Drafted in the second round (63rd overall) of the 2017 NFL Draft from Temple, Dion Dawkins joined Western New York as a versatile, athletic lineman. He took over the starting left tackle position midway through his rookie season and quickly became a key part of Buffalo's rebuilding efforts, serving as the primary protector for star quarterback Josh Allen.

Dawkins, standing 6 feet 5 inches and weighing 320 pounds, combines powerful upper-body strength with agile footwork to secure the edges of Buffalo's passing game. As a left tackle in an offense that requires the quarterback to extend plays beyond the pocket, he is adept at holding blocks well past standard timing. In the running game, his broad frame and explosive leg movement enable him to push past edge defenders, creating large openings on perimeter sweeps and zone-read plays.

Dawkins secured the starting left tackle position outright during his 2017 rookie season, starting 11 games and demonstrating he could compete with top pass rushers. By 2018, he had cemented his role on the blind side full-time, initiating a streak of consistent performance as Buffalo developed its offense around Allen.

His rise to elite status was confirmed in 2021 when he made his first career Pro Bowl while protecting Allen during an AFC East-winning season. Dawkins repeated this success in 2022 and 2023, earning consecutive Pro Bowl honors and regularly posting double-digit Approximate Value scores, all while leading one of the league's highest-scoring offenses.

Dawkins maintained his elite performance into 2024, starting 16 games and securing his fourth consecutive Pro Bowl. In 2025, he reached new personal milestones. Starting 15 games, he delivered an outstanding pass-blocking season, putting minimal pressure on Allen and effectively blocking for a versatile run game. His excellence earned him his fifth straight Pro Bowl selection, reaffirming his status among the top offensive tackles of his era. Additionally, Dawkins was recognized for his character and leadership, being named the Bills' Walter Payton Man of the Year Club Winner for the fourth year in a row.

Entering 2026, Dawkins is a respected locker room leader and franchise cornerstone. Over nine seasons in Buffalo (2017–2025), he played 143 games (137 starts) and scored two touchdown catches as an eligible receiver.