30 most important Bills players of 2025: No. 24 Dawson Knox
Leading up to the season, we will be counting down the top 30 most important players on the roster. We'll recap their 2024 season, look ahead to what they'll offer in 2025, and tackle the most pressing questions surrounding them this coming year.
Next up on the countdown is Dawson Knox.
Background
Position: TE
Age at start of season: 28
Experience: Seventh year
2025 cap hit: $14,568,000
2024 recap
Dawson Knox's statistics in 2024 won't blow you away. He recorded 22 catches on the year for 311 yards and one touchdown. But, Knox plays a vital role in the offense as a blocker and his unique skillset allows offensive coordinator Joe Brady and the Bills offense to run two-tight end sets. His numbers have dipped since he broke out in 2021-22 when he had 15 combined touchdowns over those two years, but he is one of many weapons at the disposal of Brady and QB Josh Allen.
2025 outlook
Knox will most likely go under the radar once again in 2025, as Dalton Kincaid is expected to take another step as a promising young tight end. While Knox doesn't attract the amount of targets you would expect for a tight end making as much as he does, he is effective when targeted. Last year he caught 66.7% of passes thrown at him. He should play a pretty big role on the field despite not producing fantasy-friendly stats. He has played around 60% of snaps on offense over the last two seasons.
Biggest question: What does the future hold for him?
According to Spotrac, Knox is set to be an unrestricted free agent in 2027, but there is a potential out after this coming season. His cap hit in 2026 will increase up to over $17 million, and the correlation between productivity on the field and his salary wouldn't really align for the Bills. If they choose to take the out, they'll owe over $7M in dead cap. While Knox is a reliable player for the Bills, Kincaid is on the way up, and they just drafted a blocking specialist at the tight end position in tight end Jackson Hawes. Knox's role in 2025 is all but solidified but looking into the future it is uncertain how GM Brandon Beane and the Bills will play it.
30 Most Important Bills of 2025
Check back as we continue to countdown on our list of the 30 most important Bills ahead of the 2025 season.
No. 30 DT T.J. Sanders, No. 29 LB Dorian Williams, No. 28 DT Larry Ogunjobi, No. 27 Alec Anderson, No. 26 DE A.J. Epenesa, No. 25 DT DaQuan Jones, No. 24 WR Elijah Moore.
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