Bills committed to protect Josh Allen with huge extension for Dion Dawkins

The Buffalo Bills locked up Dion Dawkins for the next four years.

The Buffalo Bills are ready to seize control of the AFC East due to the departure of Tom Brady causing chaos up in New England.

With Sean McDermott on the sidelines, Josh Allen under center, and one of the league’s best defenses as their disposal, it’s easy to see why many are projecting them to come out of the East. Left tackle Dion Dawkins quietly emerged as a quality starter in 2020, and Buffalo has decided to reward that improvement with a fat new contract as they chase a division title.

The Bills, fresh off locking up McDermott for the next few years after making the playoffs twice in three seasons, signed Dawkins to a four-year, $60 million contract that makes him one of the highest-paid tackles in the league.

Dion Dawkins has become a rock-solid tackle in the NFL.

Picked near the end of the second round of the 2017 draft, the Bills believed that the Temple product could be a quality left tackle when many thought he might be best served kicking inside to guard. Dawkins played over 1,000 snaps last year, and he allowed four sacks despite the developing Allen as his quarterback.

While the Stefon Diggs trade and the continued improvement of Devin Singletary are starting to give Buffalo an offense on par with their excellent defense, all of their improvements can be neutralized if their offensive line doesn’t continue to get better. Between Dawkins and right tackle Cody Ford, the Bills have the pieces necessary to set their offense up for success for the next decade.

The Bills know that protecting Allen is just as important, if not more important, than picking up another new receiver. With Dawkins now signed long-term, the Bills won’t have to worry about left tackle for the next few seasons.