In 2024, the Buffalo Bills will appear different. Buffalo’s core of seasoned leaders was eliminated for both football and financial reasons, so the team will have to rebuild a large portion of the squad with the Super Bowl in mind at all times. Next season, the Bills will be younger, less expensive, and possibly even better.
By Week 1, Dawkins will be past thirty and will be watching key members of the current core leave for unrestricted free agency. With only a year left on his contract, he might have good reason to be worried.
But unlike cornerback Tre’Davious White or safeties Jordan Poyer and Micah Hyde, Dawkins hasn’t given Buffalo many reasons to cut bait.
Over his seven seasons with the Bills, Dawkins has been incredibly consistent, finishing each season as an above-average tackle. Dawkins was the 17th-highest graded (qualified) tackle by Pro Football Focus during the previous campaign. His consistency and longevity on the blindside make him more than worthy of a deal, even in the absence of great play.
As things stand, by extending Dawkins this offseason, the Bills may clear $7 million in salary space (per Over the salary). Keeping a veteran Bill in Western New York is a wise move to lessen some of the cap load this season when general manager Brandon Beane sends them to the open market.
