Going into the 2025 NFL draft, the tight end position wasn’t a pressing need for the Buffalo Bills considering that they have Dalton Kincaid, Dawson Knox and Zach Davidson all under contract. Still, they added a quality piece in the fifth round in Jackson Hawes, who stands out due to his blocking ability.

The Hawes pick has offensive coordinator Joe Brady’s name written all over it because he can bring more versatility to the offense, something Brady has preached, and will add to a revolutionized Bills running game. He’s a standout blocker who can serve as an extra offensive lineman in heavy packages, but defenses will also have to account for him going out and catching a pass.

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Although he joins a crowded TE room, Hawes has a chance to make an immediate impact due to his excellent blocking qualities that are superior to the rest of the group. Head coach Sean McDermott is a fan of what makes Hawes tick.

“You gotta have the personality, right? You gotta love the friction, you gotta love the conflict, the confrontation as we call it,” McDermott said. “I think that’s the start of any person who likes the physical-ness of the game… you gotta wanna be in that street fight. He likes the noise… some like it and some don’t.”

News10NBC’s Ian Mills sat down with Hawes after a mini camp session and got Hawes’ perspective of it.

“I love that [McDermott] said friction because I think that just speaks to it perfectly,” Hawes said. “He hit it right on the head. I just love contact and love getting hands on guys and moving people.”

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Although the pads haven’t come on yet, which would help the physical TE stand out among his peers, he has gotten accustomed to what the Bills expect out of their TE room and has gotten help from his teammates.

“Those guys (Knox, Kincaid) have done a really good job kind of taking me under their wing and kind of showing me the ropes and knowing what to look for,” Hawes said.

Hawes, at 6-5 and 260 pounds, was a contributor in the Ivy Leage at Yale from 2019-2023 before transferring to the ACC for his final college season at Georgia Tech. During his time at Yale he was a three-time Ivy League champion and a two-time second-team All-Ivy selection.

His stats don’t blow you away, as you’d expect from a blocking-centric tight end, but his film shows how he can make a positive impact for a football team by moving defenders out of the way.

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Quarterback Josh Allen and the running back room will be happy to have a guy like Hawes on their side when he’s on the field.

Check out the full clip of McDermott talking about Hawes below:

This article originally appeared on Bills Wire: Sean McDermott compliments rookie TE Jackson Hawes’ physical approach