ORCHARD PARK — The Buffalo Bills officially locked in a core piece of their passing game on Monday, exercising the fifth-year option on tight end Dalton Kincaid. The move ensures the 2023 first-round pick remains under contract through the 2027 season, coming off a year where he emerged as Josh Allen’s most reliable target. Kincaid will earn a fully guaranteed $8.1 million in the final year of the deal.
Kincaid earned this payday. While the 2025 season saw the Bills’ wide receiver room struggle with consistency, Kincaid was the anchor. He finished his third pro campaign with 571 yards and five touchdowns in just 12 games, securing his first Pro Bowl nod. His ability to find soft spots in zone coverage saved the Bills on countless third downs when the pocket collapsed around Allen.
The decision to trigger the option was a no-brainer for General Manager Brandon Beane. By making this move now, Buffalo avoids a potential bidding war and buys time to work on a long-term extension. The stadium vibe last December said it all: every time No. 86 touched the ball, the Orchard Park crowd knew a first down was coming. He has become the security blanket Allen desperately needed as the roster transitioned away from the Stefon Diggs era.
This stability is vital given the current state of the receiving corps. While Khalil Shakir remains a steady hand, 2024 first-round pick Keon Coleman hit a massive sophomore slump in 2025. Coleman managed only 404 yards and four touchdowns, leading to several benchings throughout the season. Securely keeping Kincaid in the fold allows the Bills to remain dangerous while they figure out Coleman’s development.
“Dalton is a mismatch nightmare. Having him locked in for the next two years gives us that middle-of-the-field threat that makes this whole system go. He’s only getting better.”
— Joe Brady, Bills Head Coach
The Kincaid news is the second major strike in what has been an aggressive offseason for Buffalo. Earlier this month, the Bills finalized a blockbuster trade for Chicago Bears star DJ Moore, sending a 2026 second-round pick to the Windy City. Moore brings the veteran pedigree and route-running precision that the Bills lacked last winter.
With Moore stretching the field and Kincaid dominating the seams, the 2026 Bills offense looks significantly more balanced than the version that sputtered in the 2025 playoffs. Defenses can no longer triple-team Kincaid without leaving Moore in single coverage. For Josh Allen, the window to a Super Bowl just cracked wide open again. Expect the Bills to remain aggressive as the draft approaches, likely looking for more interior protection to keep their star tight end and new wideout clean on deep patterns.
