Dion Dawkins views himself as an entertainer. The Buffalo Bills view him as a top-notch left tackle and they paid him as such.
A call from his agent notified Dawkins the team was going to announce a three-year, $60 million extension in an hour. Dawkins decided to use that time to scare some unknowing fans on social media.
Dawkins posted a cryptic message on X, saying “It was good while it lasted Buffalo. Excited for this next chapter of my football career. Wonder if it’s OK to eat ranch.” Ten minutes later, Dawkins sent another message saying he would never leave Buffalo.
The extension was announced a few minutes later, but the original post netted over 3 million views, and because Dawkins kept the extension a secret from everyone, he even fooled teammate and free agent defensive tackle DaQuan Jones, who responded, “Bro what?”
🚶🏽♂️🚶🏽♂️🚶🏽♂️🚶🏽♂️🚶🏽♂️🚶🏽♂️🚶🏽♂️ pic.twitter.com/QrlXfgpfy0
— Dion Dawkins (@DDawkins66) March 11, 2024
The reality was that Dawkins was owed $16.609 million in the final year of his contract and it would have cost the Bills $11.739 million to cut him. Now Dawkins, who says he had the best year of his career last year at 29 years old, is locked in until 2027 and saves the Bills roughly $7 million in cap space for 2024.
Bills coach Sean McDermott even anonymously hopped on Dawkins’ remote press conference Rex Ryan-style, adding to Dawkins’ comments for why he wanted to stay in Buffalo. He also wanted to free up money to entice free agents and keep former teammates.
“I could have waited, I could have had another great season and then asked to be the highest paid left tackle ever,” Dawkins said. “That’s how it goes. And me, I would rather there be more money to go around for my teammates and for us to build the Super Bowl team that we need to win.”
Dawkins enters his eighth year in the NFL after being a second-round pick in 2017 having made three consecutive Pro Bowls. He ranked 18th overall among NFL tackles who played 50% of snaps and 17th in pass blocking, according to Pro Football Focus.
He missed three games over the last three years and has started all but six games during his career, all at left tackle. Dawkins has surrendered 10 sacks over the last three seasons — including a career-low two in 2023 — after giving up 22 in his first four seasons.
“I think the recipe for what we’re pushing for is there and I see it and I’ve always seen it and I’m there to help make that happen,” Dawkins said. “But as an individual, I’m just going to get better. I’m going to get better. I’m planning on more Pro Bowls, more All-Pros, more all of that.”
Keeping Dawkins in place for the next four seasons comes at a critical time, as center Mitch Morse was released — and signed with Jacksonville Monday — as a salary cap casualty last week. Reserve lineman Ryan Bates was also traded to Chicago last week, leaving Dawkins as the lone offensive lineman on the roster with more than three years of experience in Buffalo.
Connor McGovern, who came to Buffalo last season after spending four years in Dallas, is the only other lineman on the roster with more than three years of experience in the NFL. The Bills starting offensive line used the same five starters in every game last year — for the first time since 1989 — and allowed an NFL-low 24 sacks.
“Even though I didn’t have a C on my chest, I was in every captain’s meeting, every decision point and we were there together,” Dawkins said. “... I’m more so happy that Mitch gets to continue to play football and provide for his family. … There’s so many guys that have been picking everybody’s brain that everybody is a leader in their own way. I don’t want to say it’s not a big deal, but we’re going to be OK.”
The Bills also agreed to terms on a two-year deal with defensive end A.J. Epenesa, according to a league source. After tallying 13 sacks and 13 passes defensed in each of the last two seasons, Epenesa became a critical part of the team’s rotation on the edge and he returns to beef up a position that includes Kingsley Jonathan, Von Miller and Greg Rousseau.
Epenesa’s production slowed toward the end of the season, failing to record a sack in his last five games, while missing a pair of games with a broken rib. The 25-year-old’s rookie deal expired after the season, and after Gabe Davis signed with the Jaguars, Epenesa is the lone member of Buffalo’s draft class still on the roster.
ESPN was the first to report the news, saying Epenesa signed for $7 million in 2024 and the deal can grow to $20 million over two years.
A league source also confirmed the Bills agreed to terms with defensive back Cam Lewis to a two-year deal worth $4 million. Lewis has played for seasons with the Bills since signing as an undrafted free agent from the University at Buffalo.
Lewis played in 12 games his first two seasons, but appeared in every game last year for the first time in his career. Finding a role on special teams, plus versatility to play safety and slot cornerback, Lewis made 21 tackles last season.
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Morse signed a two-year deal worth $10.5 million ($7 million guaranteed) with the Jaguars, according to ESPN. Davis is also headed to Jacksonville on a three-year, $39 million deal.
Defensive end Leonard Floyd also signed with the San Francisco 49ers on a two-year, $20 million deal, according to NFL Network. Floyd had 10 ½ sacks last season for the Bills on a one-year deal.
