The Buffalo Bills surprised a lot of people when they selected tight end Dalton Kincaid in the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft. Many analysts believed they would target a pass catcher, but thought it would come in the form of a wide receiver. With Dawson Knox entrenched as the starting tight end, it was certainly an eye-brow-raising move.

Alas, Kincaid’s pass-catching skills are undeniable. He was one of the most productive tight ends in college football last season and should help Josh Allen and the Bills’ passing offense right away.

Kincaid and Knox have a chance to develop into one of the best tight end tandems in the NFL with their diverse skill sets. However, if things had gone according to plan a few years ago, Knox would have had a new running mate in 2021.

Buffalo was close to acquiring a new weapon for Allen and their high-powered offense ahead of the trade deadline. They were engaged in negotiations with the Philadelphia Eagles in a deal centered around tight end Zach Ertz.

While receiving the 20th annual Call to Service award, Ertz talked to Mark Gaughan of the Buffalo News. He revealed that he was nearly traded to the Bills ahead of the deadline that season before it was nixed near the finish line.

“I was getting traded out of Philadelphia,” Ertz said. “There were a couple teams extremely interested, Buffalo being one of them. It was almost a done deal, but it just didn’t get over the finish line.”

It was someone on Philadelphia’s side who decided to not go through with the trade with the Bills, but Ertz would not reveal who it was. In the end, he was traded but out west to the desert, as the Arizona Cardinals acquired him in exchange for a fifth-round pick and cornerback Tay Gowan.

Ertz is currently recovering from knee surgery that he underwent in December and remains under contract with the Cardinals. The Bills would have certainly been happy to have him on their roster, but likely aren’t upset about how things turned out with Kincaid now in the fold.