Is Dalton Kincaid already a top 10 tight end in the NFL? – Deseret News

The stage is set for Buffalo Bills second-year tight end Dalton Kincaid to become one of the NFL’s best players at his position during the 2024 season.

But league executives already consider the former University of Utah star to be one of the best at the position, according to an ESPN report published Friday.

ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler ranked Kincaid as the eighth-best tight end in the league, based on information he received from NFL executives, coaches and scouts.

The top five tight ends in ESPN’s rankings shouldn’t come as a surprise: Kansas City’s Travis Kelce is No. 1, followed by San Francisco’s George Kittle at No. 2, Baltimore’s Mark Andrews at No. 3, Detroit’s Sam LaPorta (another second-year pro) at No. 4 and Minnesota’s TJ Hockenson at No. 5.

Kincaid, however, is ranked just behind that group in another contingent of solid tight ends that includes Cleveland’s David Njoku at No. 6, Philadelphia’s Dallas Goedert one spot ahead of Kincaid at No. 7, Jacksonville’s Evan Engram at No. 9 and Houston’s Dalton Schultz, a Bingham High product, at No. 10.

With the Bills losing receivers Stefon Diggs (via trade) and Gabe Davis (free agency) this offseason, Kincaid is one of Buffalo’s key returning receivers.

The question marks surrounding the Bills’ receiving corps are one of the most intriguing stories in the league, and it could allow Kincaid to further establish himself as a key talent in Buffalo’s offense.

What does ESPN say about Dalton Kincaid’s tight end rankings?

Fowler wrote that Kincaid, 24, was compared to Kelce when he entered the league last year as the 25th overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft.

“He’s very natural in his movements, very instinctive, very good hands,” one NFL personnel member told Fowler. “I’m not sure he’s as explosive after the catch as some of the others.”

Fowler also noted that Kincaid “ranked near the top of that group in average yards to the nearest defender when targeted” and that his 4.71-second 40-yard dash was good enough for a tight end, while “several evaluators think he plays faster than that.”

What stats did Dalton Kincaid achieve in his rookie season?

Kincaid finished the 2023 regular season with 73 receptions for 673 yards and two touchdowns. After a slow start to the year and missing the team’s Week 6 game against the New York Giants with a concussion, Kincaid had four or more receptions in nine of the Bills’ final 11 regular-season games, catching 56 passes for 555 yards and two touchdowns in those 11 games.

During the playoffs, Kincaid caught eight passes for 104 yards and a touchdown in two games.

His 80.2 percent catch rate on 91 targets during the regular season ranked 20th in the league, according to StatMuse, and fourth among tight ends, though he was second among tight ends with 50 or more receptions.

Kincaid’s receiving yards ranked 10th among tight ends last season, according to StatMuse, and among that group, his total receptions were seventh, his number of targets was eighth, his receiving yards per game (42.1) was 14th and his yards per reception average (9.2) was 22nd.

What have others said about Dalton Kincaid’s ranking among NFL tight ends?

Other outlets weren’t as optimistic about Kincaid’s ranking among tight ends heading into 2024, but they pointed to his clear upward trajectory.

John Kosko of Pro Football Focus ranked Kincaid 13th at the position.

“Kincaid made teammate Dawson Knox a priority, as he rushed for 777 yards and averaged 1.51 yards per carry on 101 targets,” Kosko wrote. “Kincaid had a great rookie season that was somewhat overlooked due to LaPorta’s phenomenal campaign.”

Pro Football Network’s Dakota Randall ranks Kincaid 18th among NFL tight ends, again drawing comparisons between Kincaid and Kelce.

“He may well be a top-10 prospect next year, but not because he’s a great all-around tight end. Kincaid is firmly in Kelce’s mold: receiver first, tight end second,” Randall wrote.

“Nevertheless, he’s a talented young player who rushed for 673 yards and two TDs in his first season. The arrow is pointing up.”

RotoBaller’s Mike Fanelli had the boldest opinion on Kincaid, ranking him as the NFL’s No. 3 tight end heading into 2024.

“The Bills surprised everyone when they traded up in the 2023 NFL Draft to select Kincaid. Despite throwing just two touchdowns as a rookie, the former Utah star is a popular candidate for a breakout sophomore,” Fanelli wrote.

“Buffalo lost its top two receivers this offseason, with Stefon Diggs joining the Houston Texans and Gabe Davis signing with the Jacksonville Jaguars. Kincaid could be a top-10 receiver next season.”

NFL.com’s Bucky Brooks agrees, citing Kincaid as one to watch this year.

“With Buffalo set to regularly use 12-inch personnel, Kincaid could become a household name as a dominant pass catcher in the middle. Although the second-year pro will share the spotlight with fellow tight end Dawson Knox, the 6-foot-4, 240-pounder should thrive as Josh Allen attacks defenses with an inside-out approach that puts the Bills’ TEs in prominent roles,” Brooks wrote.

“Kincaid took a little while to settle in as a rookie, but he still finished the season with solid numbers: 73 receptions for 673 yards and two touchdowns. And I expect his production to increase significantly this fall. In fact, I wouldn’t be surprised if he ends up leading all tight ends in receptions and yards in 2024.”