On the surface, it would probably seem crazy to suggest that a team which ranks 3rd in the league in both scoring and total yards has any sort of issues offensively, but following a 23-20 primetime loss to the New England Patriots, a familiar chorus is being sung in Western New York… the Buffalo Bills have wide receiver problems.
Against their AFC East foe, the Bills were forced to deal with stacked boxes and man coverage for the majority of the night, with New England daring Buffalo’s pass-catchers to win one on one matchups. More often than not, the Bills receiving corps failed to create the separation necessary to win these matchups, and with a spy attached to Josh Allen all night long, the Pats were able to keep the five-time defending division champs in check.
Interestingly, the Bills found themselves in this exact position at exactly the same juncture of the 2024 season. Following a 23-20 loss to the Houston Texans in which Josh Allen threw for a season-low 126 yards, the Bills decided they needed an upgrade at the wide receiver position, and within just a couple of weeks, a deal for Amari Cooper had materialized.
In the days following that defeat, many have been quick to point out that Buffalo could or should investigate making a similar move, with disgruntled Philadelphia Eagles receiver AJ Brown seemingly becoming the trade target du jour.
The price tag to acquire a player of AJ Brown’s stature wouldn’t be cheap, though with their Super Bowl window wide open, perhaps the Bills would be inclined to make a move of this nature. However, there may be a solution to Buffalo’s issues on the active roster… only he’s sitting in on meeting in the Bills tight end room.
More Dalton Kincaid Could Be Great For Bills Offense
Through five games this season, third-year tight end Dalton Kincaid leads all Bills players in receiving yards (287) and receiving touchdowns (3). Of the 42 players in the league with at least 250 receiving yards so far this season, Kincaid is one of just six — along with Puka Nacua, Amon-Ra St. Brown, Stefon Diggs, Jake Ferguson and Devonta Smith — with a catch percentage of at least 80%.
And yet as the Bills head into Week 6, Dalton Kincaid has been on the field for just 49% of the Bills’ offensive snaps. That’s 4% fewer snaps than Buffalo’s TE2, Dawson Knox.
Historically, the knock on Kincaid had been his shortcomings as a blocker, but in two short years, he’s already shown improvement in that area since his rookie season. Per Pro Football Focus, Kincaid’s grade as a run blocker this year (60.4) is middle of the pack among all tight ends, 32nd of a qualified 77 players.
“He’s always been a tough player ever since we got him here. Probably doesn’t get as much credit as he deserves in the run game,” Bills’ head coach Sean McDermott said of Kincaid a few weeks back.
If this is how McDermott, offensive coordinator Joe Brady and the rest of the Bills coaching staff feels about Kincaid, it makes you wonder why he hasn’t been on the field for even half of Buffalo’s offensive snaps this season. Based solely on what Kincaid provides the Bills in the passing game, he should be on the field far more frequently than he has been so far this year.
Frankly, it feels like the Bills are missing out on an opportunity to build their passing attack around Kincaid in a similar fashion to how the Raiders and Cardinals have built there’s around Brock Bowers and Trey McBride respectively. This isn’t to say Kincaid is necessarily that caliber of player, but we also haven’t had the prolonged chance to find out if he can replicate that sort of production with a similar amount of involvement in the game plan.
Along with Kincaid, Khalil Shakir, Keon Coleman and Joshua Palmer — or if Buffalo prefers to operate with 12 or 13 personnel looks with either Knox or emerging rookie Jackson Hawes on the field as well — make up a perfectly suitable cast of pass-catchers that many teams would be thrilled to be trotting out each and every Sunday. Unlocking Kincaid, utilizing him even more in the slot, might be all this offense needs to get things back on track.
Like Heavy Sports’s content? Be sure to follow us.
This article was originally published on Heavy Sports
The post Why More Dalton Kincaid Could Be The Solution to Bills Wide Receiver Issues appeared first on Heavy Sports.