Dawson Knox

Career StatsB

Year	Team	GP	Rec	Yards	TD
Career		103	229	2,694	27
2025		17	36	417	4
2024		16	22	311	1
2023		13

Current Contract

Contract Value Index (CVI)

Dawson Knox's contract earns a B- Contract Value Index, with the AAV sitting where the comparable-tier deals tend to settle. At $6.67M annually over three years through 2028, Knox is priced as a solid-starter tight end—not a franchise cornerstone, not a bargain depth piece, but rather a reliable mid-tier veteran that Buffalo's front office has deemed worth retaining amid broader roster churn. His 2025 production (417 receiving yards across 17 games) aligns with that valuation: competent contributor output that fills a role without creating explosive upside, and it matches the performance grade of B that reflects exactly what you'd expect from a seven-year veteran in his prime years. The contract restructure Knox accepted, combined with his simultaneous emergence in cut-candidate discussions, signals cap constraints on Buffalo's end rather than concerns about his on-field capability—a distinction that keeps the CVI grounded but introduces tenure risk. At age 29 with a three-year deal, Knox's contract assumes he remains a trusted piece of the Bills' passing game architecture, but the organizational reshuffling (recent signings at receiver and linebacker paired with multiple roster cuts) frames him as part of a continuity strategy rather than a centerpiece investment. The CVI reflects that equilibrium: fair value for a veteran plug-and-play starter whose long-term standing hinges entirely on whether Buffalo's win-now calculus holds and whether his production sustains at current levels.

Contracts in the Same Value Band

Other same-position deals the Contract Value Index also places in the B band — a quick read on where Dawson's contract sits relative to comparable money.

Performance Analysis

Dawson Knox is a seven-year veteran tight end who has carved out a reliable role as Buffalo's primary receiving option at the position since being drafted in the third round in 2019. Earning a B performance grade, Knox sits comfortably above average among NFL tight ends and remains a trusted weapon in Josh Allen's offense. He's not an elite TE1, but his consistency and red-zone presence keep him firmly in the top half of the position. Knox's current-season efficiency stands out, with 11.6 yards per reception well above the NFL average of 9.19, showing he's not just a volume accumulator but a genuine chunk-play threat. His 0.24 receiving touchdowns per game nearly doubles the league average of 0.13, reinforcing his value as a red-zone target. His 24.5 receiving yards per game exceeds the NFL average of 10.67, though it trails elite production near 44.19, highlighting the ceiling gap between Knox and the position's true alphas. His season trend tells a nuanced story — grades have climbed from a C- in 2023 to a C in 2024 to a C+ in 2025, suggesting real upward momentum entering his age-29 season. Knox's trajectory resembles a player hitting a late-career efficiency peak rather than declining, which bodes well for sustained productivity. If he can push his yards-per-game totals closer to the elite threshold while maintaining his red-zone role, a legitimate B+ ceiling remains within reach heading into 2026.

How Dawson Compares at the Position

Dawson Knox ranks 28th of 164 graded tight ends by performance. That slots Dawson between Austin Hooper (B) just ahead and Cade Otton (B) just behind.

Current Sentiment

Dawson Knox's sentiment grade lands at C+, reflecting how the recent storylines have framed him. The narrative around the 29-year-old tight end centers on organizational stability rather than on-field dominance—his three-year contract extension through 2028 was universally framed as a smart, stabilizing move by Buffalo's front office that recognizes him as a dependable veteran starter who fits the system, and that messaging has generally resonated with Bills fans and media alike. That goodwill, however, sits in stark tension with his on-field performance grade of B, which masks the reality that Knox posted 417 receiving yards across 17 games in the 2025 season—solid contributor production, not the kind of output that generates elite tight end buzz. The contradictory headlines tell the full story: while his new deal signals organizational commitment, the simultaneous circulation of Knox as a potential salary-cap cut candidate introduces genuine uncertainty and has muddied the narrative, leaving fans caught between "the team values him" and "the team might still move on." Buffalo's aggressive offseason reshuffling—signing receivers and linebackers while cutting at other positions—frames Knox's re-signing as part of a continuity play rather than a centerpiece move, which means his standing remains firmly in the "trusted role player" category. The bottom line is that Knox benefits from a narrative that prizes durability and locker-room reputation, but that story holds only as long as the Bills keep winning and his production doesn't decline further.