Why rookie TE 'opens doors' for Bills offense

Buffalo keeps gushing about rookie tight end Dalton Kincaid and believes he's a game-changer for its offense.

Bills tight end Dawson Knox told the Buffalo News' Ryan O'Halloran that Kincaid allows the team to run more 12 personnel (one running back, two tight ends), which will "open a lot of doors for our offense."

The formation's primary focus is creating more options in the passing game since it uses two tight ends instead of one.

The Bills passing offense needs an uptick. Outside of Pro Bowl WR Stefon Diggs (108 receptions in 16 games), none of the team's pass-catchers crossed the 50-reception mark last season.

When defenses shut down Diggs, the offense faltered. In a divisional-round loss against the Bengals, Diggs caught four receptions for 35 yards, and Buffalo scored a season-low 10 points.

The Bills trading up to the No. 25 overall slot and selecting the 23-year-old TE was wise. He expands their passing game, and his multifaceted skill set is a valuable tool.

"Kincaid can be the move/flex target at the position, with seam-stretching ability and catch-and-run skills," wrote ESPN's Matt Bowen. "He can also be deployed as a boundary X receiver to create man-coverage mismatches."

Kincaid stands at 6-foot-4 and 246 pounds. Per ESPN's Alaina Getzenberg, Bills GM Brandon Beane said he has "elite hands." 

The combination of size and pass-catching ability could make him a matchup nightmare for defenses, providing a spark for the Bills.

Per OddsChecker, the Bills have the third-best championship odds. The rookie tight end might be an X-factor that pushes the Bills to the top, helping them win their first title.