Bills 5th Round Pick (#2) : Jackson Hawes - TE - Georgia Tech

[frostbitmic]

He's a special teams player, every team needs them.

[Richard Noggin]

19 hours ago, White Linen said:

 

The issue isn't your breakdown of RAS but rather it's validity and it's flawed predictability of NFL success.  Admittedly, I haven't thoroughly investigated RAS, but I would use Hawes as an example.  He's not athletic, yet grades much higher than average.

 

But which numbers indicate he isn't athletic? Or, are you applying your own eye test instead? RAS just formulates a number based on comparable athletic testing. Those tests are not the only way to determine athleticism, but they are the only way to objectively compare raw athleticism.

[QLBillsFan]

On 4/26/2025 at 12:36 PM, Chas56 said:

Professional football has special teams. You guys can get silly.

You sir are correct! Morris is not back. So it’s he vs Davidson. Hawes has ST experience. So makes sense to me. 

[White Linen]

3 hours ago, Richard Noggin said:

 

But which numbers indicate he isn't athletic? Or, are you applying your own eye test instead? RAS just formulates a number based on comparable athletic testing. Those tests are not the only way to determine athleticism, but they are the only way to objectively compare raw athleticism.

 

His explosion grades are outstanding.  If I'm reading it correctly, that's the broad and vertical jump.  Clearly this kids got crazy strong legs.

 

His size didn't hurt him and kept him in the conversation to post a good RAS.

 

His speed scores are poor and possibly very poor, if I had a bit more time to research.

 

Here's the real issue. He didn't qualify for agility. It appears he didn't qualify because he didn't perform or for whatever reason didn't record his 3 cone score.  He did record a poor shuttle, which is part of the agility, so it was not headed in a good direction for posting a good agility score.  Because he didn't qualify, it didn't factor in or in other words, didn't hurt him.  It was about to with that lower end shuttle.

 

So his explosion really became the reason and the only reason he scored high.  He's strong - but not athletic.

[Stenbar]

Looks like a young Metzelars...

[MJS]

He was the best blocking TE in the draft and we needed a TE 3. Slam dunk pick in the 5th round. He will make the roster.

 

For those wanting a WR, who was available? ALL of the rosterable ones were gone.

On 4/26/2025 at 8:14 PM, GASabresIUFan said:

I like the pick.  I had mocked to the Bills about 50 times.  He is Knox 2.0

Knox is an athletic pass catching TE. Hawes is a blocker. Hawes is Lee Smith 2.0.

[GASabresIUFan]

15 minutes ago, MJS said:

He was the best blocking TE in the draft and we needed a TE 3. Slam dunk pick in the 5th round. He will make the roster.

 

For those wanting a WR, who was available? ALL of the rosterable ones were gone.

Knox is an athletic pass catching TE. Hawes is a blocker. Hawes is Lee Smith 2.0.

Have you ever watched Hawes play in person or even on TV?  Didn’t think so!  I have.  Yes the kid is a good blocker,  but is a better pass catcher than given credit for.  Tech’s offense tends to limit stats and opportunities.  
 

Kincaid is an athletic pass catching TE.  Knox can catch but is mostly a blocker at this point and was never an athletic pass catching TE. 

[MJS]

59 minutes ago, GASabresIUFan said:

Have you ever watched Hawes play in person or even on TV?  Didn’t think so!  I have.  Yes the kid is a good blocker,  but is a better pass catcher than given credit for.  Tech’s offense tends to limit stats and opportunities.  
 

Kincaid is an athletic pass catching TE.  Knox can catch but is mostly a blocker at this point and was never an athletic pass catching TE. 

Knox is an athletic pass catching TE. You are absolutely wrong about that. He is only an ok blocker. He has an RAS of 9.25. He has elite speed and explosiveness for a TE and only ok size.

 

Yeah, Kincaid is a little lighter and faster, but they are in the exact same mold as athletic pass catching TE's.

