Fansided

Each NFL team’s biggest breakout candidate

By Conor Dorney

Mandatory Credit: Justin Edmonds/Getty Images
Mandatory Credit: Justin Edmonds/Getty Images /
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FOXBOROUGH, NY – DECEMBER 24: Buffalo Bills offensive tackle Dion Dawkins (73) blocks New England Patriots defensive tackle Deatrich Wise (91) during a National Football League game between the between the Buffalo Bills and the New England Patriots on December 24, 2017, at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, MA. (Photo by Icon Sportswire)
FOXBOROUGH, NY – DECEMBER 24: Buffalo Bills offensive tackle Dion Dawkins (73) blocks New England Patriots defensive tackle Deatrich Wise (91) during a National Football League game between the between the Buffalo Bills and the New England Patriots on December 24, 2017, at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, MA. (Photo by Icon Sportswire) /

Buffalo Bills –  Dion Dawkins

The Bills’ desperate pursuit of their next franchise quarterback was one of the worst-kept secrets in the NFL during this offseason and eventually, the club wound up tabbing hotly-debated Wyoming gunslinger Josh Allen to be that very guy. As part of that process, Buffalo shipped left tackle Cordy Glenn to the Bengals, paving the way for 2017 second-rounder Dion Dawkins to protect the blindside of their new franchise quarterback investment.

Dawkins was a pleasant surprise for the Bills in his rookie year, grading out as one of the top five rookie tackles in the league, according to Pro Football Focus. Dawkins is a mauler at the point of attack in the run game, but perhaps most surprising was his ability in pass protection, an area that typically is the bane of many rookie tackles’ existences.

While the trading of Glenn wasn’t necessarily a huge surprise, it does show you the kind of faith they have in Dawkins moving forward. The team will still rely heavily on the LeSean McCoy and the run game, but Dawkins’ play at tackle protecting Allen will be a key factor in determining whether Buffalo can make a return to the playoffs. If Dawkins regresses in 2018, the Bills’ new franchise quarterback (and its fans) will be in for a long season.

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