Dion Dawkins contract: Bills tackle successfully tricks Buffalo fans with fake farewell before signing extension

Bryan Murphy

Dion Dawkins contract: Bills tackle successfully tricks Buffalo fans with fake farewell before signing extension image

Someone needs to tell Dion Dawkins he was 21 days too early for April Fool's. 

This Bills offseason has been cluttered with departures, as the team elected to cut ties with a number of players to clear cap space ahead of free agency, including standout defenders Jordan Poyer and Tre'Davious White

So on Monday, Buffalo fans braced themselves for another surprise cut when it appeared as though starting tackle Dion Dawkins was also going to be headed elsewhere ... or so they thought. 

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The three-time Pro Bowl tackle took a chance to have a little bit of fun with Bills mafia on the first day of NFL free agency. Just minutes after the legal tampering period opened up, he posted an ominous message hinting at a new chapter in his NFL career, sending Bills fans into a panicked spiral. 

However, good news came across the timelines of the Buffalo faithful about 10 minutes later, as it was reported that Dawkins and the Bills agreed to a three-year extension, keeping the fan favorite in upper New York through the 2027 season.

The Bills later made the news of the deal official, making Dawkins one of the highest-paid tackles in the league. 

Dawkins posted a couple of messages on X, formerly, Twitter, confirming his shenanigans. He said that he's "never leaving" Buffalo and he is "Buffalo for life."

Dawkins has flourished into one of the best left tackles in the league. A 2017 second-round pick out of Temple, the 30-year-old has played a major part in protecting star QB Josh Allen in the Buffalo offense. Dawkins earned a Pro Bowl nod in 2023, the third consecutive year receiving the recognition. 

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Dion Dawkins contract details

Dawkins signed a three-year contract extension worth $60.5 million. The deal does not take effect until the 2025 season, and keeps the tackle signed in Buffalo through the 2027 campaign. 

The new agreement makes Dawkins the fourth-highest paid left tackle in the league based on AAV, only behind Houston's Laremy Tunsil, New York's Andrew Thomas, and San Francisco's Trent Williams. His new deal carries an AAV of roughly $20.16 million. 

Dawkins was set to play the 2024 season on the final year of his four-year, $58.3 deal he previously signed in 2020. His contract carries a cap hit of about $16.09 million for this season. 

Bryan Murphy

Bryan Murphy Photo

Bryan Murphy joined The Sporting News in 2022 as the NHL/Canada content producer. Previously he worked for NBC Sports on their national news desk reporting on breaking news for the NFL, MLB, NBA and NHL, in addition to covering the 2020 and 2022 Olympic Games. A graduate of Quinnipiac University, he spent time in college as a beat reporter covering the men’s ice hockey team.