The Buffalo Bills are entering the 2024 season with a ton of pressure to finally get over the hump and make a run to the Super Bowl.
But in the recent storm of roster churning swirls around Western New York, quarterback Josh Allen feels like the only vested veteran whose future is certain. Superstar receiver Stefon Diggs’ tenure may be in its twilight, tight end Dawson Knox saw his eventual replacement impress in his rookie season.
It truly feels like nobody is safe which feels odd from a team that has been so good yet failed to get over the hump when it matters the most.
Is releasing so many core players a solid strategy to continue wining the division and at least having a chance to compete for a Lombardi Trophy?
The franchise has gone on a recent spree of releasing highly-talented players, particularly on defense , to free up salary cap space.
The Buffalo Bills have already released three core members of their defensive backs group, Jordan Poyer, Micah Hyde and Tre’Davious White. The team also cut veteran OL Mitch Morse.
One would think protecting their star QB Josh Allen would be at the top of their list this offseason, but according to a stunning post from one of their best offensive linemen on social media on Monday, that isn’t the case.
Buffalo Bills offensive tackle Dion Dawkins had fans overthinking a few days after the front office went on a releasing spree by cutting five players on Wednesday.
Dawkins sent a cryptic message on Twitter/X that raised some eyebrows as the three-time Pro Bowler seemed to suggest a future in Buffalo is not a guarantee.
Dion Dawkins has been remarkably consistent throughout his Bills tenure, grading out as an above-average tackle in each year of his seven-season career. This past season, Dawkins was Pro Football Focus’ 17th-highest graded (qualified) tackle. Even without elite play, his durability and dependability on the blindside are more than deserving of an extension.
The Buffalo Bills can free up $7 million in cap space by extending Dawkins this offseason (per Over the Cap), As general manager Brandon Beane sends long-time Bills to the open market, keeping one in Western New York is a worthwhile way to alleviate some of this season’s cap pressures, and it looks like that is the case with Dawkins.
Dion Dawkins Will Be The New Anchor Of A Young Offensive Line For The Buffalo Bills With New Extension
On Monday, it became evident that Beale and the front office knew they couldn’t completely dismantle the offensive line and survive.
Bills three-time Pro-Bowl left tackle Dion Dawkins is signing a three-year, $60.5 million extension, per sources. The deal is expected to make Dawkins the fourth highest-paid tackle in the league. pic.twitter.com/hcOhFisJBn
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 11, 2024
They inked Dion Dawkins to a 3-year deal worth more than $60 million, making him one of the top five highest paid offensive tackles in the NFL.
With Morse gone, the former Bills team captain who’s anchored the offensive line since 2019, keeping Dawkins around is vital. Last season, the o-line allowed the fewest sacks (24) of Josh Allen‘s carer. After Buffalo traded Ryan Bates, who played backup for Morse all season, the Bills are shifting players around.
Buffalo plans to move Connor McGovern to center, while David Edwards competes at left guard, per The Athletic’s Tim Graham.
Now Dion Dawkins will serves as the anchor for a young unit responsible for protecting Josh Allen.
McGovern was one of the Buffalo Bills’ biggest free agent signings last offseason. Buffalo inked the 27-year-old to a three-year, $27 million contract. The Bills restructured McGovern’s contract at the end of February, which cleared approximately $3.7 million in cap space for 2024.
The Athletic’s Joe Buscaglia wrote, “In our season-long film review, McGovern was solid but also the lowest-graded starter of the bunch. He also has little experience at center in the NFL, having only 100 snaps there in five total seasons. McGovern did play a lot of center at Penn State, but that was at the college level and a long time ago. He might be able to do the job well, but it is a legitimate risk.”
Dion Dawkins will provide some stability, but the Buffalo Bills have to try to keep as many players in place moving forward if they want to remain a contender.
