Is this the year Dawson Knox breaks out with the Buffalo Bills?
After the 2020 season, Buffalo Bills general manager mentioned that the tight end position was one that they hoped to improve this offseason. While they did add free agent Jacob Hollister, the fact that they didn’t bring in a clear starter should be a vote of confidence for Dawson Knox.
The Bills drafted Knox in the third round of the 2019 NFL Draft and the general consensus was that he was raw but had the physical attributes to be a good tight end with some development. He showed improvements from his rookie season to last season but this is going to be the crucial season for Dawson Knox.
Profile
Position: Tight End
Age: 24
Height: 6’4″
Weight: 254 pounds
Years of Experience: 3
2020 Stats
Last year, Dawson Knox appeared in 12 games and had seven starts. He finished the year with 24 receptions on 44 targets for 288 receiving yards and three touchdowns.
As the season went on, Knox showed improvements and became a bigger part of this offense. In the final eight games, including the playoffs, Knox averaged 3.125 receptions and 30.25 receptions per game with four touchdowns during that stretch. These numbers were up from 1.28 reception and 15.9 receiving yards with only one touchdown in seven games.
Expectations for the 2021 season with the Buffalo Bills
Those increases may not look like much but considering what the Bills need from the tight end position, it may be just enough. One of the biggest concerns with Knox, and the area he can improve the most, is making sure the targets he does get he makes the most of.
This means he needs to cut down on drops, which was an issue more in his rookie season where he had a drop rate of 20% but that rate dropped to 9.1% last season.
If Dawson Knox can develop into a reliable pass catcher, it is going to make an already dynamic passing attack that much tougher for opposing defenses to stop.