A story in the Buffalo News recently suggested third-round tight end Dawson Knox could be a year one starter for the Bills. If that happens, he'll have a chance of joining the relative small group of tight ends that have made a significant impact in their rookie seasons.
Knox probably wasn't expected to start right away; Buffalo signed Tyler Kroft away from Cincinnati in free agency. But Kroft broke his foot in offseason workouts, which is giving Knox a chance to contribute. So just maybe he'll keep it going into the regular season.
Since 2000, there have been five rookie tight ends who finished as top-10 players at their position: Jeremy Shockey, Rob Gronkowski, Evan Engram, John Carlson and Randy McMichael. This in a standard scoring system. Twenty-six others have made it into the top 25. Essentially three every two years. Two rookies made it last year, Mark Andrews and Dallas Goedert.
| TOP-25 ROOKIE TIGHT ENDS, 2000-PRESENT | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Player | No | Yds | TD | Fan | Rk |
| 2002 | Jeremy Shockey, NYG | 74 | 894 | 2 | 101.4 | 3 |
| 2010 | Rob Gronkowski, N.E. | 42 | 546 | 10 | 114.6 | 5 |
| 2017 | Evan Engram, NYG | 64 | 722 | 6 | 108.2 | 5 |
| 2008 | John Carlson, Sea. | 55 | 627 | 5 | 92.7 | 7 |
| 2002 | Randy McMichael, Mia. | 39 | 485 | 4 | 72.5 | 9 |
| 2016 | Hunter Henry, S.D. | 36 | 478 | 8 | 95.8 | 11 |
| 2005 | Heath Miller, Pitt. | 39 | 459 | 6 | 81.9 | 11 |
| 2010 | Aaron Hernandez, N.E. | 45 | 563 | 6 | 92.3 | 13 |
| 2008 | Dustin Keller, NYJ | 48 | 535 | 3 | 71.5 | 14 |
| 2004 | Chris Cooley, Wash. | 37 | 314 | 6 | 67.4 | 14 |
| 2006 | Owen Daniels, Hou. | 34 | 352 | 5 | 65.2 | 14 |
| 2001 | Eric Johnson, S.F. | 40 | 362 | 3 | 56.2 | 15 |
| 2018 | Mark Andrews, Balt. | 34 | 552 | 3 | 73.2 | 16 |
| 2017 | O.J. Howard, T.B. | 26 | 432 | 6 | 79.2 | 16 |
| 2007 | Zach Miller, Oak. | 44 | 444 | 3 | 62.4 | 16 |
| 2001 | Alge Crumpler, | 25 | 330 | 3 | 51.0 | 18 |
| 2003 | Antonio Gates, S.D. | 24 | 389 | 2 | 50.9 | 19 |
| 2018 | Dallas Goedert, Phil. | 33 | 334 | 4 | 37.4 | 20 |
| 2013 | Zach Ertz, Phil. | 36 | 469 | 4 | 70.9 | 20 |
| 2010 | Jermaine Gresham, Cin. | 52 | 471 | 4 | 73.1 | 21 |
| 2017 | George Kittle, S.F. | 43 | 515 | 2 | 63.5 | 21 |
| 2017 | David Njoku, Clev. | 32 | 386 | 4 | 62.7 | 22 |
| 2000 | Bubba Franks, G.B. | 34 | 363 | 1 | 42.3 | 22 |
| 2012 | Dwayne Allen, Ind. | 45 | 521 | 3 | 70.1 | 23 |
| 2013 | Jordan Reed, Wash. | 45 | 499 | 3 | 67.9 | 23 |
| 2010 | Jimmy Graham, N.O. | 31 | 356 | 5 | 65.6 | 23 |
| 2006 | Vernon Davis, S.F. | 20 | 265 | 3 | 44.5 | 23 |
| 2003 | Jason Witten, Dall. | 35 | 347 | 1 | 40.7 | 23 |
| 2008 | Martellus Bennett, Dall. | 20 | 283 | 4 | 52.3 | 24 |
| 2015 | Will Tye, NYG | 42 | 464 | 3 | 64.4 | 25 |
| 2003 | Dallas Clark, Ind. | 29 | 340 | 1 | 40.0 | 25 |
Knox is pretty raw, with just two seasons of production at Mississippi, including only 39 receptions (and no touchdowns). But opportunity counts for a lot, and the Bills might not have a better option in what should be a young and developing offense. He belongs on the radar of late-round tight ends who could possibly make an impact this season.
--Andy Richardson