In the world of NFL tight ends, where the likes of Travis Kelce and George Kittle reign supreme, a new crop of talent is emerging, and one name that stands out is Dalton Kincaid. While he may not have cracked the Top 10 in ESPN's recent rankings, Kincaid is a player who demands attention and could very well be on the cusp of greatness. Personally, I think that Kincaid's potential is often overlooked, and it's time to take a closer look at why.
The Smoothest Athlete at the Position
Since his days as a prospect, Kincaid has been hailed as one of the smoothest and most dynamic athletes at the tight end position. His ability to stretch the field and create mismatches is truly remarkable. In his rookie season, he caught 73 passes for 673 yards with two scores on 60% of Buffalo's offensive snaps. This was a strong start, and it seemed that Kincaid was ready to take the league by storm.
However, things took a turn in his sophomore campaign. Kincaid's numbers significantly dipped to 44 receptions and 448 yards, and his snap count decreased to 43.2%. Despite this, there are signs of hope. Last year, Kincaid played just 27% of the snaps and caught 39 passes for 571 yards with five scores. This shows that when he is on the field, he can be incredibly productive.
The Impact of Injuries
One thing that has held Kincaid back is injury. As the NFC executive mentioned, injuries have been a recurring issue for the young tight end. Despite this, he has still managed to establish himself as a matchup nightmare for every defense. His 2.79 yards-per-route run figure led all qualifying tight ends during the regular season, and he led all tight ends in receptions of 20-plus yards in 2025 with 13.
If Kincaid can stay healthy, he has the potential to be right on the cusp of the elite tier of tight ends in the post Kelce and Kittle era. In my opinion, his ability to stretch the field and create mismatches is truly special, and it's only a matter of time before he puts it all together.
The Future is Bright
Looking ahead to 2027, I believe that Kincaid can find himself in the Top 5 to Top 7 if he plays on 40+ percent of the offensive snaps for the Bills in 2026. This is the line of demarcation for me this season. Get him close to 50% of the snaps, and he can be hugely impactful for Buffalo's offense. There's a tremendous young crop of tight ends, and if healthy, Kincaid is part of said group.
In conclusion, Dalton Kincaid is a player who demands attention. While he may not have cracked the Top 10 in ESPN's recent rankings, his potential is undeniable. If he can stay healthy and continue to develop, he could very well be on the cusp of greatness. From my perspective, the future is bright for this young tight end, and I can't wait to see what he does next.
