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Buffalo Bills TE Jackson Hawes has carved out an important role on offense
Yahoo Sports NFLSource ↗
The Buffalo Bills boast one of the best blocking tight ends in the NFL
Jackson Hawes
TE · BUF · 25 yrs · exp 1 · Georgia Tech
Status
- Game status
- Active
News
Stories linked to this player — newest first.
general
Bills news: Previewing Buffalo’s pass-catching group
The Buffalo Bills are facing another season with high expectations, as former NFL MVP Josh Allen looks to finally lead the Bills to the franchise’s first Super Bowl in 2026. Entering a pressure-packed season, Brandon Beane finally did what many Bills fans have been demanding for a few years now: he went out and acquired veteran wide receiver DJ Moore in a trade with the Chicago Bears , hoping a reunion with Joe Brady, Moore’s offensive coordinator with the Carolina Panthers , will help Moore rediscover his ways as a 1,000-yard receiving threat. With Moore in the mix, Allen will now have Moore, Khalil Shakir, Joshua Palmer , Keon Coleman and rookie Skyler Bell in the wide receiver room, joining tight ends Dalton Kincaid , Dawson Knox and Jackson Hawes as the weapons available to Allen in the passing game. Has Beane done enough to improve Buffalo’s aerial attack? Can Moore bounce back from his worst season as a pro and become Buffalo’s first 1,000-yard receiver since Stefon Diggs during the 2023 season? Is this the year Kincaid realizes his full potential and stays healthy for an entire season? Today’s edition of Buffalo Rumblinks attempts to answer some of those questions and leads off by previewing the state of Buffalo’s wide receivers and tight ends heading into the 2026 season. Check out the assessments and then be sure to leave your thoughts on how much talent is in Buffalo’s wide receivers and tight ends in the comments section. We preview Buffalo’s wide receivers—including what Moore brings to the passing game and whether Coleman can finally enjoy a breakout season—and dissect Buffalo’s tight ends, including why Kincaid is the X-factor to unlocking the Bills offense and how Kincaid, Knox and Hawes give the Bills a talented group of tight ends. Plus, discussing how Joe Brady will adjust to his new role as both head coach and offensive play caller; and how new offensive coordinator Pete Carmichael Jr. will aid Brady and improve Buffalo’s offense. Why the Bills’ offensive X-factor may not be a newcomer – Democrat & Chronicle Bills position preview: Why Buffalo’s tight ends and fullbacks should offer Joe Brady more options – Buffalo News (subscription required) Bills 2026 wide receiver/tight end training camp preview: Can Moore & Kincaid bring pass game to new heights? – newyorkupstate.com Bills training camp preview: tight ends – WIVB Bills Tight Ends on the Roster Bubble vs. Roster Locks – Sports Illustrated Buffalo Bills Bills position preview: Can Keon Coleman take advantage of clean slate with Bills? We’re about to find out – Buffalo News (subscription required) Bills Wide Receivers on the Roster Bubble vs. Roster Locks – Sports Illustrated Buffalo Bills Inside Joe Brady’s transition to calling plays as the Bills’ head coach – Buffalo News (subscription required) How will Pete Carmichael help Joe Brady and the Buffalo Bills’ offense? – Buffalo News (subscription required) Breaking down the punter competition between returner Mitch Wishnowsky and rookie Tommy Doman Jr. Plus, seeing where Buffalo ranks among the teams with the most talented players under the age of 25; catching up with Josh Allen, DJ Moore and Bradley Chubb as they get ready for the upcoming season; and more! Bills position preview: Competition at punter will take center stage for Bills’ special teams at camp – Buffalo News (subscription required) Buffalo Bills training camp special teams preview: Is there really a punter competition? – newyorkupstate.com We ranked every NFL team by under-25 talent: What are the league’s best young cores? – ESPN.com Exclusive All-Access Look Into Josh Allen, DJ Moore, And Bradley Chubb’s Offseason! | BuffaloBills.com One Bills Live radio show gets new time slot beginning July 27 – BuffaloBills.com Do the Bills offer O’Cyrus Torrence a big deal after the 2026 season? – Buffalo Rumblings Michael Hoecht can be the ultimate X-factor on Buffalo’s defense – Buffalo Rumblings Can this former Jet become a [... truncated ...]
