Buffalo Bills left tackle Dion Dawkins has emerged as a key advocate for the Protector of the Year Award, which aims to honor the NFL’s best offensive lineman each season. Dawkins takes pride in helping elevate recognition for a position often overlooked despite being essential to team success.
Growing up in New Jersey, attending Temple University, and becoming a second-round draft pick for Buffalo, Dawkins reflects on his journey with humility and determination.
“It’s very cool that my domino piece makes noise when it falls,”
Dawkins said, via The Athletic’s Tim Graham.
“Just to be a regular kid from Jersey, go to Temple, be a second-round pick to Buffalo, to having a voice so big that it reaches all 32 teams and then some.”
“This is a part of my legacy now, and I stand on it.”
In an official NFL release announcing the award, Dawkins emphasized the importance of this new honor for offensive linemen nationally.
“This Protector of the Year award is finally giving the big boys up front the respect we deserve. I’ve been knocking on doors and spearheading this movement because offensive linemen are the true foundation of every team’s success. We might not have all the fancy stats as the skinnies or end up on a highlight reel every week, but without us, there’s no rushing titles, passing titles, or touchdowns. This award is for all the unsung heroes who put in work every snap. I won’t stop fighting to give offensive linemen the respect and recognition we deserve.”
Quinnen Williams Aims to Transform Jets’ Fortunes with Leadership and Tenacity
New York Jets defensive tackle Quinnen Williams, drafted third overall in 2019 from Alabama, has consistently met expectations despite playing on teams with limited success. Williams remains committed to reshaping the Jets’ reputation by ending their struggles and leading them to championship contention before his career concludes.
“Change the whole narrative of the New York Jets losing streaks or the playoff [droughts] and different things like that,”
Williams said, via Jack Bell from the team’s website.
“I was drafted here a long time ago [No. 3 overall in 2019 out of Alabama], and I was paid to help change things around. And I wear that as a badge of honor to make sure that before I leave this game the New York Jets are going to be on top, the New York Jets are going to be the team to watch. I kind of live that every day, and I want everybody around me to be that.”
Williams praised how new head coach Aaron Glenn has instilled a culture of physical toughness and disciplined execution throughout the organization.
“Hard-nosed football is one of those things that he believes in, toughness, he believes in execution. He believes in being smart when it comes down to executing the plays and then not penalizing yourself. So his standard was set from Day 1, and it hasn’t been broken there ever since he said it. So, it’s one of those things that’s bleeding out to the captains and bleeding out to everyone on the staff, everyone in the organization, everyone on the field. So, it’s one of those things that I’m kind of super happy about and super, super proud of.”
The strong turnout during the third phase of organized team activities (OTAs) further reflects growing confidence among players in the new coaching regime.
“It’s amazing to have 100 percent participation. This is going to show you the belief we have in the new staff, the new head coach and the new regime, the new organization, the way we want to get this thing going, especially the guys who’ve been here for the last two, three, or four years, and wanted to go in the right direction and winning football games, and doing the things we can do to win football games, and not only that, but clean up some of those mistakes that we got, personally, especially myself, to want to go in the right direction and being the players that we all know we could be.”
Patriots’ Harold Landry III Focuses on Refining Pass Rush with New Team Chemistry
The New England Patriots strengthened their pass rush by signing edge rusher Harold Landry III, who reunited with head coach Mike Vrabel to address the league’s lowest sack total in the 2024 season. Landry shared insights about his offseason adjustments and the developing camaraderie crucial for the team‘s success.
“He’s telling us, ‘you’re like a pitcher, you want to make everything look the same so the tackle doesn’t know what’s coming.’ That’s something I’m focusing on this offseason, making sure all my moves look the same initially until the move actually happens,”
Landry reported, according to ESPN’s Mike Reiss.
“Just in the locker room, I feel like I mesh well with everybody. I feel like we’re building a great culture here right now. If we come out and take it one day at a time, and stack good days, and just come to work and everyone buys in, we have a chance to do something here. That’s exciting.”
Rising Recognition and Renewed Ambitions Across NFL Teams
These developments highlight a vibrant momentum building within the NFL, where players like Dion Dawkins are shifting how foundational roles receive acknowledgment, while Quinnen Williams and Harold Landry pursue ambitious turnarounds with their respective teams. The Protector of the Year Award provides a new platform to celebrate linemen’s crucial contributions, potentially inspiring greater appreciation and respect league-wide.
As teams embrace new coaching philosophies and deeper team unity, the upcoming seasons promise fierce competition and renewed hope for breaking past losing trends and achieving championship successes.