Ranking the AFC East TE rooms: Where do Tyler Conklin and the NY Jets rank?

1. The Buffalo Bills

The depth chart: Led by second-year man Dalton Kincaid and followed up by veteran Dalton Knox, the Bills also have Quintin Morris and Tre' McKitty rounding out the group.

As discussed earlier, some teams now run their passing attack through their tight ends, which certainly appears to be their plan in 2024. Last year, Dalton Kincaid burst onto the scene in a big way. Part of an incredible tight end draft class, Kincaid was one of the most impactful rookies at the position.

He finished 2023 with 73 catches for 673 yards and two touchdowns while displaying the versatility to line up all over the field. Despite being billed as primarily a receiving threat coming out of college, Kincaid showed acceptable, though not spectacular, run-blocking skills tallying a 57.0 grade

With the departure of Stefon Diggs, Kincaid is expected to become the primary option in the receiving game and should see an increase in targets up from last year's 91. Ranking 11th overall in yards per route run, increased volume would only make this emerging star more dangerous.

Backing up Kincaid is 2022 Pro Bowler Dawson Knox who is the most overqualified TE2 in the division and perhaps the league. Knox only tallied 22 catches for 186 yards and two touchdowns, though he only played in 12 games due to a fractured wrist and took a backseat to Kincaid.

Knox probably won't get a starter's workload again in his Bills tenure, but expect an uptick in targets with the losses the Bills have suffered in their wide receiver corps. Combine that with some average-to-above-average run blocking and Knox is certainly an asset.

Third-year man Quintin Morris is still just 25, but 10 catches in 29 career games is nothing to write home about. Tre' McKitty is another 25-year-old with three years of experience and 16 career catches, though none last season. Both guys are young enough to have some potential but are mostly bottom-of-the-roster fodder.

Overall, the gaps between the fourth and third rank teams are small, as are the gaps between the second and third-ranked teams. If Jeremy Ruckert can continue his development the Jets might threaten the Bills for the top spot.

The Bills though have the most accomplished tight end room in the division and until proven otherwise the crown must rest with them.