Jackson Hawes isn’t one of the larger resources the Bills have invested serious into their tight end position over the past few years. A year after using a first-round pick on Dalton Kincaid, Buffalo gave close to $10 million per year to Dawson Knox. But it’s their lesser-known rookie fifth-round pick that is proving to be the lynchpin of Buffalo’s offense this year. Hawes is averaging 28 snaps per game and is likely one of the biggest keys to their Week 11 matchup against the Bucs.
Kincaid is out for today’s battle with the Bucs due to injury. But even if he was healthy, Kincaid is getting phased out of the Bills offensive plans in favor of a more complete player. Last year, the Bills operated with a sixth offensive lineman as a heavy 12 and 13 personnel sets to get defenses to commit to the run. This year they haven’t had to go heavy due to the emergence of Hawes.
A cursory look at his stats line — eight catches, 113 yards and two touchdowns on just 11 targets wouldn’t make you think that he is an integral part of Buffalo’s second-ranked offense. But make no mistake, Hawes is a key piece to their running attack’s success and their play-action explosivity.
He may already be one of the five best run blocking tight ends in the NFL already. And his versatility is what keeps the Bills ground game so versatile. They will use him to base block the end man on the line on the backside of split zone.
— Josh Queipo (@JoshQueipo_NFL) November 16, 2025
He has been used front side on stretch and wide zones to get out in front and climb to the second level.
— Josh Queipo (@JoshQueipo_NFL) November 16, 2025
They will also use him as the split flow blocker to stone defenders on the move front side. Hawes has helped the Bills to an average of 4.8 yards per rush on non-quarterback scrambles according to Sumer Sports. That’s second in the NFL.
12 personnel is a growing rage in the NFL. So, why have the Bills chosen Hayes over their former first-rounder Kincaid? Kincaid is a glorified slot receiver who struggles to provide the same level of run blocking that Hawes brings to the table. And while Kincaid is the better receiver, the Bills have a larger menu of options when Hawes is on the field because a) their run game is more potent with his superior blocking ability and diversity and b) the passing attack doesn’t have to focus on him as the top receiving option in the progression.
Bills TE Jackson Hawes Makes Big Difference In Play Action
When the Bills work off of their lethal run game and go to play action with Jackson Hawes on the field they double their productivity. Their 9.53 yards per drop back (2nd), 0.419 EPA/drop back (4th), and 17.5% explosive play rate (3rd) all would rank in the top five of the NFL.
Because the Bills run on 72% of the snaps Hawes is on the field for, and because they are so successful on those plays, defenses immediately trigger downfield hard at the snap. This allows for the Bills to throw play action counters with an extremely high success rate (70.8%).
This may be the difference in the game. The Bucs have struggled against play action against 12 personnel this year, allowing 14.7 yards per play (31st in the NFL), 0.934 EPA/play (32nd) and a success rate of 57.1% success rate (23rd).
Bills TE Jackson Hawes – Photo by: USA Today
The team’s second level defenders — SirVocea Dennis, Lavonte David, Tykee Smith, Jacob Parrish and Antoine Winfield Jr. — are going to be under constant pressure to both fit the run and not let Hawes, Knox and the Bills receivers to slip behind them in the intermediate-to-deep level of the field. If they are a split-second late to fill their run gaps running back James Cook will punish them with vision and burst to turn 4-yard gains into 14-yarders. And if they are even a fraction of a second behind in dropping to their zone assignments, quarterback Josh Allen can hit them over the top with intermediate crossers, posts and seam runners.
The Bucs will have their hands full with Jackson Hawes on the field. And Hawes’ presence was likely a focus of the Bucs’ defensive gameplan this week. How they perform when Hawes is on the field is one of the biggest keys to the game.
Josh Queipo joined the Pewter Report team in 2022, specializing in salary cap analysis and film study. In addition to his official role with the website and podcast, he has an unofficial role as the Pewter Report team’s beaming light of positivity and jokes. A staunch proponent of the forward pass, he is a father to two amazing children and loves sushi, brisket, steak and bacon, though the order changes depending on the day. He graduated from the University of South Florida in 2008 with a degree in finance.
Thrown Into the Fire, Tez Johnson Is Now Fueling Bucs’ Passing Attack
Bucs at Bills Gameday Inactives For Week 11
