Bills, Dion Dawkins reach 3-year contract extension

BUFFALO, N.Y. --  Bills left tackle Dion Dawkins gave fans a bit of a scare Monday afternoon that he'd be leaving the team, but the Pro Bowl lineman has instead been signed to a three-year extension through the 2027 season.

The extension is worth $60.5 million, sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter, and is expected to make Dawkins the fourth-highest-paid tackle in the league.

Twelve minutes into the opening of the period for teams to officially negotiate with free agents, Dawkins shared a message on social media stating, "It was good while it lasted Buffalo" with a peace sign.

"Excited for this next chapter of my football career Wonder if it's ok to eat ranch now."

Instead, Dawkins, 29, will be the Bills' left tackle for the considerable future. He previously had one year left on his prior extension.

"Yall are cra why would ever Leave Buffalo im never leaving guy Im buffalo for life," Dawkins tweeted with his signature snowflake emojis. "When I said Buffalo is my Home I meant it #LoveYall #BillsMafia #YouAlreadyShnow."

Dawkins has started 106 of the 112 games in which he's appeared since being selected in the second round of the 2017 draft by the Bills. He's a key example of the team's draft, develop and re-sign approach.

He's coming off a strong season -- earning his third consecutive Pro Bowl nod -- and finished with the best pass block win rate of his career (93.3%). Quarterback Josh Allen was sacked the fewest times in his career (24) in 2023 behind an offensive line that saw all five starters start every game.

Even with Dawkins' return, the offensive line will have a different look in 2024. The Bills released center Mitch Morse last week, and he's since signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars. Left guard Connor McGovern is set to move to center, while re-signed lineman David Edwards will compete for the left guard role alongside Dawkins.

Dawkins has been named the Bills' Walter Payton Man of the Year nominee for each of the last two seasons for his work in the community and with his Dion's Dreamers Foundation.