The Buffalo Bills reached an agreement with Dawson Knox this past Tuesday. The team reworked his contract instead of moving on from the tight end. Knox is one of quarterback Josh Allen’s longest tenured offensive weapons. He had been set to count roughly $17 million against the 2026 salary cap, a number that immediately made him one of the most obvious names to watch as Buffalo worked toward becoming cap compliant before this past Wednesday’s 4 p.m. EDT deadline.
Had the Bills released Knox, they
would have cleared about $9.6 million in cap space, but that move also would have left behind a $7.4 million dead-cap charge, including $2.336 million tied to two void years. Earlier this offseason, I pointed to Knox as a strong candidate for a reworked deal that could create nearly the same savings while keeping him on the roster, and that is exactly the direction Buffalo chose.
Instead of creating another hole on offense, the Bills and Knox agreed to a new three year contract that lowers his cap number and keeps a veteran piece in place alongside Dalton Kincaid.
Dawson Knox’s updated contract details
2026
- Base Salary: $1,300,000
- Prorated Signing Bonus: 2,083,000 + previous contract $2,568,333 = $4,651,333 total
- Option Bonus: $2,500,000
- New Cap Hit: $8,551,333
2027
- Base Salary: $5,910,000
- Prorated Signing Bonus: 2,083,000 + previous contract void year $1,168,000 = $3,251,333 total
- Per Game Bonus Total: $340,000 and Workout Bonus: $100,000
- Cap Hit: $9,601,333
2028
- Base Salary: $4,560,000
- Prorated Signing Bonus: 2,083,000 + previous contract void year $1,168,000 = $3,251,333 total
- Roster Bonus: $1,000,000
- Per Game Bonus Total: $340,000 and Workout Bonus: $100,000
- Cap Hit: $9,251,333
$10 million is guaranteed, which includes the signing bonus, 2026 salary, and $2.45 million of 2027. The rest of 2027 guarantees in March 2027.
Fans have been waiting for the exact structure, as that determines how much the Bills actually saved against the cap in 2026 which stands at around $8.5 million. This is a great job by president of football operations/general manager Brandon Beane and the front office to get this deal done.
Knox enters his eighth NFL season in Buffalo after being selected in the third round of the 2019 NFL Draft. While his role has shifted since tight end Dalton Kincaid arrived, he remains one of the team’s most trusted blockers, red zone targets, and locker room pieces. For a team trying to create room without weakening the roster, this move fits that perfectly.
