NFL.com predicted one first time Pro Bowler for every team in the league in 2021. For the Buffalo Bills, the selection was offensive lineman Dion Dawkins.
The Bills’ anchor at left tackle, Dawkins is a cornerstone for the team both on and off the field. As of late, Dawkins has started to get recognized as just that, even prior to NFL.com doing so.
Dawkins being named as a potential Pro Bowler in 2021 comes just after ESPN gave the notion that Buffalo’s lineman is soon to be recognized nationally as well. The former world-wide leader did not place Dawkins in the top-10 of their offensive tackle power rankings, however, he was an honorable mention.
In terms of NFL.com’s prediction, here’s why Dawkins was given that honor:
Dawkins ventured into last season with one lingering knock: His finest campaign came as a rookie in 2017. Those concerns were put to bed in 2020, when the 6-foot-5, 320-pound left tackle went wire to wire as a reliable run blocker and pass protector. Josh Allen’s fireball rise is grounded in his almost-supernatural athletic gifts, but Buffalo brass deserve credit, too, for creating a stable environment. Dawkins — who landed a four-year, $60 million extension last August — is linked to Allen’s future for years to come as a bookend on the rise.
That referenced extension will keep Dawkins with the the Bills through the 2024 season. As one of the first draft picks under the watch of Buffalo head coach Sean McDermott, Dawkins has been a staple and team leader in the Bills’ locker room since 2017.
Furthering the thought that Dawkins is close to top-10 status and Pro Bowl consideration is Pro Football Focus. The football analytics outlet graded Dawkins as the 14th-best tackle in the NFL last season, matching ESPN‘s just outside top-10 ranking…. and to an extent, NFL.com’s thoughts on Dawkins as being a player close to the Pro Bowl.
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