Dion Dawkins has had a revolving door of left guards next to him in his first nine seasons as a member of the Buffalo Bills.
After the past two seasons with veteran David Edwards next door at left guard, the 2026 campaign will mark another new teammate for Dawkins alongside him on Buffalo’s front protecting Josh Allen and paving lanes for James Cook.
Following Monday’s training camp practice, Dawkins was asked about this orientation of sorts for whomever might win the left guard job out of camp. His
answer began with what it’s like going from a familiar linemate to a new piece next to him:
“My life as a left tackle, I live on an island… I finally get someone to come on the island, and stays with me on that island… I know exactly where him and his family are going to be.”
“For 10 years, I’ve had a different guard next to me in almost every year of my career and still been one of the best left tackles in the NFL.”
When speaking directly about Alec Anderson and Austin Corbett — the two strongest candidates to win the left-guard gig out of camp, Dawkins said:
“I know who my guys are, but I don’t know who they are as a left guard consistently throughout the duration of a season. We are learning, I am learning who the guys are on a day in and day out basis.”
Dawkins shedding light on what is typically an overlooked element of the cohesion across an offensive line was so enlightening. His words should serve as a reminder — even to yours truly — that there’s much more than simply plugging a new player the starting lineup.
The star left tackle later went deeper about all the mental prep that goes into playing offensive line in the NFL — from knowing how different defensive fronts lead to different blocking responsibilities, inside zone vs. outside zone, and the communication needed on, say, a five-or-seven-step drop screen play. He noted that communication — particularly with the left guard — is vital, even if it’s just learning how frequently they need to talk and in which situations to do so.
Fascinatingly, Dawkins ended his interview by saying during camp and at practice before the season, he will “fake” panic before a snap, checking with the left-guard candidates to see how they react if he’s walking to the line anxiously communicating he doesn’t know the protection or play call.
That is an awesome Jedi mind trick from Dawkins, the wily vet, to aid the development of and rapport with whomever is the starting left guard next to him on the Bills offensive line this season.