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2026 Buffalo Bills Fantasy Preview: Can Joe Brady put them over the top?
The Bills are feeling the pressure of becoming another one of sports’ great also-rans. There is one team in the NFL that has won more games than the Bills over the last decade. Their .640 winning percentage and 105-59 record trails only the Chiefs since 2016. However, the Chiefs have five Super Bowl appearances and four wins in that span, and the Bills have none of either. Can a new leader at the helm and two new offensive weapons on the perimeter help get the Bills the title that has eluded them? Points per game: 28.3 (4th) Total yards per game: 376.3 (4th) Plays per game: 63.6 (28th) Dropbacks per game: 37.1 (23rd) Dropback EPA per play: 0.23 (4th) Designed rush attempts per game: 29.8 (2nd) Rush EPA per play: 0.04 (2nd) Perhaps feeling the pressure to do something different to get over the hump, the team fired longtime head coach Sean McDermott in the offseason and turned the reins over to his offensive coordinator, Joe Brady. At 36 years old, Brady is now the youngest head coach in the NFL and will be thrown right into one of the most high-pressure jobs in the league. Josh Allen is now 30 years old (and a new father), and the Bills are feeling the heat to maximize their potential while their quarterback can still perform the athletic feats that have made him one of the NFL’s best quarterbacks. Can Brady be the young voice that gets them over the top? QB: Josh Allen, Kyle Allen WR: DJ Moore , Keon Coleman WR: Khalil Shakir , Skyler Bell WR: Joshua Palmer , Trent Sherfield TE: Dalton Kincaid , Dawson Knox , Jackson Hawes As with everything in the Bills’ offense, the passing game discussions begin and end with Josh Allen . The 2024 NFL MVP had another good season, completing 319-of-460 passes (69.3 percent) for 3,668 yards with 25 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. He also added another 579 yards rushing and 14 touchdowns on the ground, becoming the franchise’s leader in rushing touchdowns and total touchdowns. Yet, despite that, he also threw for his fewest yards since 2019 and averaged a career-low 7.1 yards per target. In fact, a career-high 65 percent of his attempts traveled fewer than 10 yards downfield, so his career-high 69.3 percent completion rate was more because of how short Buffalo had to design its passing game. With Brady now calling plays for his own offense and not to fit the balanced style that McDermott favored, it makes sense that we would see the offense try to push the ball down the field more. However, a higher average depth of target will likely mean that the completion rate takes a hit, and the interception numbers could climb back up around 14-15. Still, that could be worth the tradeoff if we get back to a 4,000 passing yard and 30 passing touchdown season. Of course, getting Allen weapons has also been a big conversation. Last season, the Bills didn’t have one wide receiver who surpassed 750 yards. Keon Coleman failed to take a step forward in his second season. Veteran Curtis Samuel and Josh Palmer battled injuries all year, and Khalil Shakir was forced into a role as a YAC monster. So what did the Bills do in the offseason? They brought in Pete Carmichael, who spent the majority of his coaching career coaching one of the most productive passing attacks in NFL history with Drew Brees in New Orleans , and traded a second-round pick to acquire DJ Moore . Now, Moore only had 50 receptions for 682 yards and six touchdowns in 2025 with the Bears, but that was a team that was moving towards featuring young players like Rome Odunze , Luther Burden III , and Colston Loveland . When Brady was the Panthers’ offensive coordinator in 2020, he led the first offense in franchise history with four different players who had over 1,000 scrimmage yards, including Moore, who led the team with 1,215. Moore won’t need to be that player in Buffalo, but he can still be an outside threat that can make defenses pay if they leave him in single coverage. That could still lead to 1,000 yards and eight or more touchdo [... truncated ...]
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Who are the Bills best players 25 years old or younger?
