Buffalo Bills 2023 Summer - Post-Draft and Pre-Camp Talk

[ValJamesDuex]

 

[Fezzy126]

 

[Zman5778]

Snippet from ESPN: https://www.espn.com/nfl/draft/rounds

Post-Draft Analysis​

With Dawson Knox already entrenched as the No. 1 tight end, Kincaid enters a situation where he can be the complementary option. He provides Josh Allen with another target alongside Stefon Diggs and Gabe Davis. Kincaid led the FBS in catches last season (70), but his formational versatility will be an asset to the Bills' offense. He also has a natural feel versus zone coverage, as he recorded an FBS-high 46 catches against that type of coverage.

 

[Rowley Birkin]

Mingo would be a pick that'd be more for 2024. Train him up this year, then he takes over for Davis.

I see Mingo's strength as being a 'big slot' which is essentially what Kincaid just got drafted for.

 

[Husko]

11.5 personnel lol

 

[LaPlante94]

So we got picks 59 and 91 tomorrow. Bergeron, Schmitz, Torrance, and Sanders all possible at 59. Anyone know what time the draft starts tomorrow?

 

[Zman5778]

From The Athletic: Buffalo Bills NFL Draft picks 2023: Grades, fits and scouting reports

No. 25 Dalton Kincaid, TE, Utah​

How he fits​

Might the tight end run follow the receiver run? Kincaid, the best pass-catching TE on the board, is also the first tight end off the board and will become one of Josh Allen’s new best friends. Possibly a critical piece in the next step for Allen, who is still looking to improve on not being so aggressive all the time.

Adding a player like Kincaid — who had 175 catches as a college player — could add another layer to Buffalo’s already special offense. Kincaid can be a slot weapon, a move tight end and he has Pro Bowl potential. His biggest area of concern is play strength, not just as a blocker — but a route runner, too. Still, in time, Kincaid could be outstanding. — Nick Baumgardner

Dane Brugler’s analysis​

With his basketball background, Kincaid has fluid movement skills and flashes the short-area quickness to open stride and accelerate in and out of his breaks. He is a natural ball winner and shows confidence in his hands, doing most of his damage when catching the ball on the move (remarkable 35-to-4 touchdown-to-drop ratio in college). Overall, Kincaid is still developing his play strength and consistency as a blocker, but he is an above-average pass catcher with the burst, body control and ball skills to be a weapon in the slot. He projects as a playmaking “move” tight end in the NFL.

Scott Dochterman’s Grade: B-plus​

 

[Zman5778]

So we got picks 59 and 91 tomorrow. Bergeron, Schmitz, Torrance, and Sanders all possible at 59. Anyone know what time the draft starts tomorrow?

7 PM tomorrow.

 

[Zman5778]

2023 NFL draft: Pros and cons for every first-round pick

The Carolina Panthers did as expected and picked Bryce Young at No. 1. We look at the pros and cons of every pick in Thursday's opening round.

www.espn.com

25. Buffalo Bills (from Jacksonville via N.Y. Giants)​

Dalton Kincaid, TE, Utah | Highlights

Why they picked him: The Bills were looking for another offensive weapon. Kincaid was the top player remaining on the team's board, prompting them to move up to get him. General manager Brandon Beane described Kincaid as having "elite hands" and said he adds a different skill set than tight end Dawson Knox. The Bills tight ends combined for 57 receptions last season, 29th in the NFL. Kincaid, who led all FBS tight ends with 70 catches in 2022, becomes the first offensive player drafted by the Bills in the first round since Josh Allen.

Biggest question: Was trading up for a tight end in the first round really worth it? The Bills gave up a fourth-round pick to pick Kincaid, jumping ahead of the Dallas Cowboys to do so. The Bills now have four picks remaining and a need for a bigger draft class. While Kincaid has had success as a receiver, and the Bills led the NFL in drops last year, how the offense will look and work with him and Knox remains to be seen. Kincaid also is coming off a back injury, but said he expects to come in and be able to participate. -- Alaina Getzenberg

 

[ValJamesDuex]

 

[ValJamesDuex]

Bills found their backer!

