Bills Re-Sign Dawson Knox to 3-Year Contract, Solving Key Roster Question
Why This Deal Was Far From Guaranteed
Knox was not a lock to return. His original contract carried a $17.1 million cap number for 2026, with $12 million due in cash — a difficult figure for a Bills team already navigating a tight financial picture. General manager Brandon Beane was candid in exit meetings that keeping Knox was uncertain, telling the tight end directly that the cap made his future in Buffalo an open question.
Knox wanted to stay. He expressed a clear desire to continue working with tight ends coach Rob Boras — now also the team’s run game coordinator — and new head coach Joe Brady. The Bills found creative contract structures to make it work.
What Knox Brings to Buffalo
417 (3rd on the team)
4 (tied 2nd on the team)
7
3rd round, 2019
Knox has developed into a reliable two-way tight end — valued both in Buffalo’s run game and as a receiving option for Josh Allen. He now rejoins a tight end room that includes 2023 first-round pick Dalton Kincaid and fifth-round rookie Jackson Hawes, giving the Bills a fully stocked group at the position heading into the new season.
Josh Allen’s Role Behind the Scenes
Allen Helps Keep the Roster Together
Knox wasn’t the only retention effort Allen influenced this offseason. Center Connor McGovern, who signed a new four-year deal on Saturday, credited Allen directly for helping push the agreement over the line. McGovern said Allen reached out to check in before free agency and communicated with both sides throughout the negotiation.
“It doesn’t hurt when you have 17 in your corner trying to drive things through,” McGovern said. He acknowledged he could have earned more on the open market but chose to stay in Buffalo — a decision made easier by Allen’s involvement and the team’s culture.
Knox and McGovern are the latest in a series of offensive re-signings for Buffalo this offseason. The Bills are prioritizing continuity around Allen as they look to build on their 2025 campaign and push deeper into the playoffs in 2026.
Sources: https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/48163223/sources-te-dawson-knox-stays-bills-new-3-year-deal
