The Buffalo Bills, a team brimming with talent on both offense and defense, are perennial Super Bowl contenders. With a roster stacked with playmakers, any decision to part ways with a key player would raise eyebrows, especially when it involves a fan favorite like tight end Dawson Knox. However, a recent trade proposal by Sports Illustrated’s Matt Verderame suggests the Bills could make a surprising move by trading Knox to the Carolina Panthers for a fifth-round draft pick. This bold strategy could help Buffalo bolster weaker areas of their roster while giving the Panthers a veteran presence to aid their ongoing rebuild.
The Bills’ roster is loaded, but no team is without flaws. While their core is strong, certain positions could use reinforcement to ensure a deep playoff run. Trading Dawson Knox, who is in the midst of a four-year, $29.5 million contract, would free up cap space and provide a draft pick to address those needs. As Verderame noted, Knox’s role has diminished since the Bills drafted Dalton Kincaid in the first round two years ago. Additionally, the emergence of rookie tight end Jackson Hawes has further reduced Knox’s snap count.
Knox, now 28, has been a reliable contributor during his tenure with the Bills. His standout 2021 season, where he recorded 49 receptions for 587 yards and nine touchdowns, cemented his status as a fan favorite. However, his production has waned in recent years. In the 2025 season, Knox has managed just six receptions for 54 yards and no touchdowns, a far cry from his peak performance. With Kincaid and Hawes stepping up, the Bills may view Knox as expendable, making this trade a calculated risk to gain assets for future roster improvements.
The Carolina Panthers are in a peculiar spot. Under head coach Dave Canales, they are undergoing one of the slowest rebuilds in the NFL. Despite their struggles, the organization is committed to giving quarterback Bryce Young a fair shot to prove himself, at least through the 2025 season. Adding a veteran like Knox could provide Young with a dependable target and bring stability to an offense in flux.
Verderame argues that Knox, despite his reduced role in Buffalo, could be a valuable addition to Carolina’s roster. His experience and ability to contribute in both the passing and blocking game make him an attractive option for a team looking to support its young quarterback. For the Panthers, a fifth-round pick is a reasonable price to pay for a player who could help bridge the gap during their rebuild.
Trading Dawson Knox would undoubtedly stir emotions among Bills fans. His tenure with the team, marked by clutch plays and a blue-collar work ethic, has endeared him to the Buffalo faithful. However, the NFL is a business, and the Bills’ front office must prioritize long-term success. A fifth-round pick may seem like modest compensation for a player of Knox’s caliber, but it could be the key to addressing a positional need or adding depth to a roster poised for a Super Bowl run.
For Buffalo, this trade would signal a willingness to make tough decisions in pursuit of a championship. The draft pick could be used to target a player in a weaker position group, such as the offensive line or secondary, or even packaged in a larger deal to acquire a proven veteran. While losing Knox would sting, the Bills’ faith in Kincaid and Hawes suggests they are prepared to move forward without him.
The proposed trade of Dawson Knox to the Carolina Panthers for a fifth-round pick is a bold move that reflects the Bills’ confidence in their current roster and their commitment to fine-tuning it for a Super Bowl push. While parting with a fan favorite is never easy, the potential to address roster gaps and add future assets makes this a deal worth considering. For the Panthers, Knox could be a steadying force in their rebuild, providing a reliable target for Bryce Young. As the trade deadline approaches, all eyes will be on Buffalo to see if they pull the trigger on this shocking move.