Bills TE Dalton Kincaid ready for an increased role in 2024

The Buffalo Bills lost their top two receiving targets, Stefon Diggs and Gabe Davis, this offseason, but part of the equation in the pass-catching reshuffle in Western New York includes the expectation that second-year tight end Dalton Kincaid will see his role increase.

“I wouldn’t say I’m the guy. I think we have quite a bit of weapons on offense,” Kincaid said last Tuesday, via Bills Wire. “You know, we’re going to open everybody up, and with Josh (Allen) back there, he’s going to get everybody the ball. I think definitely a couple more targets this year, which will be nice.”

In 2023, Kincaid ranked second on the Bills with 73 catches and third with 673 yards including two touchdowns. These are impressive stats for a rookie tight end, considering the position’s known difficulty in transitioning from college to professional level. However, at 24 years old, there is still potential for growth.

The departure of Diggs and Davis leaves the Bills’ WR room with a cluttered mixture of youth and question marks. Second-round pick Keon Coleman was drafted to play a hefty role. Khalil Shakir is the top returning receiver. The club added Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Curtis Samuel, Mack Hollins and Chase Claypool to the mix.

Kincaid said, “Clearly, the room appears significantly different this year. It’s filled with numerous selfless individuals. I believe the transition has been carried out quite successfully.”

With question marks at receiver, Kincaid’s fellow tight end Dawson Knox and running back James Cook are expected to play more prominent roles in Allen’s passing attack under coordinator Joe Brady.

Brady utilized the run game heavily after assuming control halfway through the previous season. We anticipate a similar strategy to continue into 2024. However, with a complete off-season under his belt and the addition of new weapons, there’s a good chance for Brady to truly make his mark on the offense.

Kincaid discussed the offense under Brady, saying, “It didn’t undergo a major overhaul, but we’ve implemented many modifications since the previous year.” He added, “I believe his current level of creative freedom and ability to experiment is extremely beneficial.”

During training camp and preseason action, we’ll get a better look at Brady’s plans with his restructured pass-catching team.