reason that was an easy gimme ball.  Knox is figuring out his route options and his "body language" to let Josh know what he's going to do.

 

Earlier in the season, I think that would have looked like a missed throw by Allen or a high-degree-of-difficulty circus catch because he and Allen weren't on the same page.

 

Statistically, his catch % is better, his drop % is down.  But competition is good, and it won't be 100% that Sweeney can come back and pick up where he left off.  I think we see the Bills make a couple of moves at TE but I think it's not going to be the 1st or 2nd round pick a lot of guys here hope for.

yea i liked sweeney a lot

[Hapless Bills Fan]

5 minutes ago, balln said:

that drop video. I see him get off the line and out of his break impressively well. Hes a great athlete. Coach em up. I think week to week its a gameplan type thing (based on defense style and LB ability) so this game I think Daboll thought Knox was a mismatch. I thought the 5-6 DBs pats played out of their minds / very subtle grabbing and holding. The guy #31 on beasley was fantastic - think they mentioned he ran a 4.3. 

 

Heh.  I'm watching gamepass right now, and wondering where you think the "subtle" part comes in?  Early in the game White being flagged for DPI after Diggs was being mugged on 3rd down, no flag. 

 

The good news is that the Bills seemed to take it totally in stride.  I wonder if they had 'Zo give his "it's Foxboro, expect that things won't go your way.  Let it go, don't let it hijack you for the next 3 plays"

 

On the "coach him up" part, I have ????s in my mind about the Bills TE coach Rob Boras.  I have a "down" on him from his stint as OC of the Rams.  That may be unfair of me - he may be a great TE coach.  But we're seeing where a different WR coach seems to be getting a lot of credit from the WR for helping them elevate their play.  We're not seeing a lot of elevating in the TE room, all I'll say, though there may be incremental improvement.

[balln]

Just now, Hapless Bills Fan said:

 

Heh.  I'm watching gamepass right now, and wondering where you think the "subtle" part comes in?  Early in the game White being flagged for DPI after Diggs was being mugged on 3rd down, no flag. 

 

The good news is that the Bills seemed to take it totally in stride.  I wonder if they had 'Zo give his "it's Foxboro, expect that things won't go your way.  Let it go, don't let it hijack you for the next 3 plays"

as a bills fan - i was screaming the entire game. BB gets refs to put the flags away on his DBs and his OL. been like that for 20 years.

 

as objective as i can be ... BB always skirts the rules ...hold/illegal contact just enough to mess up our WR but not engouh to get a call

[Nineforty]

57 minutes ago, Wsam4031 said:

I have been very vocal on this he needs to go. if its a drop once in a while it happens but this guy seems to always have key drops that could affect us if we are playing better teams in the playoffs. there is a reason a guy with his talent dropped to the 4th round. i say go after another TE next year. 

I believe this is too harsh. doesn't mean I'm not down with drafting another one or upgrading. but you are wrong in my opinion about him "needing to go". I believe he is an asset to this offense, albeit, a weapon with flaws. 

[Punching Bag]

1 hour ago, MarkyMannn said:

Yeah the TD drop was disappointing, but he made at least two very tough catches later in the game

 

As Diggs said in post game interview Knox only catches the really tough ones and he did not mean it as an insult.  When Josh has to make a tough throw he looks at Knox.

[Nester]

Cut him and stick with Lee Smiths hands of gold!

[Ya Digg?]

1 hour ago, Wsam4031 said:

I have been very vocal on this he needs to go. if its a drop once in a while it happens but this guy seems to always have key drops that could affect us if we are playing better teams in the playoffs. there is a reason a guy with his talent dropped to the 4th round. i say go after another TE next year. 

I want to make sure I am understanding this right-you want him let go as in cut him? Right now? After the season? When? I’m guessing you mean after the season, if that’s the case who is the immediate upgrade (keep in mind he is still on his rookie deal and will be that way for 2 more years)? If you mean right now, what’s the benefit this late in the season?

[JY422]

1 hour ago, golfball323 said:

The Bills need their Kelce. Go get him...

I couldn’t disagree more for this one reason... the NFLs top 3 TEs (Kelce, Kittle, Waller) were all 3rd rd or later draft picks. they were never thought of a the next “Kelce/Witten/Gonzalez” etc. 

McBeane need to continue to draft the best player available that fits the Buffalo Bills culture they have built. 
JA17 even mentioned postgame last night about how much talent Knox has and speculated about “if” Knox ever puts it all together how great he can be.  
Sure... if there is a stud TE available that fits the culture, by all means, draft him. But don’t go out of your way to find your “Kelce.”

Sammy Watkins is a perfect example of that mentality not working out for the Bills. 

