Three teams that could be in the market for a tight end this offseason are the Denver Broncos, Cleveland Browns and Baltimore Ravens.
In Denver, the Broncos were reportedly sniffing around the tight end market before last year’s trade deadline, and that could once again be the case this offseason, as Denver needs a better blocker at the position to complement Evan Engram. The Broncos could also opt to cut Engram, which would make their need dire.
The Ravens inked Mark Andrews to a long-term extension in 2025, which means that Isaiah Likely could depart as he prepares to hit the open market for the first time in his career.
David Njoku has made it quite clear he’s done in Cleveland. The Browns are still in good shape at the position with Harold Fannin Jr., but adding a veteran complement makes sense for Cleveland with Njoku departing.
One tight end who could be available for all three teams is Buffalo Bills veteran Dawson Knox, who was labeled a cut candidate by Matt Okada of NFL.com.
“It previously signed Knox to a four-year, $52 million extension in 2022, and while Knox made the Pro Bowl that season, he has been middling at best in the three years since,” Okada wrote.
With the Bills having a tight ends room that includes Dalton Kincaid and Jackson Hawes, and with Knox not exactly living up to his $29 million contract, Buffalo could view Knox as expendable as he enters the final year of his contract.
Increasing the odds that the Bills cut Knox is the team’s lackluster salary cap space situation. The Bills are currently $12.3 million over the cap and cutting Knox would save $9.6 million.
Knox would check the box for what the Broncos need. He’s a more than serviceable pass-catcher and is a much better blocker than Engram, which will particularly help Denver’s rushing attack.
Along with his skills as a blocker and pass-catcher, Knox would offer Cleveland the kind of veteran presence the team needs in the tight ends room next to Fannin. Knox would be a fantastic mentor for the 21-year-old.
Knox isn’t the kind of playmaker Likely is, but he would still be a huge asset for the Ravens and would help free up Andrews to do more in the passing game out of two tight-end sets while also improving the blocking in the run game.
It makes all the sense in the world for the Bills to cut Knox in 2026, and it would not be surprising to see him land with any of the three aforementioned teams.
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