The Buffalo Bills are going to be in the market for a new tight end this offseason but their opinion of Dawson Knox is likely to dictate the direction they are going to go. If they don’t believe he will develop into that top tight end they believed he could be when they selected him in the third round of the 2018 NFL Draft, then they may get a little more aggressive with a player like Hunter Henry or Jonnu Smith.
However, if they believe in the potential of Dawson Knox then it makes sense to bring in a veteran to help take some pressure off the younger player but at the same time improve the production of the position. If they do that, then a player like Jared Cook makes perfect sense and Brad Gagnon of Bleacher Report saying the Bills is the ideal landing spot is right.
"Best fit: Buffalo Bills. The cap-strapped New Orleans Saints might not be able to afford to keep him around, while the Bills are a contender who could take advantage of his experience right away in a platoon role with young incumbent Dawson Knox."
Jared Cook is an older veteran at 33 years old but hasn’t seen his production slow down much over the past few seasons. He has 2,105 receiving yards and 22 touchdowns in the past three years.
While playing in the New Orleans Saints offense the past two years, and with a Hall of Fame quarterback Drew Brees, certainly helps, these numbers shouldn’t be dismissed. The Buffalo Bills have developed an explosive offense and with a quarterback like Josh Allen, a proven pass catcher like Jared Cook could really help this offense but also keep Cook near the top of the league among tight ends.
The direction the Buffalo Bills take this offseason to address the tight end position is ultimately going to come down to how they view Dawson Knox. If they still believe he can develop into a contributor, a veteran like Jared Cook would be a smart move.