[balln]

1 minute ago, JY422 said:

I couldn’t disagree more for this one reason... the NFLs top 3 TEs (Kelce, Kittle, Waller) were all 3rd rd or later draft picks. they were never thought of a the next “Kelce/Witten/Gonzalez” etc. 

McBeane need to continue to draft the best player available that fits the Buffalo Bills culture they have built. 
JA17 even mentioned postgame last night about how much talent Knox has and speculated about “if” Knox ever puts it all together how great he can be.  
Sure... if there is a stud TE available that fits the culture, by all means, draft him. But don’t go out of your way to find your “Kelce.”

Sammy Watkins is a perfect example of that mentality not working out for the Bills. 

just pick BPA. always. rely on your pro scouting to fill in w stopgaps year to year

[ProcessAccepted]

1 hour ago, SCBills said:

Stick with Knox.

 

He has all the tools and I do have faith he puts it all together.

 

I'd rather use premium picks elsewhere.

 

Josh certainly agrees with you about Knox

 

 

[MarkyMannn]

13 minutes ago, Nester said:

Cut him and stick with Lee Smiths hands of gold!

Lee Smith catches that sideline pass and is "running" down field.  I'm like did I hit slo-mo on my remote?  😃

[njbuff]

People forget that TE’s DO NOT develop overnight.

 

They usually take 2-3 years to hit their stride.

 

Knox’s ability alone makes me have faith he can put it all together.

 

They will eventually need a decent TE2 though.

[balln]

Just now, njbuff said:

People forget that TE’s DO NOT develop overnight.

 

They usually take 2-3 years to hit their stride.

 

Knox’s ability alone makes me have faith he can put it all together.

 

They will eventually need a decent TE2 though.

sweeney 

[Success]

I guess I'm in a minority, but I love Knox.  He's a true football player - tough & resilient, and he has all of the skills you want in a TE.

 

Obviously, it's been a mix of good & bad so far, but this is a young player.  He made an early mistake last night, but more than made up for it with great play the rest of the game, including a couple of very key plays.  That 4th down catch was great.

 

He'll only get better.  

 

[Rc2catch]

More times than not those early round tight ends aren’t that successful. 
I fully expect they will bring in some competition/depth but chances are it’s still knoxs job to lose next year and I’m ok with that. 
We have zero patience around here. Look at our cut list this season. 
Bass gone after game 1-2. 
Klein gone the entire first half of the season. 
Levi been gone for two years now. 
Norman out before the season even started. 
Edmunds cut or benched 

We wouldn’t have enough people to field a team if fans had their way. 
Knox may not be Kelce but he’s also not the worst option either. Drops or not he’s a monster mismatch for opposing defenses and they still have to game plan and try and cover the guy. 

[JerseyBills]

keep letting him grow. Grab a TE if the value is there , later in draft. 

Dude is becoming a matchup nightmare and imo trending upwards . 

[RyanC883]

Kelce was not an elite pick.  We can find a TE later in the draft.  I also think Knox is trending upwards.  There is a reason JA throws to him in high value situations like 4th and 2.  

 

Also would like to see more of Gillium. 

1 hour ago, Fan in Chicago said:

We keep him till there is a better option. I dont like cutting players (not named Kelvin Benjamin) before we have adequate replacements. That said, Knox's drops are concerning especially as we are now talking championships and not just division wins or playoffs. 

If a past-great TE with couple of years left in the tank comes available (no one comes immediately to mind), then I would grab him in the offseason as a short term insurance policy in case Knox still has trouble catching. 

 

I think Henry is a FA.   But he is likely cost prohibitive given our other needs 

Edited December 29, 2020 by RyanC883

[NewEra]

2 hours ago, Artem Lipatov said:

I like Knox for angry runs. But he is by far not Kelce, Gronk caliber TE. This offence will be unstoppable if Bills add big fast TE with reliable hands. Draft or free agency

Oh.....he’s not “best right end of all time” caliber..... sigh

[Artem Lipatov]

10 minutes ago, NewEra said:

2 hours ago, Artem Lipatov said:

 

Oh.....he’s not “best right end of all time” caliber..... sigh

Ok, I agree for TE like SF Kittle.)) Or is he also best tight end of all time ?

[NewEra]

10 minutes ago, Artem Lipatov said:

Ok, I agree for TE like SF Kittle.)) Or is he also best tight end of all time ?

🙄

[Miyagi-Do Karate]

1 hour ago, balln said:

sweeney 

I am super high on Sweeney. I think he can be just an overall solid TE2. 

[Hampton Josh fan]

The guy has too much potential with separation abilities and as a check down option to give up on him due to crucial drops. The confusing aspect of his performance is that he makes some really nice catches and opens up the offense similar to SF and KC with Kittle and Kelce. You would think they ride it out with Knox. Hope he loses the dropsies. 

