The Buffalo Bills are in a difficult situation with their salary cap heading into the 2025 season. With just under $5 million in available space, the team is facing a financial crunch. The issue is further complicated by the fact that the Bills have already restructured many contracts, leaving little room to create more cap space. The team needs to find a way to fit its incoming draft class under the cap, but there’s no simple solution that would provide significant relief. One player whose future with the team could be at risk is tight end Dawson Knox.
Once considered a key contributor in the Bills’ offense, Dawson Knox has seen his role diminish in recent years. His place in the lineup has been overshadowed by the emergence of Dalton Kincaid. Knox, however, remains a favorite target of quarterback Josh Allen. Despite this, Knox’s large salary cap hit—projected to be $14 million in 2025—has become a burden for the team. The Bills may need to make tough choices about his future in order to manage their cap space and address other roster needs.
Knox himself seems aware of the situation. During the 2024 season, he spoke highly of Josh Allen’s abilities, expressing both admiration and excitement about playing alongside him. He described Allen as a consistently incredible player who constantly makes jaw-dropping plays. Knox also mentioned the thrill of watching Allen’s performance, even jokingly yelling at him to slide as Allen ran over defenders. It’s clear that Knox values his time playing with the star quarterback, and it’s a relationship that he hopes will continue for as long as possible.
The decision regarding Knox is a tough one for the Bills. While cutting or trading him wouldn’t provide significant cap relief, restructuring his contract could free up more than $6 million in space. This would likely be enough to cover the team’s draft class, which is a top priority. However, restructuring Knox’s deal would only delay the inevitable, and it would likely affect his standing with the team heading into the 2025 season. The Bills may be forced to make a difficult decision about whether to keep Knox at a reduced cost or move on from him altogether.
As the Bills prepare for the upcoming season, they must balance the need to remain competitive with the reality of their salary cap constraints. The situation with Dawson Knox is just one of many tough decisions the team will have to navigate. Whether they decide to restructure his contract or make a more drastic move, the Bills’ ability to manage their cap space will play a major role in determining their success in the 2025 season and beyond.