This article ranks the best Buffalo Bills players aged 25 or younger heading into the 2026 season. The list focuses on young talent, particularly on defense, which has seen significant investment in recent drafts. Players like Hairston are highlighted for their upside and potential to flourish in the new defensive system
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2026 Season Outlook
sleeper-outlookSource unavailable
Hawes flashed as a rookie fifth-round pick in 2025, despite Dalton Kincaid and Dawson Knox (both of whom are returning in 2026) being clearly solidified atop the Bills' tight end depth chart. Hawes drew 19 targets while suiting up for all 17 regular-season games, totaling a 16-187-3 line. Buffalo's decision to re-sign Knox on a three-year deal is a blow to Hawes' fantasy upside, as his path to increased opportunities now seemingly relies on a player higher up on the depth chart missing time
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Bills news: Thoughts on Buffalo’s revamped offense
The Buffalo Bills have a revamped offense heading into the season with new offensive coordinator Pete Carmichael and several new wide receiver additions. The health and productivity of tight end Dalton Kincaid are seen as crucial for the offense's success. Quarterback Josh Allen is reportedly bonding well with Carmichael
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Bills news: Josh Allen, Joe Brady and the Bills give back to area school children
The Buffalo Bills are in the midst of conducting their Organized Team Activities as the team prepares for a pivotal 2026 season. But for the third straight year, Buffalo ’s players, including superstar quarterback Josh Allen, surprised Western New York children and showed up at their schools during Community Takeover Day. “You see how important the Buffalo Bills are to these kids,” head coach Joe Brady told WKBW . “If I can be a part of it, it makes my life a lot better, too.” Today’s edition of Buffalo Rumblinks leads off by recapping some of the most memorable interactions Allen, Brady and the Bills had during the 3rd Annual Community Takeover Day. Getting off the football field and into the community that supports Western New York’s NFL team is very important for Brady, Allen and the other members of the Bills who spent Wednesday afternoon visiting eight schools across the region. “Anytime you can be around the kids, have a little fun and be in the community, it’s always a good thing,” Brady said. “It’s pretty cool just seeing the smiles on their faces.” Brady participated in his first community takeover day, visiting with children at Hillery Park Elementary School, while Josh Allen exchanged high-fives and took photos with students at Big Tree Elementary School, joined by running back Ty Johnson , tight end Jackson Hawes , wide receiver Skyler Bell, and others. “All it takes is one of these opportunities that could potentially change one of these kids’ lives,” Brady said. “I remember just being a kid, and I would’ve died to have my favorite football players come to my school.” ‘It’s always a good thing’ | Bills take part in third annual full team community takeover – BuffaloBills.com Buffalo Bills visit local schools for third annual Community Takeover Day – WIVB ‘This is what community is all about’: Buffalo Bills bring Community Takeover Day to WNY schools – WKBW Alan Pergament: Josh Allen gives schoolchildren and ‘Today’ viewers a ‘Boost’ – Buffalo News (subscription required) Explaining why tight end Dalton Kincaid could be the key to unlocking the Bills offense this year. Plus, new pass rusher Mike Danna reflects on the Bills/Kansas City Chiefs rivalry and why he’s excited to be in Buffalo; examining which players are most likely to receive a contract extension; wide receiver Khalil Shakir praises the competitive mentality of new wideout DJ Moore ; and more! Dalton Kincaid may be the X factor in Bills’ mission to improve on offense in 2026 – Buffalo News (subscription required) From bitter rival to the Bills, this pass rusher embraces his new role – Democrat & Chronicle Two Bills Star Players Most Likely to Receive Contract Extensions Including TE Dalton Kincaid – Sports Illustrated Buffalo Bills Khalil Shakir Explains How D.J. Moore’s Mentality Makes Him Perfect Bills’ Fit – Sports Illustrated Buffalo Bills Legislators approve policy on access to Erie County’s luxury box in the new Bills stadium – Buffalo News (subscription required) How financially healthy are the Bills in 2026 and beyond? – Buffalo Rumblings ESPN panel provides hypothetical Keon Coleman trade offers – Buffalo Rumblings Can this newcomer with Bills bloodlines become a serviceable backup OL? – Buffalo Rumblings Can you guess this Bills DE/OLB in today’s in-5 trivia game – Buffalo Rumblings
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Jackson Hawes earns national praise; can he step into larger role in Year 2?
