Bills star Dalton Kincaid earns spot on NFL executives’ TE rankings

ESPN released its NFL position rankings, based on a staff survey, in early July. The annual series ranks the top 10 players at each position, based on a survey sent to NFL executives, coaches and scouts. The Buffalo Bills were not represented in the first four entries in the series, as the team did not have a running back, defensive tackle, defensive end or safety ranked in the top 10 at their respective position.

Buffalo finally makes the list thanks to the site’s new tight end rankings, with sophomore Dalton Kincaid sitting at No. 8 overall. One voter even ranked him as high as No. 2.

“Buffalo wouldn’t mind quarterback Josh Allen and Kincaid stealing the Mahomes-to-Kelce magic as a powerful quarterback-tight end duo,” ESPN reporter Jeremy Fowler wrote. “‘He’s a very natural player, very instinctive, very good hands,’” one senior NFL personnel member said. “I’m not sure he’s as explosive after the catch as some of the others.”

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“In addition to his 73 receptions for 673 yards as a rookie, Kincaid ranked atop that group in average yards from the nearest defender when targeted, according to NFL Next Gen Stats. While he doesn’t possess top-end speed, Kincaid’s 4.71-second 40-yard dash time was adequate for his position, and several evaluators believe he plays faster than that.”

It’s an encouraging (and well-deserved) ranking for Kincaid, who is among the top 10 at his position after just one professional season. He was stellar (and arguably nationally overlooked) as a rookie, with his 73 receptions breaking the record previously held by Sammy Watkins for most receptions by a Buffalo player in a rookie campaign. He was just 54 receiving yards away from building the best season ever by a Bills tight end (Paul Costa caught 39 passes for 726 yards in the 1965 AFL season); Kincaid will almost certainly break that record this fall.

What makes Kincaid’s ranking so encouraging after just one season is the fact that he’s likely only going to move up in future iterations of the rankings. A recent first-round draft pick with proven talent who laid a solid foundation in his rookie season, Kincaid’s role could grow even more next campaign given the offseason departures of Gabriel Davis and Stefon Diggs; many expect the second-year tight end, who already recorded 91 targets as a rookie, to lead the Bills in targets in 2024.

Kincaid is one of two second-year tight ends on ESPN’s list, with Detroit Lions wide receiver Sam LaPorta coming in at No. 4. Travis Kelce, George Kittle and Mark Andrews make up the top three. Buffalo tight end Dawson Knox is also mentioned in the rankings; he is listed as a player who also received votes.

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