Buffalo Bills left tackle Dion Dawkins is on the warpath to get proper recognition for his blocking brethren.
As the league announced NFL Honors finalists for 2024 on Thursday, the four-time Pro Bowler said offensive linemen should get their own award.
“Offensive linemen don’t have awards for being great,” Dawkins said. “There’s not a Protector of the Year award. I’m knocking at so many doors now to get this award going. I’m gonna spearhead it and make sure it gets done before I’m done playing. Because there’s so many greats. There’s so many greats. We have great quarterbacks, we have great running backs, we have rushing titles, we have quarterback passing titles. All those titles are reflections on the O-linemen, which are the protectors.”
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Scream it from the mountain tops, Dion.
The Bills left tackle is absolutely correct. Offensive linemen need their own awards category at NFL Honors. Far too much of their work goes unnoticed. For most blockers, the only time they hear their name called during a TV broadcast is when something negative happens.
Not a single offensive lineman was nominated for any award in 2024.
We know the NFL MVP has essentially become a quarterback award — with Saquon Barkley stating his case to upset that trend in 2024. In response, the Offensive Player of the Year award has become the top non-QB weapon.
If they’re never recognized in those categories, blockers should get their own. College football gives awards to O-linemen. The NFL should, too.