Yahoo Sports NFLSource ↗
Buffalo Bills tight end Jackson Hawes had a really good rookie season in 2025, and an NFL.com writer recently gave the thunderous blocking tight end his props in a recent article on underappreciated players in the league. Shout out to NJT34 for throwing the link into The Feed yesterday. The 25-year-old second-year pro was a fifth-round pick out of Georgia Tech, where, of course, he thrived as a road-grading blocker. The same was true during his three-year stint at Yale before he transferred into the ACC. Altogether, Hawes caught 51 passes for 566 yards with six touchdowns (none with the Yellow Jackets) across four seasons in college. His coaching staffs at Yale and Georgia Tech understood early how Hawes could bring the most value to his respective teams — and that was as a dominant blocker. Just how valuable was Hawes during his rookie campaign with the Bills? He played on 43% of the team’s offensive snaps in 2025, the highest rate for a rookie picked Round 3 or later in Buffalo since Gabe Davis appeared on 73.2% of the team’s offensive snaps in 2020. On those snaps, he blocked for the run 240 times, and while James Cook wasn’t running directly behind Hawes on all of those snaps, these are the cumulative statistics for the 2025 rushing champ when Hawes had a run-blocking role on the play, per SumerSports: 240 rushing attempts 1,351 yards 5.63 yards per carry 11 rushing touchdowns That 1,351 yards represented 83.3% of Cook’s regular season rush-yard total. The Bills trusted Hawes quickly — just ask Josh Allen about that dot of a fourth-quarter throw to Hawes inside the 1-yard line during the comeback against the Ravens in Week 1 — and he regularly delivered. Sure, his role was niche, yet for a team that led the league in rushing attempts (by a wide margin) with 547 during the regular season, Hawes’ speciality was undoubtedly needed. Then there’s this comment from the original Feed Post, which brings me to a suggestion I feel there’s more Hawes can contribute as a receiver in Year 2 and beyond. Sample-size considerations must be made here — yet I can’t ignore how efficient Hawes was when thrown the football as a rookie, though he was sparingly utilized. Hawes ran just 102 pass routes in 2025. He registered 187 receiving yards, which equates to a 1.83 yards-per-route run figure. Is that good? It was the highest among all rookie tight ends who ran at least 75 pass routes in 2025. Back to sample-size considerations for a second — Colston Loveland and Oronde Gasdsen nearly ran four times the amount of routes as Hawes, and Harold Fannin ran more than four times as many. Those rookie tight ends rounded out the Top 4 in YPRR among rookie tight ends in 2025. The point remains — Hawes flashed enough receiving efficiency as a rookie while being thrust into a blocking specialist role that I can confidently write he earned more than the 19 targets he saw in his first season in Buffalo. Then again, just a few weeks ago, I wrote this on Hawes in my projection of how the Bills targets would be dispersed in 2026: 20 – Miscellaneous targets to Ray Davis and Jackson Hawes – (mostly to the latter — I was keen on a Hawes mini breakout as a receiver, then Reggie Gilliam left in free agency. ) The last few words in that projection are key — based on how the Joe Brady offense has operated the past 2.5 seasons, the Gilliam departure does hint at a stronger likelihood Hawes becomes more of a fullback/H-back than a hybrid blocker/receiver, but the truth is we don’t know how different Brady’s offense will be now that he’s head coach. If my projected 510 regular-season pass attempts for Allen is drastically too low, that conceivably could lead to more looks as a pass-catcher for Hawes in his second season in Buffalo. But, heck — even if Hawes remains an incidental element of the Bills aerial attack, there’s every reason to believe he’ll still provide major blocking value. And now, after a year to add more beef to his frame and sculp [... truncated ...]
