Dawson Knox Appreciation

[ganesh]

I wrote down my thoughts on Knox and did some research on his overall career and what he means to Buffalo and what Buffalo means to him.  I believe he is a Buffalo Bills for LIFE.  I gave my data to chatGPT and got its help to write a polished article. Thought will share it here for my TBD friends

 

Dawson Knox: Buffalo’s Tight End of Grit and Glory

 

From Walk-On to Bills Mainstay

Dawson Knox’s story has never been about the easy path. A quarterback in high school who battled injuries, he walked on at Ole Miss with little fanfare and few catches to his name. Scouts saw raw athleticism more than polish. But what stood out was his drive—the quiet, relentless work ethic that transformed him from a forgotten prospect into an NFL draft pick.

 

When the Buffalo Bills selected him in the third round of the 2019 draft, it wasn’t just about measurables. It was about potential. About a player who embodied resilience, toughness, and the kind of determination that fit the DNA of Buffalo itself.

 

Plays That Feel Like Buffalo

Knox’s game isn’t glamorous. It’s gritty. He’s as proud of a key block as he is of a touchdown. He’ll fight through defenders for three extra yards that won’t make the highlight reel but might win a drive.

 

One play that encapsulates him came in January 2022, during the Bills’ wild-card playoff against the Patriots. On Buffalo’s opening drive, Josh Allen rolled right and fired a pass Knox’s way. The ball seemed destined to sail out of reach—until Knox twisted his body mid-air, extended to the limit, and somehow reeled it in for the touchdown.

 

It was Buffalo’s first score in a game that would become one of the franchise’s most dominant playoff performances. And it was pure Dawson Knox: impossible catch, relentless focus, refusing to give up on a play that looked dead. By the night’s end, Knox had found the end zone twice—and came within a single yard of a third touchdown. It wasn’t just production, it was persistence, the kind of never-say-die performance that set the tone for the entire team.

 

“I trust Dawson. When the game’s on the line, I know he’s going to fight for that ball.” – Josh Allen

 

In 2021, Knox broke Buffalo’s single-season touchdown record for tight ends. But even in that career year, his identity wasn’t the scoreboard—it was the sacrifice. The willingness to take a hit over the middle. The unselfish joy in celebrating a teammate’s score. Every play feels like Buffalo itself: hard, cold, unrelenting, built on pride—and defined by a\ never-say-never belief that no moment is too big.

 

A Bill for Life

Knox’s connection with the city runs deeper than stats. He’s embraced its winters, its work ethic, and its identity as an underdog that refuses to quit. Head coach Sean McDermott puts it plainly: “Dawson is the guy who’ll do whatever it takes—block, catch, fight through pain. That’s Buffalo football.” – Sean McDermott

 

That’s why many in Buffalo believe Dawson Knox is more than just a player. He’s a symbol. The kind of athlete who doesn’t just wear the jersey but lives what it represents.

 

The Legacy in Motion

For Knox, football is more than a game. It’s family, faith, and city all bound together in blue and red. His plays remind fans of Buffalo’s own story—fighting for every inch, never backing down, finding pride in perseverance. Dawson Knox isn’t just a tight end. He’s Buffalo’s tight end. And if the city has its way, he’ll be a Bill for life.

 

dawson knox.pdf

Edited September 2 by ganesh

[NoHuddleKelly12]

https://youtu.be/0KGX0BbI5Wk?feature=shared

Always liked him after he became an “angry runs” perennial contender…

[Andrew Son]

Hopefully it will change, but as of now he's clearly the best TE on the team.

[BillsFan130]

4 minutes ago, Andrew Son said:

Hopefully it will change, but as of now he's clearly the best TE on the team.

Lol, say what?

[QB Bills]

11 minutes ago, BillsFan130 said:

Lol, say what?

He's saying Dalton Kincaid sucks. Which he does.

[BillsFan130]

2 minutes ago, QB Bills said:

He's saying Dalton Kincaid sucks. Which he does.

That's crazy talk to me. Was he Dissapointing last year? Yes. 
 

