Dalton Kincaid’s path to a long-term deal with the Bills runs through the next two seasons, and the checklist is pretty clear: produce more, stay on the field, and show Buffalo enough to make a bigger commitment.
The Bills have already picked up Kincaid’s fifth-year option, which keeps him under contract through 2027. After this season, general manager Brandon Beane will have a choice to make - let Kincaid play a second year on that option or move forward with a long-term extension.
For Kincaid, the bar starts with beating what he did as a rookie. His first NFL season in 2023 was still his best to date, when he caught 73 passes for 673 yards and two touchdowns while appearing in 16 of 17 regular-season games. Since then, he hasn’t matched that kind of output, and he still hasn’t reached 1,000 receiving yards in a season with the Bills.
This year could be his best shot to change that. Playing on the fifth-year option gives him extra motivation to show Buffalo he’s serious about taking another step forward after last season.
Health is the other major piece of the puzzle. Kincaid has dealt with a hamstring injury over the last two seasons, and staying available has been part of the challenge as he tries to become the kind of tight end the Bills can build around. He has continued working to get stronger, which points to both his commitment and his willingness to keep improving in the areas Buffalo wants to see.
There is also a possible boost coming from the surface change. Kincaid will be playing on grass at the new Highmark Stadium instead of the turf at the old one, and grass has been shown to lead to fewer soft-tissue injuries than turf.
If he can get through a full 17-game season with minimal injury issues, that would only strengthen his case for a new deal.
Even then, the Bills may still want to wait. The team would be open to giving Kincaid a long-term contract if he makes a major leap in 2026, but with the fifth-year option in place through 2027, Buffalo has the luxury of seeing more before making a final call.
That makes the next two seasons crucial. Kincaid’s production and health will shape the conversation, and if he blocks out the noise and keeps pushing his game forward, the decision will eventually land in the hands of Bills brass.
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Bills Fans Just Learned A Frustrating New Stadium Change
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One familiar summer tradition, though, is changing in a way that will sting a bit for regular fans. The Return of the Blue & Red scrimmage on Aug. 8 will not be open the way it has been in past years, leaving a much tighter path to one of the teams most popular preseason gatherings. The Bills are expected to make the new stadium part of a broader rollout for supporters, but this particular event now looks like a much more exclusive ticket. [Read more 🡒]
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Among the rookies drawing the most attention, T.J. Parker looks like the kind of edge presence who can make his case early, while Davison Igbinosun and Zane Durant bring the sort of upside that can change how the depth chart looks by the end of summer. The Bills are not just looking for contributors here, either. With so many new faces in the mix, one strong rookie showing could put a veteran on notice fast, and the first weeks of camp should tell a lot about which newcomers are ready to force the issue. [Read more 🡒]
Bills Have A Bigger DeWayne Carter Question Than Fans Realize
DeWayne Carter is back in the conversation for Buffalo as he heads into his third NFL season, and the discussion around him is bigger than simply whether he can get healthy and get on the field again. The defensive tackle has added weight this offseason, and with new coordinator Jim Leonhard bringing in a different look up front, Carter is being eyed for a move into a nose tackle type of role that asks for a different kind of body and skill set than the one he has been known for.
That makes Carter one of the more interesting names on a defensive line that already has plenty of competition for jobs and snaps. He is working his way into a new scheme while trying to prove he can handle the added bulk and the demands of the position change, and the Bills still have to sort out how many interior linemen they want to carry when the roster gets trimmed. For Carter, the path back is not just about recovery anymore, but about whether this new fit gives him a real chance to stick. [Read more 🡒]