Could Dawson Knox be more of a gadget guy?

[st pete gogolak]

5 hours ago, akcash said:

Maybe he could be kind of like the TE version of what Cordarrelle Patterson?

I’d like to see if Joe can find more creative ways to get the ball in Knox’s hands so he can  show some of that RAC ability and power. 

 

I think the way to do that is line him up in the backfield more. He’d be an effective weapon catching passes out of the backfield and this is just my opinion, but I would like to see what he could do with some traditional carries.

 

Not saying he wouldn’t still be a top 2 inline tight end for the most part as I think he’s one of the better blocking tight ends in the league. 
 

To me it seems he just has a lot of wasted movement in his routes and I think it’s easy for DBs to cover.  On the flip-side though he has  so much playmaking ability with ball in his hands.

 

 

 

 

I’ve been thinking along the same lines. Line him up in traditional FB spot.  Lead blocker on running plays, move to the line in 12 personnel, slot, whatever.  Could lead to some interesting formations.

[Don Otreply]

10 hours ago, Toyo321 said:

I see Dawson as potential trade bait to get our #1 WR in this years draft.

That would not surprise me, but he is a good blocking TE who can catch a pass most times, and believe it or not is a valuable member of the team, 

[Lost]

8 hours ago, Warcodered said:

Knox is a solid TE and a great partner to have with Kincaid, all the people wanting to get rid of him make no sense to me.

 

I don't want to get rid of him...just his contract.   Probably the biggest overpay of Beane's tenure in Buffalo.

[Jimmy Harris 69]

Unfortunately Knox is a chronic ball dropper with the worst contract on the team:

Mar 11 2021-

“Knox and the Bills have agreed to a restructured contract that lowers his scheduled $14.4 million cap hit for 2024, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com reports.

The tight end is entering the second season of a four-year, $52 million extension that guarantees most of his money through 2024 but none thereafter. It's possible this agreement changes that, but if not, Knox's future with the team could come into question next offseason. His fantasy value has taken a big hit since the Bills drafted fellow tight end Dalton Kincaid in the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft.”

This is one for which Bean deserves distain. Terrible contract for a middling player. Talk about being in love with a draft pick. Dawson has had some amazing moments but for every great catch there is a drop at the worst time. The 12 man personnel should be back with two tight ends. After getting only 22 for 186 yards in 15 games, it is hard to see him catching a ton of balls. In 2025 he will be likely gone, playing for much much less elsewhere. 

[mrags]

33 minutes ago, Lost said:

 

I don't want to get rid of him...just his contract.   Probably the biggest overpay of Beane's tenure in Buffalo.

Von

[Beck Water]

11 hours ago, Toyo321 said:

I see Dawson as potential trade bait to get our #1 WR in this years draft.

 

11 hours ago, akcash said:

I never thought of that but I could see that too.

 

I think you both don't see this.

 

Knox has a cap hit this season of $7.728M, created by taking a salary cut and converting some of his salary to bonus, in exchange for a fully guaranteed salary this year, some guaranteed salary next year, and incentives.

 

If he's traded before the draft and the trade partner picks up 100% of this year's guaranteed salary, his dead cap hit is something like $17.54M (the $24.45M Spotrac shows minus his salary guarantees)

 

The Bills currently have an estimated cap space of $4.2M, so they'd have to free up like $13.3M of cap space to make this happen

 

I can't see that happening, myself.

 

 

[That's No Moon]

12 hours ago, Virgil said:

I can’t imagine Josh signing off on that.  They are genuine bffs

You can't have 2 TEs that don't block which is what made Kincaid's selection puzzling and a bit wasteful.  You've got Knox eating up a big chunk of cap to be TE #2 now.  Knox's gadget needs to be blocking better so he can be on the field with Kincaid.  If that's not it he's teats on a bull with a contract that's tough to move.

[Virgil]

35 minutes ago, That's No Moon said:

You can't have 2 TEs that don't block which is what made Kincaid's selection puzzling and a bit wasteful.  You've got Knox eating up a big chunk of cap to be TE #2 now.  Knox's gadget needs to be blocking better so he can be on the field with Kincaid.  If that's not it he's teats on a bull with a contract that's tough to move.