Knox is better blocker than Kincaid. But there is no world where Knox even comes close to being a better receiving tight end than him 

[Ed_Formerly_of_Roch]

42 minutes ago, Andrew Son said:

Hopefully it will change, but as of now he's clearly the best TE on the team.

 

21 minutes ago, BillsFan130 said:

That's crazy talk to me. Was he Dissapointing last year? Yes. 
 

Knox is better blocker than Kincaid. But there is no world where Knox even comes close to being a better receiving tight end than him 

 

If you look at the year they both had last year, Knox was the better overall TE.  But Kincaid certainly has way more potential to be the best, but needs to show it, until then, hard to argue with Andrew Son.   Kincaid certainly looked good in pre-season so hopefully by mid October there will be no doubt who is the best and the answer will be Kincaid.   Also agree that to say Kincaid sucks says you're pretty much clueless.

[BarleyNY]

I understand fans that want more out of Knox. At his price point that’s reasonable. But I don’t get why some wanted the Bills to cut him. He is the only TE on the roster that’s effective in all phases of a TEs game. He is a good receiver, run blocker and pass blocker. Having a TE like that on the field is important for obvious reasons. 

Edited September 1 by BarleyNY

[T.E.]

He's decent, but I think everyone was expecting a lot more after he had 12 receiving TDs in the 2021 regular season and playoffs.

[skibum]

When you watch Bills' highlight reels over the past few years, you see a lot of huge plays at critical times from Knox, particularly when the play breaks down and Josh is scrambling for an outlet.

 

I think this is an important role in any offense, because NFL defenses can wipe out a designed play so quickly. Knox has a nose for open space in chaos, and he has the hops and the hands to go up and get it. That, and he's a great blocker. He's worth every penny if you ask me. 

[BillsFan130]

40 minutes ago, Ed_Formerly_of_Roch said:

 

 

If you look at the year they both had last year, Knox was the better overall TE.  But Kincaid certainly has way more potential to be the best, but needs to show it, until then, hard to argue with Andrew Son.   Kincaid certainly looked good in pre-season so hopefully by mid October there will be no doubt who is the best and the answer will be Kincaid.   Also agree that to say Kincaid sucks says you're pretty much clueless.

Are some people really that down on Kincaid where we are saying a guy with 22 catches in 16 games is better than him though? 

 

I get Kincaid had a disappointing year. He also missed 4 games and played through two bad knees.

To put it in perspective though- Kincaid has been in the league for 2 years and Knox has played 6. And Kincaid has already had more catches and more yards in a season than Knox has ever had.

 

I just can't even come close to saying Knox is better than Kincaid. Blocking? Sure. Receiving? Not even close

Edited September 1 by BillsFan130

[US Egg]

Plus he can do plumbing, heating and electrical work.

[zow2]

1 hour ago, BillsFan130 said:

That's crazy talk to me. Was he Dissapointing last year? Yes. 
 

Knox is better blocker than Kincaid. But there is no world where Knox even comes close to being a better receiving tight end than him 

 

I’ve always liked and appreciated Knox’s game.  Maybe he is a more integral part of the passing game this season. Of course we’d like to see Kincaid show up. No Tight End ended their seasons in such disappointing fashion as Kincaid and Mark Andrews.  Interesting that they meet up in week 1.

 

You want to see what a real blue chip Tight End looks like from day 1?  Watch Tyler Warren in Indianapolis. He’s going to burst on the scene like LaPorta. That’s assuming Danny Dimes can throw him some decent passes.

[BillsFan130]

10 minutes ago, zow2 said:

 

I’ve always liked and appreciated Knox’s game.  Maybe he is a more integral part of the passing game this season. Of course we’d like to see Kincaid show up. No Tight End ended their seasons in such disappointing fashion as Kincaid and Mark Andrews.  Interesting that they meet up in week 1.

 

You want to see what a real blue chip Tight End looks like from day 1?  Watch Tyler Warren in Indianapolis. He’s going to burst on the scene like LaPorta. That’s assuming Danny Dimes can throw him some decent passes.

