Buffalo Bills 2017 NFL Draft Class: Grading the Players

By Paul Taylor | May 1, 2017

Apr 27, 2017; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Tre'Davious White (LSU) poses with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell (right) as he is selected as the number 27 overall pick to the Buffalo Bills in the first round the 2017 NFL Draft at the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports /

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Mar 2, 2017; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Temple Owls offensive lineman Dion Dawkins speaks to the media during the 2017 NFL Combine at the Indiana Convention Center. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports /

Offensive Lineman Dion Dawkins (Round 2, 63rd Overall)

Grade: B+

Bio: Played at Temple / 6 foot 4 / 314 pounds

Resume: 2016 First Team All-American Athletic Conference

Strengths: Naturally strong – evidenced by excellent upper-body strength, particularly outstanding in his run protection, versatility allows him to play at both tackle and guard, quick footwork, has extensive experience in different blocking schemes.

Weaknesses: Needs work on his pass protection to prosper at the NFL level, sometimes relies too much on his strength.

Overall: ESPN‘s Mel Kiper called Dawkins the second-best guard in the draft. Will likely start for the Bills right away, whether it be at guard or tackle. Has lots of upside. His strength is exactly that – his strength, although he also possesses good athleticism.

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