[Teddy KGB]

Draft another tight end and let Knox be his backup.  

[london_bills]

3 hours ago, bobobonators said:

I know this topic has been touched upon numerous times but here we go again. 
 

Knox has been more involved in the offense since the SF game - it has been great to see. This offense has been rolling. A top tier pass-catching TE is what this passing attack needs to be consistently elite in my opinion. It’s impossible for an opposing defense to account for Diggs, Beasley and a TE threat. A team with an elite corner like the Dolphins may be able to shadow Diggs and somewhat take him out of the game, but with Beasley and a TE threat the offense would still be dynamic. 
 

Knox has all the tools to be that threat we need in the redzone and over the middle of the field but this dude continues to raise question marks. How does he drop that TD last night? His hands can be too unpredictable for my liking. 
 

This upcoming draft has a couple of really good TE options. Do we stick with Knox as the starter one more season to see if it all clicks at some point? Do you guys want to spend a first or second round pick on a TE next yr? 

His hands worry me aswell. You just get the feeling he could drop a key touchdown or something, although sometimes he makes great plays. Personally I would take a franchise TE in round 1 although we need a DE

[GreggTX]

I'd like an upgrade, but I don't think it's our biggest need right now. I'd go Edge/OLB, CB, G then TE. Our leading sackers are Klein and Addison (5) tied for 57th in the NFL. Imagine what a difference it would make having a guy like Watts or Donald chasing after Mahomes all day when we play the Chiefs. Forget what we did to Cam. It's how you handle guys like Rogers and Mahomes that matters.

Edited December 29, 2020 by GreggTX

[billsfan89]

55 minutes ago, JerseyBills said:

keep letting him grow. Grab a TE if the value is there , later in draft. 

Dude is becoming a matchup nightmare and imo trending upwards . 

 

I would love to see this team stick with Knox as the starter, I think he has come on strong to end the season. But I do think they should look to find a competent vet TE to pair him with. I hope they can find a better complement to Knox than Kroft who while a decent player who does the more polished stuff that Knox doesn't but isn't reliable health wise. I don't know who is on the market that would make sense for their price range but it would be where I would try to go.

[Don Otreply]

“ how do solve a problem like Maria”  😜

 

 

or insert “Dawson” 

 

for you young people, it from a movie called “ The sound of Music” ... 

[John from Riverside]

You stick with him......but you go get another quality TE as well

[Ethan in Cleveland]

Do you bench Allen when he fumbles? Did Moss get his carries cut ? 

He is the best TE on the roster. He made two great catches.  Keep feeding him the ball. He drops more than average but they all drop some.

[MWK]

He’ll be here for the next two years unfortunately. He’s not very good, but he’s at least pretty cheap. Hopefully he doesn’t get a second contract from us.

Edited December 29, 2020 by MWK

[Artem Lipatov]

All Brown, Beasley and Diggs had career years with Allen. It should attract free agents WR and TE to Bills in future. 
It was last off-season when Olsen chose the wrong team for Super Bowl run. 

[biggerdaddynj]

3 hours ago, Don Otreply said:

I’ve read over over on this board that TE is one of the harder positions to learn and become proficient at, being that is likely the case, and that those who make the decisions appear to disagree with the Knox has to go crowd, one might surmise that Knox isn’t going anywhere soon.
 

His potential is still so high in the eyes of the coaches that they are not willing to give up on him and are not done grooming him.

 

Y’all gonna have to get comfortable with this being the most likely course for some time to come. 

 

Go Bills!!!

I’d LOVE to upgrade at TE but I think you’ve hit the nail on the head—they’re committed to seeing if he fulfills the “raw potential” they told us about when they drafted him and he’s inexpensive.  I personally continue to find it maddening to see his dropped passes but then he flashes once or twice a game—is this his ceiling or will his floor rise?  
 

Regardless, on his rookie deal he’s merely a $1 million cap hit next year.  Look around there’s fat to trim elsewhere (Kroft was a big bust at 3/$18.75–16th highest paid TE, take a look at some other TE salaries for fun:  https://www.spotrac.com/nfl/rankings/average/tight-end/).

 

(Nice to be talking about this after a Pats game!)

Edited December 29, 2020 by biggerdaddynj

[Kwai San]

Well the drop suxed it for sure.  As most of youse know I am not a Knox fan at all.  BUT he did atone for that drop for several real tough catches AND the catch that made the Hoodie toss the phone so in the end it all worked out....I am coming around on the kid....keep him and use picks elsewhere.  At this point I am more concerned about The Bease.....