[Captain Hindsight]

On 4/26/2025 at 3:48 PM, nedboy7 said:

 

All I can think to console myself is Josh himself doesn't want more help.  Wouldn't they ask him what he wants? 

Josh probably wants the defense to make a stop in the playoffs and be able to convert a 4th and 1. Draft pretty much reflected that

[billsfan89]

Bills got that niche TE3 with some upside. Much more of a blocker than Morris but not that great a pass catcher but has some traits as a receiver. Viewed as the best blocking TE in the draft so getting him for a 5th round pick is not bad at all. Bills had a lot of niche roles open and they filled one with a 5th rounder. Solid piece of business.

Edited yesterday at 03:01 PM by billsfan89

[Doc]

1 minute ago, billsfan89 said:

Bills got that niche TE3 with some upside. Much more of a blocker than Morris but not that great but has some traits as a receiver. Viewed as the best blocking TE in the draft so getting him for a 5th round pick is not bad at all. Bills had a lot of niche roles open and they filled one with a 5th rounder. Solid piece of business.

?

[billsfan89]

1 minute ago, Doc said:

?

Typo I made the edit. He’s a better blocker than Morris but not as good a pass catcher 

[Mat68]

10 minutes ago, billsfan89 said:

Bills got that niche TE3 with some upside. Much more of a blocker than Morris but not that great a pass catcher but has some traits as a receiver. Viewed as the best blocking TE in the draft so getting him for a 5th round pick is not bad at all. Bills had a lot of niche roles open and they filled one with a 5th rounder. Solid piece of business.

At that point hard to find guys with a real shot at not only the 53 but also the 46. High odds he makes it and dresses on Sundays.  

[Bleeding Bills Blue]

1 hour ago, MJS said:

Knox is an athletic pass catching TE. You are absolutely wrong about that. He is only an ok blocker. He has an RAS of 9.25. He has elite speed and explosiveness for a TE and only ok size.

 

Yeah, Kincaid is a little lighter and faster, but they are in the exact same mold as athletic pass catching TE's.

 

I'd say there's a difference between athletic pass catching TE, and move TE.  Kincaid profiles more as a move TE who isn't always on the LOS, and isn't always in line with the OL.  Knox is more likely to be lined up on the LOS, and more likely to be lined up next to a tackle.  

 

As for Dawes - Morris played 214 snaps on O, and 324 snaps on STs last year.  He had 5 catches on 8 targets.  According to Sumer Sports (https://sumersports.com/players/tight-end/?t=BUF) he ran 59 routes on those 214 snaps.  So... all that to say - 59 routes and a 5.3% target share on those routes can probably be filled in by anyone and get similar results.  

Edited yesterday at 03:25 PM by Bleeding Bills Blue

[RyanC883]

Know nothing about this guy.  Would have liked the guy from Old Miss more.  Besides being from Old Miss seemed like a Knox type.  

[Augie]

24 minutes ago, RyanC883 said:

Know nothing about this guy.  Would have liked the guy from Old Miss more.  Besides being from Old Miss seemed like a Knox type.  

 

You know nothing about him, but you prefer the other guy. 

 

Interesting. 

[TableDestoyer69]

5 hours ago, MJS said:

Knox is an athletic pass catching dropping TE. You are absolutely wrong about that. He is only an ok blocker. He has an RAS of 9.25. He has elite speed and explosiveness for a TE and only ok size.

 

FYP

[NickelCity]

I think he's considered an off the charts elite blocker. Best-in-years draft prospect in that specific regard. 

[RyanC883]

1 hour ago, Augie said:

 

You know nothing about him, but you prefer the other guy. 

 

Interesting. 

 

he didn't pop up on any of the pre-draft reviews I read.  So yeah, I prefer the guy I know something about.  (good hands, decent blocker, etc).  

[Augie]

5 minutes ago, RyanC883 said:

 

he didn't pop up on any of the pre-draft reviews I read.  So yeah, I prefer the guy I know something about.  (good hands, decent blocker, etc).  

 

I’m making my decision now, with more information. I like what I’ve seen of his blocking…..a lot. It’s no longer last week.