Joe Brady is making a HUGE statement early in the 2026 season about Dalton Kincaid’s true position, and it’s got defenses in a total spin cycle. Seriously, this isn’t the receiver-tight end hybrid everyone thought he was. Through just two games, the Buffalo Bills are using Kincaid in a way that’s totally flipping the script, and it’s making them incredibly hard to stop.
The “Receiver” Label? Yeah, That’s Old News.
For years, Kincaid felt more like a big receiver than a traditional tight end, didn’t he? We all saw it. Max Toscano, the tight end guru, even dropped an amazing thread on X breaking down how Buffalo used to line him up. My own early season deep dive into the Bills’ offense, before the year even kicked off, hinted that they could become super tight-end centric, and boy, was that prediction spot on through two games. It used to be that Kincaid never even hit 27% of his snaps lined up in-line, like a classic tight end, in any of his first three seasons. Remember 2025? He was out wide almost as much as he was in-line, hitting 22.1% out wide compared to 23.5% in-line. And his slot percentage? Over 52.0% in *each* of his first three years! He barely ever pass-blocked either, never more than 2.2% of his snaps. That just screams receiver, right?
Joe Brady’s Genius Play Is Unlocking Kincaid
But nope, not anymore. The Joe Brady era is here, and they’ve made it crystal clear: Dalton Kincaid is a TIGHT END. And the numbers? They don’t lie. His in-line snap percentage has absolutely sky-rocketed to a whopping 50.9% in the first two games! Meanwhile, his out-wide percentage has completely plummeted to just 12.3%. It’s a drastic change. Even his slot percentage, which used to be his bread and butter, is down to a career-low 35.1%. And get this: the guy who barely pass-blocked is now staying in to protect 8.8% of the time! That’s a massive jump from his previous high of 2.2%.
So, what does all this mean? Kincaid is still out there producing like a receiver, making plays and racking up yards. But the way he’s being deployed? It’s like a classic tight end straight out of the old playbook. And because of this wild shift, it’s become practically impossible for opposing defenses to figure out if the Bills are running or passing through these first two games. The Bills found a cheat code, and the league is gonna have to catch up fast, or they’re in for a long season trying to defend it.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Buffalo Rumblings.
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