For sure. I'm not here to say Kincaid is great. Because so far I would say he's been slightly dissapointing through two seasons.

I just can't go to a world where I'm even close to saying Knox is better than him though.

 

Knox is a descent player who has value to this team. But at the end of day he's an overpaid blocking TE2, who can occasionally make a nice play in the passing game.

[Augie]

Dawson Knox is our “traditional tight end”. He’s a nice mix of blocker and pass catcher, an old fashioned TE. Kincaid is more of a pass catcher, Hawes is almost exclusively a blocker (but adds versatility to our Big package) and Latu is 6’6” with long arms. We have something for every occasion, but Knox is the guy who can do it all. We can be too hard on our own, and too quick to love players on other teams.  

[QB Bills]

Draft bias is obviously strong among the Kincaid fanboys but if you live in reality you'd see that there is nothing he is better at than Knox. And yes, that includes receiving. Has Knox had a few maddening drops earlier in his career? Sure. But he's also made some highlight reel catches that Kincaid could only dream of. It was a dumb pick at the time and looks even worse now.

 

Also, I don't recall Knox, or any other Bills player ever coming up so small at the end of an important game the way Kincaid did last season against the Chiefs in January. Just an all-time pathetic performance on multiple plays when the stakes were the highest.

[BillsFan130]

3 minutes ago, QB Bills said:

Draft bias is obviously strong among the Kincaid fanboys but if you live in reality you'd see that there is nothing he is better at than Knox. And yes, that includes receiving. Has Knox had a few maddening drops earlier in his career? Sure. But he's also made some highlight reel catches that Kincaid could only dream of. It was a dumb pick at the time and looks even worse now.

 

Also, I don't recall Knox, or any other Bills player ever coming up so small at the end of an important game the way Kincaid did last season against the Chiefs in January. Just an all-time pathetic performance on multiple plays when the stakes were the highest.

Saying Knox is a better receiver just tells me you either just have it out for Kincaid, or you just don't watch the bills on a consistent basis. (Respectfully)

 

I believe it's your hatred towards Kincaid though.

 

Knox has 44 catches and under 500 yards combined the last 2 seasons.

 

There is ZERO world where he is a better receiver than Kincaid. And im not a "kincaid fan boy". I think he's been somewhat disappointing the first two years.

But saying Knox is a better receiver than Kincaid just shows you have an agenda on Kincaid. Because no receiving stat or advanced stat will show that to be anywhere remotely true.

[NewEra]

9 minutes ago, QB Bills said:

but if you live in reality you'd see that there is nothing he is better at than Knox.

🤣 

 

theres probably 200k “fanboys” on this earth.  And maybe 8 of you.
 

you’re clearly delusional  

3 minutes ago, BillsFan130 said:

Saying Knox is a better receiver just tells me you either just have it out for Kincaid, or you just don't watch the bills on a consistent basis. (Respectfully)

 

I believe it's your hatred towards Kincaid though.

 

Knox has 44 catches and under 500 yards combined the last 2 seasons.

 

There is ZERO world where he is a better receiver than Kincaid. And im not a "kincaid fan boy". I think he's been somewhat disappointing the first two years.

But saying Knox is a better receiver than Kincaid just shows you have an agenda on Kincaid. Because no receiving stat or advanced stat will show that to be anywhere remotely true.

[Mikie2times]

He is the most well rounded TE on the roster and he's been a fun player to watch. But it's a bit of a precarious situation with him along with the rest of the TE room starting next year for how much we have invested. 

 

Knox is a 3rd round pick and top 5 cap hit (almost 10 million in savings by cutting next year)

Kincaid is a 1st round pick, jury is still out, and is more one dimensional as a pass catcher

Hawes is a 5th round pick, unknown, and is more one dimensional as a blocker

 

What does this position even look like next year? You sort of need to either keep Knox or replace him with a similar player and that replacement is a full on multi skilled TE. We really can't afford to spend another high pick here IMO. 

 

Edited September 1 by Mikie2times

[benderbender]

Knox signed his contract at the absolute apex timing. His agent deserved his cut.