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Bills 53-Man Roster Prediction: OTAs Edition
My first 53-man projection of the 2026 season is here, fellow rumblers. Let me be upfront: this is a way-too-early look, before a single preseason snap has been played and before training camp opens in late July. Things will change. That’s precisely what makes this exercise worth doing. What I can tell you right now is that Brandon Beane built this roster with more genuine depth than the Bills have had in years — particularly along the defensive front — and that identifying the final ten roster spots is legitimately difficult. Positions that were afterthoughts in previous offseasons are now actual competitions. Welcome to OTAs, where the picture starts to come into focus. Here’s my initial 53, the guys I would pick. In the next predictions, it’ll change to what I believe the Bills will do. For now, this is the starting point. Quarterback (3) Josh Allen , Shane Buechele , Kyle Allen Running Back (5) James Cook , Ty Johnson , Ray Davis , Frank Gore Jr., Desmond Reid Fullback (2) Ben VanSumeran, Jackson Acker Wide Receiver (X) (3) DJ Moore , Keon Coleman , Tyrell Shavers , Wide Receiver (Z) (6) Skyler Bell, Joshua Palmer , Mecole Hardman , Stephen Gosnell, Ja’Mori Maclin, Max Tomczak Wide Receiver (Slot) (4) Khalil Shakir , Trent Sherfield , Jalen Virgil , Gabriel Benyard Tight End (5) Dalton Kincaid , Dawson Knox , Jackson Hawes , Keleki Latu , Shane Zylstra Left Tackle (3) Dion Dawkins , Tylan Grable , Jude Bowry Left Guard (3) Alec Anderson , Austin Corbett , Nick Broeker Center (3) Connor McGovern , Sedrick Van Pran-Granger , Lloyd Cushenberry III Right Guard (2) O’Cyrus Torrence, Ar’Maj Reed-Adams Right Tackle (5) Spencer Brown , Chase Lundt , Travis Clayton , Bruno Fina, Da’Metrius Weatherspoon Nose Tackle (5) Deone Walker , DeWayne Carter , Phidarian Mathis , Tommy Akingbesote , Zion Logue Defensive Tackle/End (5) Ed Oliver , TJ Sanders, Landon Jackson , Zane Durant , Kody Huisman Outside Linebacker / EDGE (8) Greg Rousseau , Bradley Chubb , Michael Hoecht , Javon Solomon , TJ Parker, Mike Danna , Andre Jones Jr., Cade Denhoff Inside Linebacker (7) Terrel Bernard , Dorian Williams , Joe Andreessen , Keonta Jenkins, Kaleb Elarms-Orr, Jimmy Ciarlo, Theron Gaines Cornerback (9) Christian Benford , Maxwell Hairston , Davison Igbinosun , Toriano Pride , MJ Devonshire , Daryl Porter Jr., Dorian Strong , Kani Walker, Jordan Dunbar Slot / Nickel Cornerback (3) Dee Alford , Jordan Hancock , Te’Cory Couch Safety (7) Cole Bishop , CJ Gardner-Johnson, Jalon Kilgore, Sam Franklin , Damar Hamlin , Geno Stone , Wande Owens Kicker (2) Tyler Bass , Maddux Trujillo Punter (2) Mitch Wishnowsky , Tommy Doman Long Snapper (1) Reid Ferguson Starter: Josh Allen Backup: Kyle Allen Analysis: Josh Allen is the guy. The unquestioned best player on this team, an MVP-level quarterback even when you feel like he could’ve been playing better, and the primary reason this franchise is among the contenders every year. The system around him changes — Joe Brady is now the head coach, not the offensive coordinator, and the offense should look and feel different in his year one with full command — but the foundation is unchanged. What has changed from last year is the backup. I’m going with two quarterbacks and dropping Buechele to the practice squad. Kyle Allen, signed as a free agent in March, gets the job. Buechele signed a reserve/futures deal and has been around this organization long enough to be an effective scout team option — that’s a practice squad role, not a 53-man role. That roster spot makes a difference somewhere else on this roster. Cut: Shane Buechele Starters : James Cook, Jackson Acker (FB) Backups: Ty Johnson, Ray Davis Analysis: Cook has established himself as one of the league’s more dynamic weapons. He demands a specific game plan from every defensive coordinator who faces him, and there’s still room for improvement as a pass catcher coming from the backfield, something new OC Pete Carmichael should bring [... truncated ...]
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Waiver: Jackson Hawes added, Jeremy McNichols dropped
sleeper-tx-waiverSource unavailable
Adds: Jackson Hawes. Drops: Jeremy McNichols
Data comes from cached Sleeper and KTC snapshots. Values update when the sync jobs run.