 

[Der Jaeger]

The 12 personnel with Kincaid really makes things hard for defenses.

If the defense goes with a base set, they have to walk a safety to the line to cover the 8th gap. That opens up the pass. Or the team uses spillage and leaves the safety back, and the Bills can attack a gap on the ground.

For the pass, Kincaid is a Kelce-esque mismatch for any safety or linebacker. He runs vertical routes in the middle of the field and that takes safety help away from Diggs and Davis.

If the defense goes with a nickel package, the defense is putting 1 or 2 defensive backs at the line of scrimmage. The Bills go with the run and either attack the open gap or run toward the DBs.

In the pass, Kincaid is against a corner back, and he run traditional TE body positioning routes and makes catches while covered.

And while this circus is going on, Knox is running routes against linebacker.

Having a Kelce type TE is really going to make life hard for defenses. Allen is just going to need to throw to the open receiver.

 

[ValJamesDuex]

 

[Dubi Doo]

I don't have much knowledge in college football, but I like the position and I love what Im hearing. If he can be a pain in the ass for defenses to deal with, then he'll be worth the pick. Color me intrigued!

 

[Sound_n_Fury]

Skip Bayless devastated over Buffalo Bills leapfrogging Dallas Cowboys for Dalton Kincaid

Shannon Sharpe, Bayless' co-host, had a much different reaction to the move.

www.syracuse.com

 

[Sound_n_Fury]

Buffalo Bills NFL Draft Grades 2023: Bills Get Dalton Kincaid, Justin Shorter, And More

What are the Buffalo Bills' grades for their selections in the 2023 NFL Draft as they look to address their main needs this offseason?

www.profootballnetwork.com

Packaging the 27th overall and 130th overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, Buffalo jumped up to the 25th spot to land Utah tight end Dalton Kincaid. Wide receiver was considered a need for the Bills, and in taking Kincaid, they land a player who arguably possesses better route-running ability and hands than a large percentage of this WR class.

Grade: A+

 

[Husko]

I think my number one reflection on the pick right now is the fact that I totally dig it while @Rowley Birkin is fairly skeptical tells you everything you need to know about where Kincaid falls on the WR-TE continuum.

Interesting that Beane anticipates teams will play nickel when Knox and Kincaid are out together. Could be a big year for Cooks.

 

[Husko]

Listening to Beanes PC it sounds pretty clear the plan was either Kincaid, a WR, or trade down. We’ll probably never know where Kincaid stacked up for them against the receivers, but sounds like similar to Elam last year he was the last of a group that they were willing to take in round one.

 

[Husko]

Beane explicitly compares Kincaid to Beasley. Says they have similar feels for how to respond to the defense and adjust his routes. Time to bring back the Beasley option routes!

 

[Husko]

Mandatory viewing. The way he gets open underneath reminds me so much if Beasley. But then he also has this incredible field stretching and gnarly contested catch ability. I’m getting myself over excited. Having this guy as our starting slot receiver once he earns McDermotts trust could revolutionize the offense.

 

[Ace]

Value wise (even with the trade up) Beane did well. I have no doubt he had a first round grade on him and getting him in a draft where he probably had less than 15 first round grades is a great deal.

Player wise…he’s great. No issues.

However. I need to believe in two things before I will believe it will work.

1. I need to see this OC show any creativity whatsoever. Because he showed me nothing. People figured him out and it became Josh Allen hero ball or bust. You want me to believe he can figure out two TE and moving them around when he couldn’t figure out pass catching RB…I’m gonna need to see some massive improvement.

2. Having the best contested catch guy doesn’t mean a lot when the QB extends plays to find guys who are wide open. I don’t know that Allen will change his game on a fundamental level to look where he runs and throw to him covered. I don’t know that asking Allen to fundamentally change his game is even a good idea. Getting guys that fit what he does….that’s a great idea. Changing personnel and asking him to throw contested catches is the opposite of that.

