Bills offensive lineman lands on NFL Top 100 for third straight year

Dion Dawkins has become one of the NFL’s premier offensive linemen.

The Buffalo Bills left tackle landed at No. 57 on the NFL Top 100, marking his third straight appearance in the player-voted rankings after earning a fifth consecutive Pro Bowl selection.

Protecting Josh Allen’s blind side has earned Dawkins respect around the league, but it’s his personality that stands out to teammates.

Bills tight end Dalton Kincaid praised “The Shnowman” for bringing the same energy every day, while fellow offensive lineman Spencer Brown called him “an absolute massive freak of a human” whose calves are “the size of basketballs.”

Opponents appreciate Dawkins for different reasons.

Steelers edge rusher Alex Highsmith said facing Dawkins requires more than simply winning with speed or power because of the veteran tackle’s hand usage.

“You’ve got to do a good job of getting his hands off you,” Highsmith said. “Even if you’re doing a long-arm move against him, he’ll throw it in and chop your arm down.”

No. 57 on the NFL Top 100 Players of 2026…@BuffaloBills OT Dion Dawkins! @NFLFilmspic.twitter.com/EzhG98Qn1k

— NFL (@NFL) July 21, 2026

Dawkins said that’s exactly what he’s trying to accomplish.

“I would say my best trait is using my chop-down and making a defender think that he’s using a move and I’m really using his move against him,” Dawkins said. “I get tired of being the standstill dummy.”

Former Bills safety Jordan Poyer said that mentality is what quarterbacks want in a left tackle.

“He’s a nasty football player who you want on your team, who you want protecting your quarterback,” Poyer said. “I think his hands are extremely, extremely good.”

The Bills selected Dawkins in the second round of the 2017 NFL Draft, and he has developed into one of the league’s top left tackles. His 81.8 Pro Football Focus pass-blocking grade ranked seventh among 89 qualified offensive tackles last season, while his 7.5% pressure rate allowed ranked seventh among left tackles with at least 200 pass-blocking snaps.

This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Bills offensive lineman lands on NFL Top 100 for third straight year