Buffalo Bills position preview: Who's behind the elite bookends, Dion Dawkins and Spencer Brown?
Buffalo was ninth in the NFL in rushing yards (2,230), tied for 11th in yards per carry (4.5) and their 13 runs of 20-plus yards were tied for ninth-most in 2024. Can the defensive tackle group take another big step in 2025?
Editor’s note: This is the sixth story in a series previewing the Bills’ position groups as training camp looms. Today: Offensive tackles.
The Bills selected Dion Dawkins in the second round of the 2017 NFL draft, Sean McDermott’s first as coach.
Joshua Bessex, Buffalo News
A tender-hearted, unapologetically extroverted personality made Dion Dawkins a fan favorite of Bills Mafia.
His popularity exploded as Dawkins became one of the best left tackles in the NFL. The four-time Pro Bowler has started 122 of the 128 games in which he has appeared since his rookie season in 2017. Last year, Dawkins was No. 96 on NFL Network’s list of top-100 active players.
The iron man has missed just one game with an injury since the Bills made him a second-round draft pick. Entering his ninth NFL season, Dawkins is the man trusted to protect the blindside of MVP quarterback Josh Allen.
Among 60 tackles to play at least 50% of their team’s offensive snaps, Dawkins was tied for 19th in pressures allowed, according to Pro Football Focus. His teammate, right tackle Spencer Brown, was tied for eighth. Combined, they allowed just four sacks in the regular season.
In addition to his pass-blocking prowess, Dawkins’ athleticism is pivotal in the Bills’ running game because he can quickly pull and get hands on a rusher to open a hole for James Cook. Dawkins has the agility to do the same on a linebacker or defensive back in space.
Buffalo was ninth in the NFL in rushing yards (2,230), tied for 11th in yards per carry (4.5) and their 13 runs of 20-plus yards were tied for ninth-most. The NFL ranked the Bills second in expected points added per rush, which measures how each run play affected the outcome.
In addition to his continued charitable work around Western New York, Dawkins made headlines this summer with his role in the NFL, introducing a Protector of the Year award for the league’s best offensive lineman. Dawkins went to commissioner Roger Goodell to advocate for his position group to be recognized for its contributions. It is in the NCAA, so why not at the highest level?
Dawkins’ ultimate goal is to lead the Bills to a Super Bowl this season, but he may find himself in the running for the award he helped create.
On the roster: 7
Dawkins, Spencer Brown, Tylan Grable, Chase Lundt, Ryan Van Demark, Richard Gouraige and Travis Clayton.
How many on the 53?
Four: Dawkins, Brown, Grable and Lundt, with Clayton and Gouraige on the practice squad. Van Demark will be acquired or signed by another team if he doesn’t make the Bills’ roster.Most impactful offseason move
The only meaningful addition was drafting Lundt in the sixth round. A four-year starter at UConn, Lundt is 6-foot-8 and 330 pounds. He didn’t allow a sack as a senior, and he was particularly impressive blocking in the Huskies’ zone scheme. Lundt didn’t miss a game over his final three seasons, and he can provide versatility. Though Lundt was a right tackle, he trained on the left side prior to the draft. He’ll need to develop within the Bills’ scheme, but he could fill in as a swing tackle.
Biggest question to answer in camp
The Bills’ only question at tackle is how continuity can help this offense reach another level in 2025. Buffalo allowed the fewest sacks in the NFL last season, while, according to ESPN, Dawkins (93%, eighth) and Brown (92%, 15th) ranked among the best in pass-block win rate. As a team, the Bills were 17th in run-block win rate. Wider gaps in the defense would mean more explosive plays from Cook. The tackle tandem also needs to cut down on penalties after they combined for 21 in the regular season.
Battle to watch
Van Demark, Lundt and Grable will compete in training camp to back up Dawkins and Brown. The Bills didn’t draft Van Demark, and they would save $1.03 million if they cut him. He is the most experienced of the three, with 199 offensive snaps last season, but Lundt and Grable are athletic options who fit Joe Brady’s offensive scheme. The question, however, is whether Beane would be comfortable with two raw, albeit talented, recent draft picks as depth at the position.Under-the-radar player
As a rookie, Grable was on the field for just 74 offensive snaps, and he was the backup swing tackle in the playoffs. He also can play guard, versatility that will help him earn a role in 2025. Grable was a tight end until 2019, when the coaches at Jacksonville State began to use him at tackle. He played 46 games at left tackle in four seasons − including 27 consecutive starts to finish his college career − between the FCS school and Central Florida. The latter insisted that he spend time at center in practices.
