Dalton Kincaid has been selected with the No. 25 pick in the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft by the Buffalo Bills.

The former Utah tight end was an absolute star for the Utes last season. When Brant Kuithe went out of the lineup early in the year with an injury, Utah reorganized its passing attack around Kincaid’s talents and he delivered in a major way.

His selection in the opening round gives Utah a second consecutive first-round draft pick in the NFL — a first in program history. He also becomes the program’s eighth first-round selection in the modern NFL Draft era (since 1994). He was the first tight end drafted on Thursday.

Kincaid was an FCS All-American at the University of San Diego in 2019 before transferring to Utah. He led all FCS tight ends in yards per catch (19.0) and ranked second for total yardage, producing 835 yards and eight scores on 44 receptions.

At Utah, he and Kuithe combined to provide the Utes one of the most dynamic one-two punches at tight end of any team in the country. He was an all-conference honorable mention during the 2021 season, posting 36 receptions for 510 yards and eight scores.

Last fall, as the focal point of the offense, Kincaid was everywhere. He led the team in receptions (70), receiving yards (890), and receiving touchdowns (8) while earning an All-Pac-12 First Team nod and an AP All-America Third Team honor.

In Utah’s 43-42 win over USC on Oct. 15, Kincaid put forth one of the best individual efforts we’ve ever seen from a tight end. He brought in 16 receptions for 234 yards and a touchdown that night to help the Utes come back and hand the Trojans their first loss of the season.

He finished one reception shy of the single-game FBS record for a tight end. His 234 yards set a program record for single-game yardage by a tight end. When targeting Kincaid, quarterback Cameron Rising was a perfect 16-for-16.

Kincaid even appeared to be injured at one point but remained in the game. On the drive that produced Utah’s game-winning touchdown in the fourth quarter, he hauled in drive-extending receptions on third down three different times.

As a run blocker, there’s work to be done in the NFL. But the 6-foot-4, 246-pound tight end is among the best pass-catchers in his class. And now he’ll get to partner with one of the top quarterbacks in the league in Josh Allen.