Jackson Hawes is not the biggest name on the Buffalo Bills‘ roster. He not even the biggest name in his own tight end room.
But when NFL.com built the perfect 53-man roster, Hawes made the cut.
The second-year tight end was the only Bills player selected for the site’s “best team money can buy” challenge, which created a roster while staying under the league’s $301.2 million salary cap.
No Josh Allen. No James Cook. No D.J. Moore.
Instead, NFL.com picked Hawes as one of the best values in football.
Hawes, who is entering the second season of his rookie contract, counted for just $1.1 million toward the salary cap in the online exercise. That allowed NFL.com to spend big money elsewhere while still adding one of the league’s best young blocking tight ends.
“Hawes is an absolute mauler,” NFL.com wrote. “He has the look of a player who could eventually develop into one of the NFL’s best blocking tight ends.”
The Bills selected Hawes in the fifth round of the 2025 NFL Draft out of Georgia Tech, where he built a reputation as one of the most physical tight ends in college football.
That skill set translated quickly.
Hawes carved out a role as a rookie despite playing in a tight end room with Dalton Kincaid and Dawson Knox. Hebecame an important piece of Buffalo’s rushing attack and multiple tight end packages.
Hawes played in all 17 games, starting eight, and caught 16 of 19 targets for 187 receiving yards and three touchdowns. He had the highest overall grade among rookies (85.2) by Pro Fooball Focus in the entire NFL in 2025.
His role could continue to grow in 2026 under head coach Joe Brady.
NFL.com’s exercise was not about picking the biggest stars. It was about finding the right players at the right price.
Hawes has been a tremendous value for the Bills.
