Early in the offseason program, it's all about players seizing opportunities, and fans going "oh look at the cool thing that player did!" (see: Keon Coleman). The further into the summer we get, however, the more businesslike the situation becomes. At the end of the day, there are 90 players in training camp, and only 53 of them will make the roster for opening day . 59% of players that partake in training camp get sent home.
For the Buffalo Bills, it's no different. There is plenty of competition taking place all over the roster. For the tight end position in particular, the top two tight ends are locked in with Dalton Kincaid and Dawson Knox, but a surprise contender is making a legitimate push for the third tight end spot on the 53-man roster – Zach Davidson.
Zach Davidson is making highlights all over the place in training camp
The athleticism is what sets Davidson apart. At 6'7" 245 lbs he certainly has the build for the tight end position. According to Josh Allen, the work ethic and the effort put forth by Davidson are going a long way.
"Balls to the wall" is quite the descriptor. For Davidson, he's competing with veteran Quintin Morris for the third spot on the roster. Morris, who rejoined Buffalo on a one-year deal, has appeared in 29 games with the Bills, catching 10 catches for 110 yards and two touchdowns.
It might be hard to knock off the established depth piece, but Davidson's athletic ability might be enough to entice the Bills to give him a nod as the reserve tight end.
Zach Davidson took a curious and winding road to get here
In an interview with News 8 in Rochester, Davidson detailed that he wound up being a punter in high school thanks to some good old fashioned teenage stupidity.
In an open competition on his high school football team, Davidson showed he had a knack for punting despite having no training. He went on to be an All-State punter, and was recruited to Division II Central Missouri St. While there, his athleticism led him to getting work at tight end, where he continuously flourished throughout his college career.
As a freshman in 2017, Davidson didn't get his looks at tight end, serving as the primary punter. As a sophomore, while still holding the starting punter duties, he caught 11 passes for 239 yards and three touchdowns.
Things got interesting his junior year. I can't remember the last time I saw a two-way player that was a starting punter and a star tight end, but Davidson was exactly that. While acting as the starting punter, Davidson also flourished into a star at the tight end position, catching 40 passes for 894 yards and 15 touchdowns.
Davidson's athletic ability was the epitome of a Day 3 flier in the NFL Draft, and that's exactly what ended up happening. In the 2021 NFL Draft, the Minnesota Vikings used a fifth-round pick on him. He hasn't been able to find success at the NFL level since being drafted, however, failing to suit up for a regular season game. The Bills brought him in on their practice squad in September of 2022. The last two years of development and work have led him to this point.
Now with a new opportunity and an impressive training camp, maybe he'll be able to earn a roster spot. Davidson will have three preseason games to continue his audition to be active for Week 1.
Related: Latest NFL blockbuster trade reports should have Bills Mafia worried
Follow along all season for all the latest Buffalo Bills news. You can also find me on X @JonHelmkamp .
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