RESOLVING THE LEDGER
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See the full story · 2 sourcesHOUSTON, TX - NOVEMBER 20: Jackson Hawes #85 of the Buffalo Bills runs a route during an NFL football game against the Houston Texans at NRG Stadium on November 20, 2025 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Buffalo Bills were fantastic when they used three tight ends last season. In fact, only the Los Angeles Rams were better on offense when using heavy personnel groupings, as the Bills came in second in EPA per play out of 13 personnel at 15.7. They were also exceptional when using two tight ends , and they did so more than any other team in football.
An increase in usage for Buffalo’s tight ends means that the team has to carry multiple top-flight options at the position. Or, perhaps it’s because the Bills have multiple excellent options at tight end that the team chooses to forgo spread formations, using multiple tight ends instead.
Coming into the 2025 season, the top two names on the tight end depth chart received most of the attention. As the season progressed, however, it became apparent that the third man on that chart was no slouch. In today’s edition of “91 players in 91 days,” we discuss one of the best blocking tight ends in the NFL. _____________________________________________________________________________
Name: Jackson Hawes
Number: 85
Position: TE
Height/Weight: 6’4”, 253 pounds
Age: 25 (26 on 12/6/2026)
Experience/Draft: 2; selected by Buffalo in the fifth round (No. 173 overall) of the 2025 NFL Draft
College: Georgia Tech
Acquired: Fifth-round draft choice
Financial situation (per Spotrac): Hawes enters the second year of his rookie contract, a four-year pact worth $4,520,216 overall. For the 2026 season, Hawes’ cap hit is $1,085,054 if he makes the 53-man roster. Buffalo carries a dead-cap charge of $240,162 if he’s released.
2025 Recap: Hawes likely couldn’t have dreamed of having a better rookie season. He played 43% of the Bills’ snaps on offense during the regular season, and he even made eight starts in his first year in the NFL. With Dalton Kincaid once again missing time due to myriad injury woes, it opened up some additional opportunity for Hawes, and he thrived in his role.
While offensive lineman Alec Anderson served as a frequent extra blocker during the 2024 season, he isn’t a threat to catch passes like Hawes is. And while Hawes might not be the same caliber receiver as Kincaid or Dawson Knox, defenses clearly have to pay more attention to him in the passing game than they would Anderson.
Hawes caught 16 passes for 187 yards and three touchdowns on 19 targets, so he made the most of his opportunities. He played in both of Buffalo’s playoff games, as well, but he wasn’t targeted in either contest. Pro Football Focus called Hawes Buffalo’s “secret superstar,” and he earned an 83.1 overall grade, which was second among all rookies and second behind only Josh Allen on Buffalo’s entire offense, as well.
Positional outlook: Hawes is once again joined by Kincaid and Knox at tight end. Shane Zylstra and Keleki Latu are also on the current roster.
2026 Offseason: Hawes is healthy, having participated in all offseason work, and now training camp.
2026 Season outlook: Initially, I assumed the Bills would let Dawson Knox go, save the cap space that would come from releasing him, and move forward with Hawes as their second tight end. However, after Buffalo and Knox agreed on a renegotiated contract, that thought became a moot point.
Hawes is slated to go into the 2026 season in essentially the same role he had last season, as he’ll be the run-block tight end who likely replaces Kincaid in the Bills’ 22 personnel grouping. With the improvements Knox has made as an in-line blocker throughout his career, pairing him with a legit mauler like Hawes gives Buffalo a huge advantage in the run game.
They can’t tip their hand by replacing Kincaid on every running play, however, so it’s not like Hawes won’t share the field with Buffalo’s TE1 at all. There’s even a chance that Hawes does some work out of the backfield in an H-Back or fullback alignment now that Reggie Gilliam is with the New England Patriots. Head coach Joe Brady and offensive coordinator Pete Carmichael have some options, and even if Hawes stays steady and plays around 40% of the offensive snaps again, I expect that he’ll be a big part of what the team wants to do.
Might Hawes do some more as a receiver? It’s possible, but ideally, the Bills just have a healthy Kincaid available to see more targets, which would allow Hawes to continue doing what he does best — mauling would-be tacklers at the point of attack. There’s room for growth as a receiver, and Hawes already showed that he has reliable hands in a small sample size last year.
Unless you play in a fantasy football league that rewards blockers, Jackson Hawes likely isn’t someone you should pick. However, if you were starting a real football team, Hawes is exactly the kind of tight end you want on your side. He’s a lock for the roster and his role is clear moving forward.
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