Knox was used primarily as a blocker in the first half of the season.  That’s a large part of why his catches were down.  They used him to support in double teams quite a bit.  It may not be his best trait, but he does it a lot 

[That's No Moon]

3 minutes ago, Virgil said:

Knox was used primarily as a blocker in the first half of the season.  That’s a large part of why his catches were down.  They used him to support in double teams quite a bit.  It may not be his best trait, but he does it a lot 

Using him as help for Spencer Brown isn't the same thing as using him as an actual blocker.  

[Virgil]

5 hours ago, That's No Moon said:

Using him as help for Spencer Brown isn't the same thing as using him as an actual blocker.  

What would you call it?

[AlCowlingsTaxiService]

20 hours ago, Virgil said:

I can’t imagine Josh signing off on that.  They are genuine bffs

The LAST thing I want is the quarterback dictating roster construction based on personal relationships. That’s a problem IMO

[AlCowlingsTaxiService]

Knox needs to become a version of Lee Smith without slightly more offensive upside 

[Virgil]

7 minutes ago, AlCowlingsTaxiService said:

The LAST thing I want is the quarterback dictating roster construction based on personal relationships. That’s a problem IMO

I don’t know many that don’t 

[without a drought]

Only if his nickname can be Inspector Gadget. It'll be tough to stop both him and Rueben

[4BillsintheBurgh]

I'm hoping he will get 3-4 dump offs a game. He can be Josh's go to target instead of running. I'd rather have Knox pass blocking instead of a rb but we'll see what Brady cooks up this year.

[akcash]

I think Knox is a solid blocker. He wasn’t when he first came into the league but he manhandles people now. Take a closer look.

[BillsFan130]

20 hours ago, Toyo321 said:

I see Dawson as potential trade bait to get our #1 WR in this years draft.

I hope this is true, but do you think a team would absorb 9-10ish mil per year from him? I don't 

[HaldimandBills]

Knox is overpaid by 3 million. People really need to get over Knox. If Knox is your quote on quote worst contract (news flash Von is) You're doing OK.

 

He does need to do more and the timely brutal drops must go but he's a solid player. If the Bills released him he would be on the market for 10 minutes before signing a new contract for a lot more than people expected. 

 

A guy who brings Knox athletism who can block is a desirable commodity in the NFL. 

 

Besides if Knox has another season like last year he will either take another paycut or he will have lived up to his contract in which case who cares. Its not like he's a super diva whose going to cause a stink. The guy knows his value and wants to be a Buffalo Bill and stay with Josh Allen.

8 hours ago, That's No Moon said:

Using him as help for Spencer Brown isn't the same thing as using him as an actual blocker.  

Outside the very best of the best of the best. That is exactly how Tight Ends are used. Knox is an above avg. blocking Tight End in the NFL of guys who can actually go out and run routes. Is he a Lee Smith? No. But teams also know Lee Smith isn't a threat in any other way. 

[Nextmanup]

21 hours ago, Toyo321 said:

I see Dawson as potential trade bait to get our #1 WR in this years draft.

He's untradable.

 

Beane really #*)@ the bed with that K.

 

[Ed_Formerly_of_Roch]

16 hours ago, Ethan in Cleveland said:

Kincaid can't block anyone.  Not sure why people think he is TE #1.  Sadly Knox has not developed into the receiving threat of an elite TE, so Brady will need to figure out a way to use them both.  

Knox is not going anywhere after taking a pay cut.  If Beane pulled that stunt he destroys his reputation in the locker room and with the agents.

They have been and always will be different positions on the team. 

In fact when his contract is up Kincaid will argue like other flex TE's have that he should be paid more in line like a WR and not a TE.  

 

Knox is still likely one of the best pass catching, blocking TE's in the league.  Depending on what the Bills still do at WR and how much they may trust a rookie early on, maybe they will go back to more 12 personal this year like they started with last year.  In that role Knox could be valuable as he's a good enough pass catcher to keep teams honest.

 

As far as Kincaid blocking, lets see how he does as a 2nd year player before saying he can't block anyone.  Likely in college he was hardly ever asked to.