With a different style QB and a creative OC this is a game changing pick. With our set-up…I’ll believe it when I see it.

Allen threw over the middle when Beasley was open. That’s not this.

 

[Husko]

Value wise (even with the trade up) Beane did well. I have no doubt he had a first round grade on him and getting him in a draft where he probably had less than 15 first round grades is a great deal.

Player wise…he’s great. No issues.

However. I need to believe in two things before I will believe it will work.

1. I need to see this OC show any creativity whatsoever. Because he showed me nothing. People figured him out and it became Josh Allen hero ball or bust. You want me to believe he can figure out two TE and moving them around when he couldn’t figure out pass catching RB…I’m gonna need to see some massive improvement.

2. Having the best contested catch guy doesn’t mean a lot when the QB extends plays to find guys who are wide open. I don’t know that Allen will change his game on a fundamental level to look where he runs and throw to him covered. I don’t know that asking Allen to fundamentally change his game is even a good idea. Getting guys that fit what he does….that’s a great idea. Changing personnel and asking him to throw contested catches is the opposite of that.

With a different style QB and a creative OC this is a game changing pick. With our set-up…I’ll believe it when I see it.

Allen threw over the middle when Beasley was open. That’s not this.

I wouldn’t think of him primarily as a contested catch guy (though he does have that tool). Play in and play out he wins more like Cole beasley: crisp route running, zone reading, and flashing open underneath.

 

[Husko]

Cover 1’s comp for Kincaid? Cole Beasley

 

[K8fool]

Him and Knox are going to cause absolute fits for teams

this is the take, drop rate and route running , yac and contested catches, he opens up knox, take gabe to his true spot and gives size in w knox the use heavier sets..

 

[Rowley Birkin]

I think my number one reflection on the pick right now is the fact that I totally dig it while @Rowley Birkin is fairly skeptical tells you everything you need to know about where Kincaid falls on the WR-TE continuum.

Interesting that Beane anticipates teams will play nickel when Knox and Kincaid are out together. Could be a big year for Cooks.

I certainly don't hate the pick. I'd have taken Kincaid over pretty much any WR & it does represent doing something different, which is intriguing.

My criteria for adding a receiver was that it had to be something different to what they already had & not some cookie cutter plug in guy. Ideally with size (WR room lacks size collectively),who could be used in different ways - but primarily as a 'big slot'. IE Mingo being my favourite.

Kincaid is pretty much that - although obviously he has different strengths to Mingo - he is 100% more of a pure receiver as opposed to a prototypical TE.

Current best comp might be Evan Engram? I remember there were strong rumours that we tried to sign Engram last offseason before he went to Jacksonville - with the purpose of 'converting' him to slot receiver.

To take full advantage of this, i think Dorsey is really going to have to scheme space for players - be it open receivers - or space for Allen/RBs to use legs. As opposed to drafting a guy like Washington where those mismatches would happen more physically.

The reasons why I don't like it?

I don't like the fact Beane had to trade up - we're now down to just 5 picks. Like the majority here - i heavily favoured a trade down from 27 with the goal of getting more day 2 picks. If there were picks it made more sense to trade up from - it was 59/91. Maybe that still happens somehow - but it would mean taking a really big swing & putting all our eggs in two baskets - Kincaid plus whoever we trade up for today.

The other is the usual case of simply preferring someone else who was still on the board. I'd have picked Sanders here. I'd have preferred Mayer or Washington at TE & I'd also have been tempted by Harrison at RT - although he isn't a perfect fit .

Sanders is certainly the only guy that would 100% stop me trading back though. And now I'm only thinking about ways we can still get him...

Another reason I hadn't really considered Kincaid as an option is because i assumed that he'd likely be gone by 27. So i guess that's a positive? In all the mocks I've seen, i don't remember a single one that had us getting Kincaid.

FWIW it's my favourite Bills first round pick since Edmunds - if we're excluding the one traded for Diggs. That probably tells you as much about the other picks we've made since then though...