The Buffalo Bills are entering a critical offseason after another heartbreaking playoff exit, and the front office is clearly feeling the pressure. Firing longtime head coach Sean McDermott was already a seismic shift. Now, rumors are swirling that the team might consider trading star left tackle Dion Dawkins—and if they actually pull the trigger, it would be an unforgivable betrayal that goes far beyond football strategy.

Bleacher Report’s Alex Ballentine recently floated the idea, naming Dawkins (along with tight end Dawson Knox) as potential trade candidates. The logic? The Bills are over the salary cap, Dawkins carries a hefty $24.8 million cap hit in 2026, and moving him could net valuable draft picks while freeing up cash. On paper, it might look like a smart retooling move in a win-now window that’s starting to feel more like a “win-soon-or-else” situation.

But this isn’t just any player. This is Dion Dawkins—a five-time Pro Bowler (consecutive selections since 2021), a cornerstone of the offensive line since 2017, and the man who has protected Josh Allen’s blind side for the quarterback’s entire career.

You Don’t Trade Your Franchise QB’s Bodyguard

Dawkins was drafted in the second round in 2017, one year before Allen arrived in 2018. Since then, the two have been inseparable on the field. Allen has developed into one of the NFL’s most dangerous quarterbacks behind Dawkins’ elite pass protection. Dawkins isn’t just good—he’s one of the best left tackles in football when it comes to shutting down edge rushers.

Finding a true franchise left tackle is like finding another franchise quarterback: they don’t grow on trees. Teams that let elite blind-side protectors walk (or trade them away) almost always regret it. The drop-off is massive, and the cost to replace them in free agency or the draft is enormous—both in assets and in the hits your quarterback takes.

Even the contract math doesn’t scream “must-trade.” Dawkins is on a three-year, $60 million extension. Trading him before June 1 would leave the Bills with a massive dead-cap hit (reportedly around $22–26 million in 2026), meaning they wouldn’t save nearly as much cap space as people think. They’d be sacrificing one of the league’s top tackles for minimal financial relief and a couple of mid-round picks.

The Josh Allen Factor: This Could Destroy Trust

Here’s where it gets personal—and why this rumor feels like the Bills are crossing a sacred line.

Josh Allen has been fiercely loyal to the organization that drafted him. He’s bought in completely. But his trust is built on the belief that the front office will give him the best chance to win. Trading the guy who has literally had his back since Day 1 would send the worst possible message.

Dawkins and Allen share a genuine bond. They’ve celebrated together, battled through injuries and tough losses together, and built one of the strongest QB-tackle relationships in the league. Multiple reports and player comments over the years highlight how much Allen respects and relies on Dawkins—not just as a blocker, but as a leader and teammate.

New head coach Joe Brady (freshly promoted after McDermott’s firing) is walking into a massive situation. The last thing he needs is to lose one of the offense’s most important pieces before he even installs his system. Brady’s success depends on keeping Allen happy, healthy, and confident. Trading Dawkins would undermine that from the jump.

Buffalo Needs to Add Talent, Not Subtract It

The AFC is stacked. The Chiefs are still the standard, the Ravens, Bengals, Texans, and others are loaded. The Bills have been in “win-now” mode for years, and after another divisional-round exit, the urgency is higher than ever.

If the front office wants to make a big move, they should be aggressive buyers, not sellers:

Trade for a proven star wide receiver to give Allen another weapon.

Pursue a game-changing pass rusher to fix the defensive front.

Use draft capital to add depth, not to replace a Pro Bowl left tackle.

Parting with a first-round pick to bring in a difference-maker? That’s the kind of swing the Bills should be taking right now. Trading away a proven cornerstone who keeps your $50+ million quarterback upright? That’s how you blow up a contender from the inside.

Hold the Line, Buffalo

Dion Dawkins isn’t just a player—he’s a symbol of the stability and culture the Bills have built during their sustained success. He’s a leader in the locker room, a community standout (Walter Payton Man of the Year nominee), and still performing at an elite level as he enters his age-32 season.

The mere suggestion of trading him has already sparked outrage among fans and analysts. Actually doing it would be catastrophic for team chemistry and could fracture the most important relationship on the roster: the one between Josh Allen and his protection.

Buffalo Bills management: Do not cross this line.

Keep Dawkins. Protect Allen. Build around the core that’s gotten you this far. Anything less risks ruining the trust that has defined this era—and could send the entire franchise into a downward spiral.

The clock is ticking on this Super Bowl window. Don’t waste it by making the most shortsighted mistake imaginable.

What do you think, Bills Mafia? Is trading Dawkins even worth discussing, or is this a total non-starter?