In ESPN NFL Insider Jeremy Fowler’s latest survey league survey of executives, scouts, and coaches about the Top 10 players at each position we discovered how Dion Dawkins is viewed at the offensive tackle position.
The Buffalo Bills offensive tackle did not make the Top 10, but like Dalton Kincaid, got an honorable mention distinction. Here’s what Fowler wrote about Dawkins:
“A solid starter, plays with an edge, can be good in both phases but shows inconsistent effort.” — NFC executive
I don’t know if I’m totally in agreement with that assessment, as I don’t think I’ve ever questioned Dawkins’ effort on the field.
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Dawkins did absorb more criticism in 2025 after universal praise over the previous three or four seasons as he became entrenched as the team’s franchise left tackle.
I sensed a slight regression from Dawkins — as his pressure-to-pass-blocking snap rate in the regular season increased from 3.7% in 2025 to 5.8% in 2026 — yet it wasn’t a precipitous drop from his already established borderline elite-level pass-blocking in the prime of his career.
Penalties were often mentioned as a sign of his regression, yet in the regular season he was hit with 10 flags last season compared to 13 the season prior.
Ahead of Dawkins in the Top 10 were:
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That Top 10 looks pretty fine and dandy to me. I don’t know if I’d be able to put Alt inside the Top 10 with his injury history — heck, it precluded Kincaid from the tight end Top 10 — and for as much as I revere the first-ballot Hall of Fame career Williams has had in Washington and San Francisco, I’ve long been a huge fan of what Wirfs can do on a football field (at either tackle spot) — he’s the second-best OT right now in my opinion.
Regarding Dawkins, I don’t get the sense, he’s slowing down. He’s 32 years old which for any position in the NFL beyond quarterback feels old. For offensive tackle it’s still prime age for a high-caliber player, which Dawkins is.
Heck, Williams is 38 in the middle of July, Johnson turned 36 in May, a few weeks before Bolles turned 34.
Dawkins has plenty left in the tank.
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Rebounding to his normal level of play in the pass-pro department will drastically help his reputation and the Bills aerial attack in 2026. He should aim for single-digit penalties during the regular season too. On this note — here’s to hoping every refereeing crew understands the “snatch-trap” technique Dawkins deploys frequently is not a penalty. Because he’s so athletic and energetic on the field, Dawkins has always been a ferocious run-blocker. No concerns there whatsoever.
If either Williams or Johnson retire after the 2026 campaign, I believe Dawkins has a chance to be a Top 10 offensive tackle in this survey next year.
How do you view Dawkins going into the 2026 campaign?
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